Interview with Clyde R. Clem, March 20, 1974

Interview Summary

Clyde Richard "C. R." Clem was the first barber to have a shop at the University of Kentucky's Student Union Building, and worked there between 1938 and 1940. Clem also owned his own business, the State Barber Shop, on Limestone Street near campus. He talks about U.K. President, Dr. Frank L. McVey, who was a regular customer at the barber shop on campus. He recalls McVey talked with him about the barber shop when he first arrived, since there was initially some resistance to the barber shop on campus. Clem remembers that after a few months it was no longer a problem. Clem states that he was impressed with the job that McVey did with the University during the Depression. He recalls the Student Union was supposed to be self-supporting and then the state took it over after several years. He talks about Jimmy Shropshire, who was the director of the Student Union building.

Clem worked in his shop on Limestone Street until 1945. Clem recalls the price of a haircut then was $.35, although the price dropped during the Great Depression. He talks about paying for meals at the boarding houses close by, and remembers that he would loan money to students and he states that he lost only $17.00 in eight years. He recalls the students would sometimes collect his money for him.

Interview Keyword

C.R. Clem

Interview LC Subject

Clem, Clyde R. (Clyde Richard) Clem, Clyde R. (Clyde Richard)--Interviews McVey, Frank LeRond, 1869-1953 University of Kentucky University of Kentucky--History

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Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.