Oral History Interview Sue Kendrick & Vivian Hyatt

Partial Transcript: Today is October 14th, 1984. I am interviewing Sue Kendrick and Vivian Hyatt. We are at 104 Woodmore Avenue. The topic is Lou Tate and the Little Loomhouse.

Segment Synopsis: Ward introduces the interview by giving the date, her interviewees' names (Kendrick & Hyatt), their location, and their topic: Lou Tate and the Little Loomhouse.

Keywords: Lou Tate; Lou Tate Bousman; Louisa Tate Bousman; Louisville, Kentucky; Louisville, Ky; Sue Kendrick; Teka Ward; The Little Loomhouse; Vivian Hyatt; Woodmore Ave.; Woodmore Avenue

Subjects: Kentucky--History; Louisville (Ky.)--History; Weaving

Partial Transcript: Before we start discussing Lou Tate...both of you all are weavers. You've both been involved with the Little Loomhouse. I want to know how you all first met.

Segment Synopsis: Hyatt and Kendrick recall how they first would have met over forty years prior to the interview. They also talk a bit about their involvement in weaving guilds and about how many weaving guilds there are in Kentucky.

Keywords: Agnes Stop; Brother Kim Malloy; Capital City Spinning and Weaving; Dr. Mather; Hobby Weavers; Lou Tate; Lou Tate Bousman; Louisa Tate Bousman; Louisville, Kentucky; Louisville, Ky; Sam Kendrick; Sue Kendrick; The Little Loomhouse; Vivian Hyatt

Subjects: Guilds; Kentucky--History; Louisville (Ky.)--History; Weaving

Partial Transcript: After that first open house...earlier, I took a photograph of a planter which Vivian Hyatt had given Sue Kendrick as a result of a monthly birthday party that Lou Tate had...

Segment Synopsis: Hyatt and Kendrick recall the monthly birthday parties that Lou Tate would host at the Little Loomhouse. They also explain how Brother Kim Malloy brought spinning to the Little Loomhouse, which had not taken place there prior to him becoming acquainted with Lou Tate.

Keywords: Birthday party; Brother Kim Malloy; Lou Tate; Lou Tate Bousman; Louisa Tate Bousman; Louisville, Kentucky; Louisville, Ky; Saint Meinrad Archabbey; Saint Meinrad's; St. Meinrad Archabbey; St. Meinrad's; Sue Kendrick; The Little Loomhouse; Vivian Hyatt

Subjects: Birthday parties; Bridge (game); Card games; Kentucky--History; Louisville (Ky.)--History; Spinning; Weaving

Partial Transcript: As you look back on these years with Lou Tate, if you had to describe the late 30s, the 40s, the 50s, and the 60s, and the 70s, how would you describe each of those periods of time in her life...your all's activity in it?

Segment Synopsis: Hyatt and Kendrick describe Lou Tate's tendency to research and learn a lot about weaving, but also to be slow to share that information with others. The say that Lou Tate did this to keep people coming back to the Little Loomhouse because she liked being surrounded by others. They talk about the various places that she taught in her lifetime. They also recall what they were able to learn about weaving from Lou Tate.

Keywords: Bob Douglas; Chicago, IL; Chicago, Illinois; Florida; Leno lace; Little looms; Lou Tate; Lou Tate Bousman; Louisa Tate Bousman; Louisville, Kentucky; Louisville, Ky; Nashville, Tennessee; Nashville, TN; Robert Douglas; Rose Pero; Sam Kendrick; Spalding College; Spalding University; Sue Kendrick; The Kentucky Derby; The Little Loomhouse; Vivian Hyatt

Subjects: Kentucky--History; Looms; Louisville (Ky.)--History; Teaching; Universities and colleges; Weaving

Partial Transcript: You're one of the few people who remained with Lou Tate over all the years...

Segment Synopsis: Hyatt and Kendrick talk about how some people would break away from The Little Loomhouse and form other weaving organizations due to occasional differences in opinion with Lou Tate. They also discuss how all the work they have done for the Little Loomhouse over the years has been volunteer work because Lou Tate's desire was to be a philanthropist -- this includes the work they did on the publication of the Kentucky Weaver magazine.

Keywords: Bob Landers; Hobby Weavers of the Ohio Valley; Kentucky Weaver; Lou Tate; Lou Tate Bousman; Louisa Tate Bousman; Louisville, Kentucky; Louisville, Ky; Sue Kendrick; Teka Ward; The Little Loomhouse; Wesley Community House; Wesley House; Woodmore Ave.; Woodmore Avenue

Subjects: Kentucky--History; Louisville (Ky.)--History; Spinning; Weaving; Wesley foundations

Partial Transcript: But you returned to her Vivian, didn't you?

Segment Synopsis: Vivian Hyatt talks about the ten years that she was not regularly involved with The Little Loomhouse. They also talk about when Lou Tate became sick, and that she was sick for a long time. Teka Ward asks about what drove Lou Tate to weave and do the work that she did.

Keywords: Lou Tate; Lou Tate Bousman; Louisa Tate Bousman; Louisville, Kentucky; Louisville, Ky; Sue Kendrick; The Little Loomhouse; Vivian Hyatt

Subjects: Kentucky--History; Louisville (Ky.)--History; Weaving

Partial Transcript: We were discussing the birthday parties that would be held for people who had taken part in the Loomhouse activities. In which of the three cabins would the party be held?

Segment Synopsis: Hyatt and Kendrick describe why Lou Tate would host parties. They also talk about where the parties were held and what they were like. Sue Kendrick explains how she wishes that the foundation would honor Lou Tate's birthday in October.

Keywords: Ann Kiper; Esta; Lou Tate; Lou Tate Bousman; Louisa Tate Bousman; Louisville, Kentucky; Louisville, Ky; Sue Kendrick; The Little Loomhouse; Top House; Vivian Hyatt

Subjects: Kentucky--History; Louisville (Ky.)--History; Parties; Weaving

Partial Transcript: When you went back, Vivian, you stayed after that ten years, you didn't leave again?

Segment Synopsis: Sue Kendrick recalls how she talked to the lawyers after Lou Tate's death to try to save The Little Loomhouse and Lou Tate's legacy. She and Vivian Hyatt had come up with a plan already to sell some of the items in the Loomhouse to make money to open it back up. They cleaned after Lou Tate's death and finished many of the children's projects to raise the money to save the Loomhouse. They also sold some of the looms. For a while, they were able to have The Little Loomhouse open on a daily basis. After a while, they started classes back up at The Little Loomhouse.

Keywords: Colonel Sanders; Lou Tate; Lou Tate Bousman; Louisa Tate Bousman; Louisville, Kentucky; Louisville, Ky; Open houses; Sue Kendrick; The Little Loomhouse; Vivian Hyatt

Subjects: Girl Scouts; Kentucky--History; Louisville (Ky.)--History; Weaving