Interview with Joseph John "Joe" Hancock, April 1, 1979

Interview Summary

United States District Judge Joseph J. Hancock (1886-1980) was a native of Waverly (Union County), Kentucky where he was also a gentleman farmer. He was a graduate of the Jefferson School of Law. Under the Truman administration, during the building of the Panama Canal, Hancock was appointed U.S. District Judge of the Canal Zone in the Cristobal Division of the U.S. District Court in Panama by Vice President Alben Barkley. Once back in Kentucky, he was Assistant Commonwealth Attorney for a time, as well as Chairman of the State Probation and Parole Board. He married Matilda Schlank and together they had ten children. This recording was conducted by their youngest daughter, Shirley, in April 1979 when he was 93 years old. He died in February 1980 in Ocala, Florida.

Interview Keyword

Federal Judge Panama United States District Judge

Interview LC Subject

Barkley, Alben William, 1877-1956 Panama Canal. Truman, Harry S., 1884-1972

Interview Rights

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Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.