Interview with Jack Wilson, August 18, 2020

Interview Summary

Jack Wilson was a Peace Corps volunteer in the first group to serve in Liberia, from 1962 to 1964. He served as Associate Peace Corps Director in Sierra Leone from 1966 to 1968, Desk Officer in Washington, D.C. for Nigeria and The Gambia from 1968 to 1970, and Country Director in Fiji from 1970 to 1972. Jack first heard of Peace Corps when it was announced by President Kennedy in 1961, and applied with his fiancé, planning to marry before entering service. Training for Liberia was conducted at the University of Pittsburgh. He and his wife were assigned to a Baptist Mission boarding school in Suehn, where he taught English. The interview discusses his training, service in Liberia, experiences as Peace Corps staff in Sierra Leone and Fiji, travels in Africa, and developing the first in-country training programs for volunteers. It also discusses his work with the Kentucky RPCV Oral History Project.

Interview Keyword

Peace Corps staff Peace Corps (U.S.)--1960-1970 Peace Corps (U.S.)--1970-1980 Liberia (Country of service) 1962-1964 (Date of service) Suehn (Assignment site) Sierra Leone (Country of service) 1968-1970 (Date of service) Fiji (Country of service) 1970-1972 (Date of service) Peace Corps Staff Job: Desk Officer Peace Corps Volunteer Job: Education Peace Corps Staff Job: Associate Director Peace Corps Staff Job: Country Director In-country training Kentucky RPCV Oral History Married Peace Corps volunteers Peace Corps (U.S.)--Management

Interview LC Subject

Peace Corps (U.S.)--Liberia Peace Corps (U.S.) Peace Corps (U.S.)--Sierra Leone Sierra Leone Liberia Peace Corps (U.S.)--Fiji. Fiji Acculturation Communication and culture Culture Culture shock Intercultural communication Interpersonal communication and culture Interpersonal relations Interpersonal relations and culture Language and culture Language and languages Lifestyles Manners and customs Voluntarism Volunteers Peace Corps (U.S.)--Gambia Peace Corps (U.S.)--Nigeria

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.