INTRODUCTION

PERSONAL BACKGROUND
Scope and Content Note: Born in Waushara County on December 27, 1898, Irene Marlow attended Berlin High School, then a county normal school. Taught in rural schools several places, e.g. near Berlin, Amherst and Spring Lake for 8 years, from about 1918 to 1925. Then married and came to Dodgeville area. Quit teaching for several years; had three daughters. In 1942, Iowa County Superintendant asked her to teach again, went to a rural school near Rewey, then to Platteville elementary and junior high schools. Became County Supervising Teacher for Iowa County, 1960-1963; then taught in Dodgeville for three years (1963-1966) before retiring.

INTEREST IN VISTA
Scope and Content Note: Bored with retirement; saw VISTA advertisement on television. Wrote for information and eventually accepted in 1968. Thought when she applied that she would be teaching.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES
Scope and Content Note: Done entirely by mail and telephone; never saw any VISTA recruiters. Filled out one fairly comprehensive form which asked for references, but not aware that these people ever contacted. Her daughters very excited by prospect of mother entering VISTA. Long period of time between acceptance and placement. Finally, after informing VISTA that she had other plans if nothing shortly forthcoming, phone call from VISTA, and tickets to training site. No indication of what she would be doing.

VISTA TRAINING PROGRAM
Scope and Content Note: Went to Covington, Kentucky in June 1968. Program lasted about three weeks. Sessions in a large church school, Monday through Friday. Various speakers told trainees about areas they might go, conditions they could expect to find, kinds of people there, and how to deal with them. Speakers from various areas of Kentucky mainly, from the Mississippi to eastern Kentucky. As it turned out, no volunteers ended up in Appalachia proper, but all in parts of Kentucky within about 100 miles from each other. About 50 persons in the training program; some “de-selected”, during program whole group together, but later divided into four groups for training purposes, according to area where volunteers later would be going during initial stages of training.

TRAINING, continued
Scope and Content Note: Speakers included VISTA officials and some people from the areas where volunteers later would serve. Remembers some of these local people as representing religious groups. Explanation that VISTA would not go into an area unless invited by local representatives of some sort, such as city officials. In the case of Irene Gibbon, a local committee invited her; thinks they were city officials but not entirely sure.

TRAINING, continued
Scope and Content Note: Trainees taken to different areas; she and John (last name not given), later to serve with her, went to Butler County to see conditions first-hand. However, didn't know where they going until almost the last minute. Took day-long tour to see the area, talk with local officials. Thinks the tour was fair, not only showing the brighter side; shocked by some of the poor homes, the condition of children in terms of nutrition, teeth, and poor attendance at school. During this initial tour, didn't talk to poor people; children just would have run off, very suspicious of strangers.

TRAINING, continued
Scope and Content Note: Some pamphlets distributed to read, especially those dealing with ways to establish rapport.

TRAINING, continued
Scope and Content Note: “De-selection” of trainees: staff decision as to who didn't have the ability, in some way or other. Not clear about de-selection criteria; didn't get that close to any who were de-selected, so not sure if they were informed as to the reason.

TRAINING, continued
Scope and Content Note: A lady roommate thought she would be teaching and quit when she found out differently. She was the only one to quit, though four or five others were de-selected.

TRAINING, continued
Scope and Content Note: VISTA officials always very vague as to what volunteers were to be doing; told them to “find out what they [the local people] needed and try to help them to help themselves.” Never any more specific, nor were volunteers put into more structured occupational roles. Clear, however, that VISTA expected volunteers to inform people of such federal programs as food-stamps; or such basic information as the availability of specialists for certain kinds of illnesses and diseases.

INTRODUCTION

TRAINING, continued
Scope and Content Note: Participated in group discussions; can remember one particular session, centering on how to reach strangers, how to actually get started.

TRAINING, continued
Scope and Content Note: No practice or field experience before being sent to respective areas. Other than thinking she would teach, she anticipated little of what she thought she would accomplish by joining VISTA. Thought it strange that several other teachers among the training group also did not teach, except for part-time tutoring.

FIRST DAYS OF VISTA SERVICE
Scope and Content Note: Local social worker helped Irene Gibbon make initial contacts, and got her started.

FIRST DAYS OF VISTA SERVICE, continued
Scope and Content Note: Irene Gibbon and John (last name not given) went to Morgantown, in Butler County, Kentucky; first task in setting up was to find a place to stay. She stayed with woman in lovely home and John stayed with a dentist, a member of the local committee that had invited them there. But this was only an interim solution, as VISTA stressed they stay in lodgings comparable to those of people they would be working among. Notes that VISTA officials did come around to approve lodgings. Took two to three weeks to find a place, hunt for furnishings, and make transportation arrangements. Irene Gibbon's room across from courthouse in Morgantown; John's, rat-infested, was less desirable. Borrowed some furniture, bought lumber to build make-shift closet, and overall quite pleased with results.

FIRST DAYS OF VISTA SERVICE, continued
Scope and Content Note: Local sponsors, a committee of three men, one of whom was the dentist. VISTA informed them that volunteers coming, and committee supposed to have place ready for them, but didn't. Committee members seemed to be as uncertain about their duties as the volunteers were; knew only they were to help the poor people of the area.

FIRST DAYS OF VISTA SERVICE, continued
Scope and Content Note: Local social worker took them around at first; then Irene and John later went back on their own. In some instances, the social worker, whose work seemed very similar to what they were to do, proposed specific projects for them.

VISTA SERVICE IN MORGANTOWN, KENTUCKY
Scope and Content Note

Irene and John shared an office with the social worker, which was one reason they maintained such close contact with her. Also frequently contacted the dentist proposing programs, getting informal approval and asking him for advice on best ways to proceed.

VISTA gave allowances for food and rent and paid for mileage. Had to submit report for reimbursement, to VISTA headquarters, thinks it was monthly.

VISTA SERVICE IN MORGANTOWN, KENTUCKY, continued
Scope and Content Note: No projects attempted which required any capital outlay as such, so not clear whether financial responsibility rested with VISTA or the local committee.

PROGRAMS INSTITUTED WHILE IN VISTA
Scope and Content Note: Set up store in old garage; local church got second-hand clothes from Chicago; Irene, John, and some local people priced the clothes, sorted them, and sold them on Saturdays to the area poor. Clothes are sold at very low prices; aim was to charge something, so people would feel they had something invested and take better care of the purchases. Store proceeds went into a treasury to finance such projects as health care for a sick child. [Note: At this point Irene Gibbon referred to a scrapbook of newspaper clippings providing details on some of the programs]. By the time Irene was ready to leave, had trained some local people (not necessarily poor people, but those with some education who could handle accounts) to take over the operation. When she returned to the area on a visit in summer of 1976 the store still was functioning, though on a somewhat smaller scale, with clothes now being donated locally.

PROGRAMS INSTITUTED WHILE IN VISTA, continued
Scope and Content Note: Visited people to discover nature of their problems. Recalls one little girl, who appeared at their door one night with a toothache and swollen head; father a drunk and mother not able to handle such problems. Irene Gibbon gave child moral support and took her to the dentist the next morning. Notes that much of her work required little sophistication, often just a visit which meant a lot to some people. Telling people about food stamps program a significant part of duties.

PROGRAMS INSTITUTED WHILE IN VISTA, continued
Scope and Content Note: Just before end of service, day care center about to be started by a local woman, so Irene Gibbon went around notifying people of its existence, and getting signers (signifying they would send their children) from among the poor people. Daycare would enable some women to work outside home; mixed reactions, however, some very eager, while others hesitant to sign anything.

INTRODUCTION

DAILY ROUTINE WHILE IN VISTA
Scope and Content Note: Usually kept workers regular hours, 9-4, but doesn't think many other VISTA workers quite as regular. Office a central place to meet, but usually didn't stay there. Some people came in with problems, taking chance she would be there, otherwise leaving a note.

DAILY ROUTINE WHILE IN VISTA, continued
Scope and Content Note: Social worker would forward some problems of those she had already contacted, but she was so overworked that no hope of keeping up. Glad for help of Irene and John, who could deal with many of the problems just as adequately and follow up more thoroughly. Main difference was that the social worker wasn't trained in the “help them to help themselves” philosophy. Irene admits that this often very difficult to achieve; people who had given up or were continually being exploited were unwilling to stick necks out or risk failure again. Took a long time to establish rapport, and only then could the work get underway.

DAILY ROUTINE WHILE IN VISTA, continued
Scope and Content Note: Anecdote about suspicious old man who's certain that VISTA workers were federal agents coming to take his guns away; new state law apparently had just been passed which did not allow guns in the home or perhaps just if not registered. People also suspicious because almost no strangers in that area. Could not think of other person, even the social worker, from outside the immediate region. No way for outsiders to hide the fact because of dialect differences.

DAILY ROUTINE WHILE IN VISTA, continued
Scope and Content Note: Further anecdote on suspicions. Even after living in Morgantown for more than a year, the woman from whom she had borrowed a table and chairs was afraid she would never return them.

CONTACTS WITH LOCAL POPULATION
Scope and Content Note: Talked over cases with the county judge mostly interested in information about the home life, what the people did with the money they were given. Judge referred few problems to VISTA workers.

CONTACTS WITH LOCAL POPULATION, continued
Scope and Content Note: Church groups didn't seem to be very socially aware, apart from one church that sponsored the used-clothing store. Not involved in, or aware of, any other church-sponsored programs.

CONTACTS WITH LOCAL POPULATION, continued
Scope and Content Note: Tutoring elementary school children another facet of Gibbon's duties. Approached by local teacher, and tutored two to three days in her home after regular school hours. Tutored three children altogether in reading and math.

CONTACTS WITH LOCAL POPULATION, continued
Scope and Content Note: Although VISTA officials stressed contacts with the poor, Irene felt contacts with the local elite just as important, since they were in position to help carry on programs later.

CONTACTS WITH LOCAL POPULATION, continued
Scope and Content Note: Another teacher asked for help in administering some sort of standardized tests at elementary level. No contact with the high school.

CONTACTS WITH VISTA
Scope and Content Note: VISTA supervisors would visit occasionally but irregularly. Two weeks to two months between visits:; never stayed longer than a few minutes to talk over some of the programs and make a few suggestions. Usually no warning of their coming.

CONTACTS WITH VISTA, continued
Scope and Content Note: Attended several regional VISTA meetings in Louisville and Bowling Green; saw others with whom she had trained. Speakers and discussions similar to training program; forum for feedback on what they were doing in their individual situations.

CONTACTS WITH VISTA, continued
Scope and Content Note: Also attended Community Action Program (CAP) meetings, where various organizations and programs discussed what they were doing. Main goal to coordinate efforts. Notes that the dentist was president of local CAP.

CONTACTS WITH VISTA, continued
Scope and Content Note: Further thoughts on VISTA officials who visited. Apparently from regional headquarters in Louisville. Also would confer with the local committee, checking up on Irene and John, though generally didn't find out what was discussed. One exception was when Irene emphasized the need for local educated people to get involved in clothing store, while VISTA official thought those involved should be poor people only. Objected to committee members, but never said anything directly to Irene.

CONTACTS WITH VISTA, continued
Scope and Content Note: No prior VISTA approval necessary for VISTA workers to set up our programs, although did have to complete reports detailing the work they were involved in.

CONTACTS WITH VISTA, continued
Scope and Content Note: Remembers further project dealing with setting up 4-H program, meetings, garden projects; sure that it carried on for at least awhile after she left.

CONTACTS WITH VISTA, continued
Scope and Content Note: VISTA never did indicate what the information on the forms was used for, other than monitoring purposes.

INTRODUCTION

PROGRAMS INSTITUTED WHILE IN VISTA
Scope and Content Note: Studied school curriculum, conferred with parents and students about possible changes. Looked into school lunch program and possible discrimination against children not able to pay; didn't find any problems in this case. Not involved in any sort of dental programs. Enlisted people needing sewage facilities whose waste ran into ditches and had tried to organize. Promised help in fall of 1968 but improvements continually postponed.

PROGRAMS INSTITUTED WHILE IN VISTA, continued
Scope and Content Note: Further comments on 4-H program and problems of low nutrition levels. Also, referred people to appropriate agencies, such as for food stamps; but couldn't remember other specific examples. Did not refer people to the social worker, since most of these people already were on welfare and she was aware of their needs.

PROGRAMS INSTITUTED WHILE IN VISTA, continued
Scope and Content Note: Recalls her greatest accomplishment was informing local leaders of their responsibilities to the poor people of the area. Would have liked to impress on the children more effectively the value of education as a way out of their situation; also to establish better nutrition programs. Quite aware, however, that these were long-range goals, and no one-year VISTA volunteer able to turn things around.

FINAL DAYS IN VISTA
Scope and Content Note: Talked with such local civic groups as the Lions Club, and tried to be very frank about what she saw as their failure to assume responsibilities in areas such as education. Was a bit afraid of what their reaction might be, but amazingly they decided to establish a VISTA day, have a big chicken dinner, and asked her to invite all the poor people she had come in contact with. However, since this was shortly before she left, not sure if they honored other responsibilities.

LEFT IN AUGUST 1969

VISIT TO MORGANTOWN, SUMMER 1976
Scope and Content Note: Everyone very receptive upon her return. Would have liked to have her stay in same capacity as before. Spent a week there, visiting local elite and non-elites. Overall, thought there had been some improvements, especially in terms of nutrition and welcoming strangers more readily. Still corresponds with a few people there, especially one girl who by now was married.

FURTHER REFLECTIONS ON FINAL DAYS IN VISTA
Scope and Content Note: Notes that one group of VISTA volunteers in Morgantown came after them. New volunteers came after Irene's departure, so no attempt by VISTA officials to maintain continuity, or chance to brief incoming volunteers. In terms of termination, filled out reports, but these were the normal progress and financial reports; no special final report, nor any “de-briefing” type of meeting or conference.

FURTHER REFLECTIONS ON FINAL DAYS IN VISTA, continued
Scope and Content Note: Main impact of VISTA experience was that she was more aware of poor areas around Dodgeville, too.