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About Oral History
Digital Identifier
RPCV-MR-2009-015-004
Interviewee(s)
Ford, Michael
Interviewer(s)
Klein, Robert, 1928-2012
Access Restriction Status
Open
Use Restriction Status
None
Description
Michael Ford served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Kenya from 1964 to 1966 on a rural community action project. He was in the very first group assigned to Kenya; these volunteers worked as land settlement officers in a program developed after the country's independence to transfer property from white Europeans back to native Kenyans. Ford trained at the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, with agricultural training in Madison. In Kenya, he was assigned to the Shamata settlement scheme near the town of Thomsons Falls in a Kikuyu area. After four months, he was transferred to the larger Ol Kalou settlement scheme nearby. At both places, Ford provided accounting, administrative, and agricultural support. He also tried to go out and visit every farmer on the scheme in person. After the Peace Corps, Ford completed a PhD in African studies and political science. He returned to visit Ol Kalou in 1987. In the interview, Ford also discusses his experiences as a Black American in Kenya. Interviewed and recorded by Robert Klein, November 6, 2008. 3 tapes (web streaming files combined into 1 file).
Date(s) of Materials
6 November 2008
Extent
3 audio cassettes (mono; 148 minutes)
Deed Status
Deeded
Copyright Status
Public Domain (Donated to the United States Government)
Collection
Series
046. Kenya.
Preferred Citation
Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Collection. Kenya. Ford, Michael (1964-1966): Oral history interview
Subject(s)
Organization(s)
Place(s)
Use Restriction Note
Consult with archivist to determine copyright holder.
Accession Number
MR-2009-015
Transcript
Page Last Updated
October 28, 2023 9:18:57 AM EDT