The collection is arranged in series:

Biographical Material, Manuscript – The Kentucky Story, Journal Articles, Newspapers, Kentucky History, and Photographs

Joseph O. Van Hook was raised in Pulaski County, Kentucky and began teaching in a one-room school house in 1909. He came to Berea in 1910 and earned two diplomas from the Normal School. He served as an Army corporal during World War I and spent four years following the war teaching in China at the Shanghai American School (1921-1925). He then returned to Berea College, earning three Bachelor of Arts degrees by 1926. He also earned a Master of Arts degree from the University of Kentucky in 1926 and a Ph.D. from the University of Colorado in 1933. He taught at the University of Colorado, University of Texas, Mississippi Women’s College, and Louisiana Technical.

Van Hook returned to Berea in 1948 to teach history and political science and serve as chairman of these departments from 1954 to 1959. During a 1958 sabbatical, Mr. Van Hook wrote a Kentucky history text geared towards 8^th grade students. The text became widely-used throughout the state. He retired from Berea College in 1960, but continued to teach at Eastern Kentucky University until 1963. In 1984, Mr. Van Hook received the Berea College Alumni Association’s Award of Special Merit. Mr. Van Hook died on April 30, 1985 at the age of 93.