A brief article on the back page of the May 27, 1915 Idea, the student newspaper for the all-white University of Kentucky, noted that "the first Negro night school at State University" had just completed its first year of operation.
The campus YMCA sponsored the classes taught by YMCA student members. Several of the "teachers" studied law including Elmer Robertson who directed the program. The classes were described as "the first attempt at work of this kind on the campus" and "a marvelous success."
The classes, held in the basement of the Main Building three times a week, covered six subjects. The article noted that, "The janitors have been intently interested from the beginning and their regular attendance has been gratifying." There is no known record of how many custodians took advantage of the program or their identities. Also, we do not know how many years the program may have operated.
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| UK Custodians 1904 |
The classes, held in the basement of the Main Building three times a week, covered six subjects. The article noted that, "The janitors have been intently interested from the beginning and their regular attendance has been gratifying." There is no known record of how many custodians took advantage of the program or their identities. Also, we do not know how many years the program may have operated.
The thirteen student teachers listed are: "H. Scott, Jackson, Peak brothers, Redwine, C.B. Smith, Griggs, C. Dotson, S.K. Clark, Sartin, Grainger, Hodges and Reddish."
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| YMCA Members, 1916 |
UK would not fully desegregate for another four decades and even then it would take years for UK to increase the number of African-American students and become a welcoming environment. Most agree that the process of making UK a fully inclusive environment continues to this day. But for a time in the early years of the 20th century, UK students tried to make a positive difference in the lives of African-American staff.
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