Interview with Ann W. Olson, December 7, 1990

Partial Transcript: So were just going to start with, um, nineteen, um...

Segment Synopsis: Olson talks about living in Morehead, Kentucky during her time in the VISTA program, mentioning her interactions with the locals. She also talks about a newspaper article about Jean Honrath that was considered to be negative and that caused people in the Elliot County to resent outsiders.

Keywords: "Redbook" articles; Disparaging comments; Hospitality; Interactions with locals; Kilguar family; Living conditions; Middle Fork (Ky.); Newspaper articles; Power of the press; Resentment; Sandy Hook (Ky.)

Subjects: Elliott County (Ky.); Morehead (Ky.); Rowan County (Ky.); Volunteers in Service to America

Partial Transcript: So anyway, in January I found this place to live on Mock Ridge with the Kilguars...

Segment Synopsis: Olson talks about some of her experiences during her time as a VISTA in Elliot County, Ky. She talks about the tension between outsiders and the local power structure, mentioning that she was branded as a communist.

Keywords: AV training; Appalachian Volunteers; Applachian culture; Bunker Hill school; Communist rumors; Farrah Holbrook (??); Importance of power; Indoor plumbing; Kurt Holbrook; Local teens; Middle class; Preschool programs; School superintendents; Sense of time; Stark (Ky.); Status in the community; Summer of 1966; Summer programs; Tensions with outsiders; VISTAs

Subjects: Elliott County (Ky.); Kobak, Sue Ella Easterling; Pikeville (Ky.); Volunteers in Service to America

Partial Transcript: One of the debilitating aspects of poverty is that you feel like you don't have choices.

Segment Synopsis: Olson reflects upon her time in the VISTA program and talks about her experiences once she left the program. She goes on to talk about returning to Kentucky, mentioning some of the changes she noticed upon coming back.

Keywords: Appalachian Volunteers (AVs); Changes; Coming back to Elliot County; Employment after VISTA; Impact; Last experiences; Sue Kobak; Understanding local politics; War on Poverty

Subjects: Appalachian Region; Elliott County (Ky.); Morehead (Ky.); Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Volunteers in Service to America; Washington (D.C.)

Partial Transcript: Well tell me a little more about what was risk taking?

Segment Synopsis: Olson talks about the risk-taking and the importance of listening to others. She also talks about the characteristics that make a good VISTA.

Keywords: Appalachian Volunteers (AVs); Characteristics of VISTAs; Importance of listening; Interactions with locals; VISTA

Subjects: Volunteers in Service to America

Partial Transcript: What, what do you think, um, could have been done differently, um, in the program that would have made it more effective?

Segment Synopsis: Olson talks about the things that the Appalachian Volunteers could have done differently.

Keywords: Appalachian Volunteers (AVs); Lack of cooperation; Long-term commitments; More community involvement; Training methods; VISTAs

Subjects: Appalachian Region; Volunteers in Service to America

Partial Transcript: Um, why would you say, um--I know you said you couldn't remember lots of daily things but...

Segment Synopsis: Olson talks about why her experience in VISTA had a great impact on her life. She also talks about an incident that happened when she was in VISTAs.

Keywords: "Dixie" and Burt; Blankenbleckers family; Communist rumors; Confrontations; Holbrook family; Intense experiences; Regretful experiences

Subjects: Morehead (Ky.); Volunteers in Service to America

Partial Transcript: This really gets to what I really wanted to ask you next which is uh, how this experience...

Segment Synopsis: Olson talks why she is grateful for her experiences in Appalachia. She talks about how since she has moved back to the area her past experiences have helped her relate to the community.

Keywords: Cultural changes; Empowerment; Having choices; Moving back; Relationship with the community; VISTA

Subjects: Appalachian Region; Volunteers in Service to America

Partial Transcript: Well, would you say that your, your work with the gifted children also, um, has grown out of that?

Segment Synopsis: Olson talks about her work with gifted children and gifted programs in Kentucky, mainly in Rowan County. She also talks about her son's educational experiences in rural schools. She goes on to mention what it's like raising her children in a rural community.

Keywords: Gifted programs; Improvements; Involvement; Kentucky Association for Gifted Kids; Lifestyles; Low-income gifted kids; Parents of gifted children; Problems; Providing opportunities; Raising her children; Rural life; Son's educational experiences; Support groups

Subjects: Elliott County (Ky.); Kentucky--Rural conditions.; Rowan County (Ky.); Rural children; Rural schools--Appalachian Region