My Century in History : Memoirs

The imminent American historian and author of A History of Kentucky shares his life story, spanning the twentieth century. When Thomas D. Clark was hired to teach history at the University of Kentucky in 1931, he began a career that would span nearly three-quarters of a century and would profoundly change not only the history department and the university but the entire Commonwealth. His still-definitive A History of Kentucky (1937) was one of more than thirty books he would write or edit that dealt with Kentucky, the South, and the American frontier. In addition to his wide scholarly contributions, Clark devoted his life to the preservation of Kentucky's historical records. He began this crusade by collecting vast stores of Kentucky's military records from the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and the Civil War. His efforts resulted in the Commonwealth's first archival system and the subsequent creation of the Kentucky Library and Archives, the University of Kentucky Special Collections and Archives, the Kentucky Oral History Commission, the Kentucky History Center (recently named for him), and the University Press of Kentucky. Born in 1903 on a cotton farm in Louisville, Mississippi, Thomas Dionysius Clark would follow a long and winding path to find his life's passion in the study of history. He dropped out of school after seventh grade to work first at a sawmill and then on a canal dredge boat before resuming his formal education. Clark's earliest memories—hearing about local lynch-mob violence and witnessing the destruction of virgin forest—are an invaluable window into the national issues of racial injustice and environmental depredation. In many ways, the story of Dr. Clark's life is the story of America in the twentieth century. In My Century in History , Clark offers vivid memories of his journey, both personal and academic, a journey that took him from Mississippi to Kentucky and North Carolina, to leadership of the nation's major historical organizations, and to visiting professorships in Austria, England, Greece, and India, as well as in universities throughout the United States. An enormously popular public lecturer and teacher, he touched thousands of lives in Kentucky and around the world. With his characteristic wit and insight, Clark now offers his many admirers one final volume of history—his own.

When Thomas D. Clark was hired to teach history at the University of Kentucky in 1931, he began a career that would span nearly three-quarters of a century and would profoundly change not only the history department and the university but the entire Commonwealth. His still-definitive History of Kentucky (1937) was one of more than thirty books he would write or edit that dealt with Kentucky, the South, and the American frontier.

In addition to his wide scholarly contributions, Clark devoted his life to the preservation of Kentucky's historical records. He began this crusade by collecting vast stores of Kentucky's military records from the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and the Civil War. His efforts resulted in the Commonwealth's first archival system and the subsequent creation of the Kentucky Library and Archives, the University of Kentucky Special Collections and Archives, the Kentucky Oral History Commission, the Kentucky History Center (recently named for him), and the University Press of Kentucky.

Born in 1903 on a cotton farm in Louisville, Mississippi, Thomas Dionysius Clark would follow a long and winding path to find his life's passion in the study of history. He dropped out of school after seventh grade to work first at a sawmill and then on a canal dredgeboat before resuming his formal education. Clark's earliest memories—hearing about local lynch-mob violence and witnessing the destruction of virgin forest—are an invaluable window into the national issues of racial injustice and environmental depredation. In many ways, the story of Dr. Clark's life is the story of America in the twentieth century. In My Century in History, Clark offers vivid memories of his journey, both personal and academic, a journey that took him from Mississippi to Kentucky and North Carolina, to leadership of the nation's major historical organizations, and to visiting professorships in Austria, England, Greece, and India, as well as in universities throughout the United States.

An enormously popular public lecturer and teacher, he touched thousands of lives in Kentucky and around the world. With his characteristic wit and insight, Clark now offers his many admirers one final volume of history—his own.

When Thomas D. Clark was hired to teach history at the University of Kentucky in 1931, he began a career that would span nearly three-quarters of a century and would profoundly change not only the history department and the university but the entire Commonwealth. His still-definitive History of Kentucky (1937) was one of more than thirty books he would write or edit that dealt with Kentucky, the South, and the American frontier. In addition to his wide scholarly contributions, Clark devoted his life to the preservation of Kentucky's historical records. He began this crusade by collecting vast stores of Kentucky's military records from the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and the Civil War. His efforts resulted in the Commonwealth's first archival system and the subsequent creation of the Kentucky Library and Archives, the University of Kentucky Special Collections and Archives, the Kentucky Oral History Commission, the Kentucky History Center (recently named for him), and the University Press of Kentucky. Born in 1903 on a cotton farm in Louisville, Mississippi, Thomas Dionysius Clark would follow a long and winding path to find his life's passion in the study of history. He dropped out of school after seventh grade to work first at a sawmill and then on a canal dredgeboat before resuming his formal education. Clark's earliest memories? hearing about local lynch-mob violence and witnessing the destruction of virgin forest? are an invaluable window into the national issues of racial injustice and environmental depredation. In many ways, the story of Dr. Clark's life is the story of America in the twentieth century. In My Century in History, Clark offers vivid memories of his journey, both personal and academic, a journey that took him from Mississippi to Kentucky and North Carolina, to leadership of the nation's major historical organizations, and to visiting professorships in Austria, England, Greece, and India, as well as in universities throughout the United States. An enormously popular public lecturer and teacher, he touched thousands of lives in Kentucky and around the world. With his characteristic wit and insight, Clark now offers his many admirers one final volume of history? his own When Thomas D. Clark was hired to teach history at the University of Kentucky in 1931, he began a career that would span nearly three-quarters of a century and would profoundly change not only the history department and the university but the entire Commonwealth. His still-definitive History of Kentucky (1937) was one of more than thirty books he would write or edit dealing with Kentucky, the South, and the American frontier. In addition to his wide scholarly contributions, Clark devoted his life to the preservation of Kentucky's historical records. He began this crusade by collecting vast stores of Kentucky's military records from the War of 1812, the Mexican War, and the Civil War. His efforts resulted in the Commonwealth's first archival system and the subsequent creation of the Kentucky Library and Archives, the University of Kentucky Special Collections and Archives, the Kentucky Oral History Commission, the Kentucky History Center (recently named for him), and the University Press of Kentucky. Born in 1903 on a cotton farm in Louisville, Mississippi, Thomas Dionysius Clark would follow a long and winding path to find his life's passion in the study of history. He dropped out of school after seventh grade to work first at a sawmill and then on a canal dredgeboat before resuming his formal education. Clark's earliest memories - hearing about local lynch-mob violence and witnessing the destruction of virgin forests - are an invaluable window into the national issues of racial injustice and environmental depredation. In many ways, the story of Clark's life is the story of America in the twentieth century. In My Century in History, Clark offers memories of his journey, both personal and academic, a journey that took him from Mississippi to Kentucky and North Carolina, to leadership of the nation's major historical organizations, and to visiting professorships in Austria, England, Greece, and India, as well as in universities throughout the United States.

when Thomas D. Clark Was Hired To Teach History At The University Of Kentucky In 1931, He Began A Career That Would Span Nearly Three-quarters Of A Century And Would Profoundly Change Not Only The History Department And The University But The Entire Commonwealth. His Still-definitive History Of Kentucky (1937) Was One Of More Than Thirty Books He Would Write Or Edit Dealing With Kentucky, The South, And The American Frontier. In Addition To His Wide Scholarly Contributions, Clark Devoted His Life To The Preservation Of Kentucky's Historical Records. His Efforts Resulted In The Commonwealth's First Archival System And The Subsequent Creation Of The Kentucky Library And Archives, The University Of Kentucky Special Collections And Archives, The Kentucky Oral History Commission, The Kentucky History Center (recently Named For Him), And The University Press Of Kentucky. Born On A Cotton Farm In Louisville, Mississippi, In 1903, Thomas Dionysius Clark Dropped Out Of School After Seventh Grade To Work On A Canal Dredgeboat Before Resuming His Formal Education. In My Century In History, Clark Offers Vivid Memories Of His Personal And Academic Journey, A Journey That Took Him From Mississippi To Kentucky And North Carolina, To Leadership Of The Nation's Major Historical Organizations, And To Visiting Professorships In Austria, England, Greece, And India, As Well As In Universities Throughout The United States. An Enormously Popular Public Lecturer As Well, He Touched Thousands Of Lives. With Characteristic Wit And Insight, Clark Now Offers His Many Admirers One Final Volume Of History — His Own.

CONTENTS......Page 8 Plate Section......Page 415 Foreword......Page 10 Introduction......Page 15 Prologue. The Land of the Dancing Rabbit......Page 24 1. The Long Road Home......Page 28 2. Old Place, New Place......Page 40 3. A World in Change......Page 64 4. The Road Taken......Page 76 5. Out of the Cotton Patch......Page 87 6. Big River......Page 111 7. West to Kentucky......Page 135 8. The Way to Durham......Page 157 9. Year of Decision......Page 174 10. Depression Years......Page 191 11. Putting Down Roots......Page 207 12. Building the Special Collections......Page 216 13. Years of Passage......Page 233 14. Indiana University......Page 247 15. Breaking the Racial Barrier......Page 264 16. Teaching and Lecturing Abroad......Page 275 17. An Ancient Land in the Grip of History......Page 293 18. The Road to Professionalism......Page 318 19. Speaking Kentucky (and a Lot of Other Places)......Page 337 20. The Book Thieves......Page 353 21. Family......Page 375 22. A Time of Reckoning......Page 385 A......Page 396 B......Page 397 C......Page 398 E......Page 401 F......Page 402 H......Page 403 J......Page 404 L......Page 405 N......Page 407 P......Page 408 R......Page 409 T......Page 411 U......Page 412 W......Page 413 Z......Page 414 Doenecke examines the clash of opinions over the war during this transformative period and offers a fresh perspective on America's decision to enter World War I.Doenecke reappraises the public and private diplomacy of President Woodrow Wilson and his closest advisors and explores in great depth the response of Congress to the war. I WAS BORN AND SPENT THE FIRST QUARTER CENTURY of my life in the heart of the former Choctaw Nation, which, since 1817, has been known as the State of Mississippi.