Bernheim Foundation

John Lyle Bayless, Jr. has been a resident of Anchorage, Kentucky his whole life. The Bayless family has lived in Anchorage since the mid-nineteenth century when his great-grandfather, Dr. George Wood Bayless, settled there. The Bayless estate at the time of this interview bordered what was "Homewood," the summer residence of Isaac W. Bernheim. Bayless knew Bernheim before the latter moved away from Louiville in the mid-1920s.

Bertram "Pete" Bernheim, Jr. is son of Dr. Bertram Bernheim and grandson of Isaac W. Bernheim. Bernheim retired from the US Air Force and the brokerage business. He lived in Baltimore, Maryland at the time of this interview. Bernheim visited his grandfather on numerous occasions and also recalls IW Bernheim staying with his family in Pikesville, Maryland, outside of Baltimore.

Amanda Roth Black is the granddaughter of Isaac W. Bernheim, her mother being Bernheim's daughter Helen Bernheim Roth. She was born in the Bernheim house on Third Street in Louisville and primarily raised in Cincinnati. She visited her grandfather many times in Louisville and also Denver, Colorado and Coronado Beach, California.

IW Burnham, II is the grandson of Isaac W. Bernheim. He was very close to his grandfather and was associated with him on a business as well as personal level. Burnham was an early member of both the Isaac W. Bernheim Foundation and Isaac W. Bernheim Trust. He served as the Trust investment advisor beginning in 1935. Under his attention and expertise it did very well. Burnham served as a trustee of both the Bernheim Foundation and Trust at the time of this interview. He was the honorary chair of the board and director of the investment firm of Drexel, Burnham, Lambert, Inc., and Drexel, Burnham, Lambert Group.

Chiles, who became involved with the Isaac W. Bernheim Foundation in 1970, discusses his personal history and his experiences with the Bernheim Foundation.

Lewis D. Cole was the grand-nephew of Isaac W. Bernheim through the latter’s half-sister Sarah. Mr. Cole was a resident of Louisville, Kentucky. His family had both a personal and business relationship with I. W. Bernheim. This interview deals with Cole's early life, relationship with I.W. Bernheim and the Bernheim Foundation.

Lewis D. Cole was the grand-nephew of Isaac W. Bernheim through the latter’s half-sister Sarah. Mr. Cole was a resident of Louisville, Kentucky. His family had both a personal and business relationship with I. W. Bernheim. This interview deals with Cole's early life, relationship with I.W. Bernheim and the Bernheim Foundation.

Alice Ann Coomes joined the staff of Bernheim Forest on March 15, 1979, as the naturalist; the position she held at the time of this interview. Coomes primary responsibilities were the care and rehabilitation of animals and conducting tours and nature walks for school groups and others.

James E. Coomes is a life-long resident of the Cox's Creek area. He has been a neighbor of Bernheim Forest since its establishment.

J.W. Hatfield and his wife Marian were long time neighbors of the Bernheim Forest. Since the 1930s they witnessed the growth and development of the Forest. In the 1940s Mr. Hatfield's father traded a block land to Bernheim for a similar tract in return. A portion of the Hatfield land bordered Bernheim Forest. Mrs. Hatfield joined the interview in progress.

Henry R. Heyburn is a Louisville attorney. He joined the Bernheim Board of Trustees on October 25, 1969. He has served the two years preceding this interview as vice-president of the Board (1983-1984, 1984-1985) and following Board policy was to become president for two one-year terms later that year.

Henning Hilliard joined the Bernheim Foundation board in the early 1970s. He served as vice president of the Foundation (1981-83), president (1983-1985), and continued to serve on the Foundation board and as trustee of the Bernheim Trust. He retired in November 1987 from the brokerage firm of Hilliard Lyons. The interview discusses his life, education and military service, his work as a trustee of the Foundation and president, and his role in the directions of the Foundation and in other areas such as the Louisville Orchestra.

Carl Hodge is a former employee of the Bernheim Foundation at Bernheim Forest and a native of the area. He began working at Bernheim Forest in the 1930s and periodically worked there through the 1940s. Mr. Hodge worked as a full-time regular employee from May 1946 to August 18, 1951. His father was Golden Hodge, who worked at the Forest for almost forty-three years. (February 1, 1928 November 4, 1970).

Edward (Eddie) Lee Hodge was born and has lived his entire life in the area around Bernheim Forest. He has worked as a laborer and caretaker at the Forest almost since establishment. After years of periodic work at Bernheim, Mr. Hodge became a full- time employee in March 1961. Mr. Hodge switched to part-time in April 1975 and retired on April 18, 1979.

James G. Hodge was an early employee at Bernheim Forest and a native of the area. He periodically worked at Bernheim Forest from the 1930s through the 1940s. Mr. Hodge was a regular full-time employee from October 1949 to November 30, 1951. His father was Golden Hodge, who worked at Bernheim Forest for almost forty-three years (February 1, 1928 November 4, 1970).

Jake Hodge was a long-time employee of the Bernheim Foundation. He began working as a laborer at Bernheim Forest about 1930. From that time until his retirement in April 1980 (with an approximate two year break in the early 1950s) Mr. Hodge worked as a laborer, naturalist, foreman, ranger, and mechanic at the Forest. In those almost fifty years he witnessed and participated in the development of Bernheim Forest.

Clarence E. "Buddy" Hubbuch, Jr. began working at Bernheim Forest in December 1962. He joined the staff as the horticulturist, the position he held at the time of the interview. Mr. Hubbuch supervised the development of the arboretum over twenty-one years.

James Reed Lawrence Jr. is the chief ranger at Bernheim Forest. He is also interested in the history of the Bernheim Forest area and Kentucky in general. As a result of this interest and research he has done, Mr. Lawrence has become knowledgeable about the history of the Bernheim Forest and Shepherdsville, Kentucky area.

Lawrence, Perkins and Hubbuch, who were long time employees of the Bernheim Forest, discuss their experiences related to the Bernheim Forest.

Charles King "Mac" McClure III joined the staff of the Isaac W. Bernheim Foundation in 1971 as the Assistant Secretary and Assistant Treasurer. His initial duties concerned the Friends of Bernheim program and fund drive. Mr. McClure gradually and steadily rose in the organization. He was Robert Paul's (the Foundation's long time Executive Director) assistant for many years and was being groomed to take his place when he retired. Mr. McClure was named Executive Director in 1982.

Charles King "Mac" McClure III joined the staff of the Isaac W. Bernheim Foundation in 1971 as the Assistant Secretary and Assistant Treasurer. His initial duties concerned the Friends of Bernheim program and fund drive. Mr. McClure gradually and steadily rose in the organization. He was Robert Paul's (the Foundation's long time Executive Director) assistant for many years and was being groomed to take his place when he retired. Mr. McClure was named Executive Director in 1982.

Charles King "Mac" McClure III joined the staff of the Isaac W. Bernheim Foundation in 1971 as the Assistant Secretary and Assistant Treasurer. His initial duties concerned the Friends of Bernheim program and fund drive. Mr. McClure gradually and steadily rose in the organization. He was Robert Paul's (the Foundation's long time Executive Director) assistant for many years and was being groomed to take his place when he retired. Mr. McClure was named Executive Director in 1982.

Ira J. Mitchell is the retired vice president of the Cave Hill Cemetery Company and one of the Louisville area's leading horticulturists. Mr. Mitchell joined the Isaac W. Bernheim Foundation Board of Trustees on June 13, 1964. He served two one-year terms as vice president of the board (1966-1967, 1967-1968) and two one-year terms as president (1968-1969, 1969-1970) in addition to being a regular Board member. He retired from active participation on the Board in November 1977 and was elected an honorary Life Trustee.

Professor Burt L. Monroe, Jr. is a teacher by vocation. He joined the faculty of the University of Louisville in 1965, and served as chair of the Department of Biology beginning in 1970. Dr. Monroe joined the Board of Trustees of the Bernheim Foundation in October 1968, replacing his father who served from 1961 until his death in May 1968. Dr. At the time of the interview, Monroe was a board member and had served two terms as vice president (1975-1977) and president (1977-1979).

Thomas D. "Tommy" Moore was a native of the Bernheim Forest area and was familiar with Bernheim since it was established. Mr. Moore began working at Bernheim Forest in January 1956 and retired in March 1980. Mr. Moore worked as a laborer in his twenty-four years at the Forest.

Hallie Paul is the widow of Robert Paul, Isaac Bernheim's longtime personal secretary and executive secretary and director of the Bernheim Foundation. Hallie and Robert Paul met in Colorado and were married in approximately 1930. Mrs. Paul knew Mr. Bernheim and was associated with Bernheim Forest almost from the beginning. At the time of the interview, her memory had begun to fail.

Russell "Pete" Perkins began working at Bernheim Forest in September 1955. He joined the staff as a laborer. Mr. Perkins has been promoted through the years and has worked a wide range of jobs. In 1978 he was promoted to supervisor of maintenance, the position he held at the time of the interview.

Thomas J. Roth is the grandson of Isaac W. Bernheim, his mother being Bernheim's daughter, Helen Bernheim Roth. Mr. Roth grew up primarily in Cincinnati, Ohio. He visited his grandfather many times in Louisville and once in Denver, Colorado.

James Snellen was a life-long resident of the Bullitt County area. He was the farm manager for the Yoe Farm in Bullitt County, which had a lengthy common boundary with Bernheim Forest. Consequently, Mr. Snellen was a long-time neighbor of Bernheim Forest.

William P. Tate joined the Board of Trustees of the Isaac W. Bernheim Foundation in May, 1949. Mr. Tate served several one-year terms as president of the Board (1956-1958, 1970-1973) as well as serving on numerous committees. He retired as an active member in May 1981 but was appointed a life trustee.

W. Armin Willig was a Louisville businessman. He joined the Bernheim Foundation Board of Trustees in October 1970. At the time of the interview, Willig was on the Board. He also served as vice-president (1973-1975) and president (1975-1977).