Soldiers

Veterans History Project

Veterans History Project

Dr. Love was a UofL professor and administrator, and sister of civil rights leader Whitney Young, Jr. Dr. Love discusses her parents, Laura and Whitney Young, Sr., their lives and involvement with Lincoln Institute in Simpsonville, Kentucky. Dr. Love and her brother were born in Lincoln Ridge, while her father was a teacher at Lincoln Institute, and she discusses the education they received there, and the atmosphere of safety and support that was fostered at Lincoln Institute. She describes her father's tenure as principal. She describes her experiences at Kentucky State, and also discusses her brother's emergence as a leader there. She recounts his subsequent service in the Army during World War II, where he discovered his ability to negotiate; specifically, he realized his ability to negotiate better conditions for his fellow Black soldiers. She relates his educational experiences following his return to the States, and his involvement in a Harvard-based think tank. She discusses his involvement with the Urban League, and his relationships with those who chose different approaches to furthering the equal rights of African Americans. She describes the role of the Black Panthers and the riots, particularly in Detroit, in drawing some supporters to the Urban League. She also gives her perspective on the University of Louisville, which she came to in 1966 as a GE scholar. Dr. Love was quickly identified as a skilled negotiator, and she became involved in working with students, including the students who eventually took over the office of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences in 1969. She offers criticism of the University of Louisville at that time (and in the 1970s) for failing to recruit and support Black students and faculty. She does commend President Miller for his support of programs for students needing skill-building work. She gives her assessment of area public schools, and the possible reasons for their shortcomings. Dr. Love also headed the Lincoln Institute at the end of its days, from 1964 to 1966, and she discusses that experience. She recounts its closing, its brief life as a school for gifted and talent students, and its rebirth as the Whitney M. Young Job Corps Center. She discusses briefly the origins and role of the Lincoln Foundation.

Interview with Master Sergeant John C. Quigle. Quigle joined the Army in 1971 and served tours in Germany and Korea. He then entered the reserves, and held an active guard reserve (AGR) position. He discusses these experiences. He was intereviewed at Fort Knox.

Interview with reserve officer assigned to the 3/100 training detachment at Fort Knox. Urban was the only woman serving in this unit at the time of her interview, and was reportedly reluctant to speak about "certain items," although she does characterize the unit as "relaxed" and reports that sexual harrassment is not an issue there.

Theo White discusses the founding of a furrier business in Louisville by his grandfather and great uncles in 1837; the running of the business by his father; his experiences as a grader of pelts; his service as a first lieutenant in World War I.