OH174a Lon Carter Barton Oral History

Collection Title: Jackson Purchase Oral History Project – Politics and Government

Series Number: OH174 (Session 1)

Interviewee: Barton, Lon Carter

Interviewer: Saundra Hoover

Date interviewed: November 15, 1979

Processed by: Processed by Benjamin J. Drake in April and May 2012.

Date processed:  May 22, 2012

Description: 1 sound disc (51 minutes)

Abstract: Lon Carter Barton discusses his political career in the Kentucky State Legislature in the early 1960s. The interview begins with a biographical description of Barton's life up to his time in the state legislature. He recounts his decision to enter politics and campaigning for office. He recalls the gubernatorial terms of Happy Chandler, Bert T. Combs, and Edward T. Breathitt and offers opinions upon their service to the state. He mentions constitutional amendments argued in the legislature and gives his opinions on future amendments to state constitution.

Biographical / Historical note:  Lon Carter Barton was born on September 18, 1925 in Mayfield, Kentucky. He attended Murray State College (presently Murray State University) and began teaching at Mayfield in 1947. In 1951, he was drafted into the Army and stationed at Indian Gap, Pennsylvania before being shipped to Korea. He was discharged in 1953 and returned to teaching before campaigning for the State legislature in 1957. He served as a State Representative in the Kentucky Legislature from 1958 until 1966. He returned to teaching in Mayfield the following year. He died at his home in Mayfield on March 28, 2006.

General information: No user access to original recordings. Use audio user copies, digital derivatives, transcripts, and/or tape indexes. This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code). Permission for reproduction must be requested from Murray State University.

Subject Headings / Descriptors:

Barton, Lon Carter, 1925-2006

Kentucky – Politics and government.

Legislators – Kentucky.

Graves County (Ky.) – Politics and government.

Mayfield (Ky.)