Interview with Jewell Griggs Miller, May 23, 2021

Interview Summary

Jewell Griggs Miller served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Afghanistan, from 1966 through 1968, in the Smallpox Vaccination Program. Jewell applied to Peace Corps after graduating from college, and working for the Red Cross for several years, in locations in the U.S. and abroad. She was inspired by John F. Kennedy, and wanted to serve in Africa. She accepted the invitation to Afghanistan, knowing little about the country. Jewell’s training group was exclusively women, since the program they would be working in would serve primarily Afghan women and children. They trained in Brattleboro Vermont, at the School for International Training. Training included Farsi Language and Afghan culture. Jewell was based in Kabul, and traveled throughout the country administering vaccines. The vaccination program was a collaboration between Peace Corps and the World Health Organization (WHO). After Peace Corps, Jewell attended graduate school at Yale. She married a fellow volunteer that she’d met in Afghanistan. She remains in touch with the remaining volunteers from her group.

Interview Keyword

Peace Corps (U.S.) Afghanistan (country of service) Afghanistan 1966-1968 (date of service) Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Smallpox Vaccination Program Peace Corps (U.S.)--1960-1970 Korea Red Cross School for International Training Farsi (language) Kabul World Health Organization (WHO) Black Americans African Americans

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

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