Peace Corps Volunteers at work in Chile

Children carrying a bucket through urban slums in the Población Colo Colo, Nueva Palena, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteers worked with the community to build homes during Chile's mid-1960s urban housing deficit. Self-help housing projects were one of the ways Chile addressed urban slum conditions in the 1960s and 1970s.
First Lady Hillary Clinton conversing with event attendees at the opening of the Internado Centro Cultural Mapuche in Temuco, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteers Will Cady 1992-1994 on right and Quinton Harris 1995-1998 attend the inauguration of the Internado Centro Cultural Mapuche, and discuss its mission with their guest, First Lady Hillary Clinton, 19 April 1998.
First Lady Hillary Clinton speaking at the closing ceremony of the Peace Corps in Chile, Santiago, Chile
First Lady Hillary Clinton speaking at the United States Embassy in Santiago for the closing ceremony of the Peace Corps in Chile after four decades of service, 20 April 1998.
A Mapuche woman and man standing with their oxen and cart, Chile
Mapuche woman and man, who are indigenous Chilean inhabitants.
The Peace Corps Serving Chile booklet, 1967
A booklet outlining the history of the Peace Corps in Chile. It also gives an overview of the volunteer work and programs maintained by the Peace Corps, such as rural and urban community development, education, forming cooperatives, and helping with professional assistance.
Peace Corps Volunteer Amanda Herrera walking hand-in-hand with a group of Mapuche children going to the opening of the Internado Centro Cultural Mapuche, Temuco, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Amanda Herrera with Mapuche children in traditional dress going to the inauguration of the Mapuche Cultural Center. Behind is the completed Internado Cento Cultural Mapuche, 19 April 1998.
Peace Corps Volunteer Barbara Honer dances with Mapuche villagers, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Barbara Honer worked with the Mapuche community, Chile, 1968.
Peace Corps Volunteer Bertram Millhouse stands with a group of people at the Universidad Técnica del Estado in Santiago, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Bertram Millhouse, who served in Chile, taught communication classes at the Universidad Técnica del Estado in Santiago, Chile, 1966/1967.
Peace Corps Volunteer Bill Davis does a Mapuche dance with his neighbors, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Bill Davis 1965-1967 worked in rural community development projects in the campo near Lautaro. Davis worked with reforestation and the improvement of rabbit raising methods projects in 1967.
Peace Corps Volunteer Bill Egan with friends at Población Colo Colo, Nueva Palena, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Bill Egan worked in urban community development in Nueva Palena, Chile. Egan worked with the community to build homes during Chile's mid-1960s urban housing deficit. This self-help housing project received a lot of publicity from New York Times reporter, Juan de Onis, philosopher Walter Lippmann, Robert Kennedy, and President Nixon.
Peace Corps Volunteer Blanch Everhard sits next to a student at a loom during her weaving class at the Instituto de Educación Rural in Curicó, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Blanch Everhard taught weaving at the Instituto de Educación Rural in Curicó, Chile, 1966/1967.
Peace Corps Volunteer Bob Laine helping a student with arithmetic, San Fernando, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Bob Laine taught arithmetic to campesinos, and assisted with rural health programs in San Fernando, Chile, 1965/1967.
Peace Corps Volunteer Brian Loveman goes over site plans with members of the town committee selected to direct the relocation project, Trovolhue, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Brian Loveman worked with a community development project to help relocate and rebuild Trovolhue, which began experiencing annual flooding after the 1960 earthquake. Loveman worked directly with the townspeople on the project, 1965/1968.
Peace Corps Volunteer Charles Murray and an unidentified man working on electrical equipment at the Universidad Técnica del Estado in Temuco, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Charles Murray taught electrical engineering at the Universidad Técnica del Estado in Temuco, Chile, 1965/1967.
Peace Corps Volunteer Charlotte St. John at the Centro de Madres with community members from the Población Jose Maria Caro in Santiago, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Charlotte St. John worked in Población Jose Maria Caro in Santiago, Chile, 1966.
Peace Corps Volunteer Chuck Lewis helps community members repair a well, near Temuco, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Chuck Lewis worked in rural community development near Temuco, Chile in 1966. He later worked as an assistant to the regional Peace Corps Director and became Associate Peace Corps Director in Honduras.
Peace Corps Volunteer Clare Palmer holds a puppy and poses with a woman holding a baby, Toconao, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Clare Palmer 1966-1968 worked in rural community development with women in Toconao, helping them market their handicrafts.
Peace Corps Volunteer Dave Brigham demonstrates first aid bandaging, Santiago, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Dave Brigham worked in urban community development in poblaciones in the Santiago suburbs teaching classes in first aid and nutrition, 1967.
Peace Corps Volunteer Dave Fisk (center) going over plans for new houses with the Junta de Vecinos at Población Colo Colo, Nueva Palena, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Dave Fisk 1965-1967 worked in urban community development in Nueva Palena, Chile. Fisk worked with the community to create a housing cooperative and build homes during Chile's mid-1960s urban housing deficit. This self-help housing project received a lot of publicity from New York Times reporter, Juan de Onis, philosopher Walter Lippmann, Robert Kennedy, and President Nixon.
Peace Corps Volunteer Dave St. John, left, working a cinva ram machine with fellow workers at Población Jose Maria Caro, Nueva Palena, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Dave St. John 1965-1967 worked in urban community development in Nueva Palena, Chile. St. John worked with the community to build homes during Chile's mid-1960s urban housing deficit. This self-help housing project received a lot of publicity from New York Times reporter, Juan de Onis, philosopher Walter Lippmann, Robert Kennedy, and President Nixon.
Peace Corps Volunteer Denny Darrympele instructs a población resident in weight lifting, Santiago, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Denny Darrympele taught Santiago población residents physical fitness and electric wiring, in Santiago, Chile, 1966
Peace Corps Volunteer Dick Powell talks with an expert in rabbit farming at an Angora rabbit cooperative, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Dick Powell worked in rural community development with campesinos near Angol, Chile to help start an Angora rabbit production cooperative.
Peace Corps Volunteer Don Cameron and local villagers carrying plants down a dirt road in Temuco, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Don Cameron worked on a reforestation project which aimed to help improve foraging and crop production in Temuco, Chile, 1966.
Peace Corps Volunteer Emery Panosh practices with the band that he helped restart after a 1960 earthquake, Valdivia, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Emery Panosh worked in urban community development. He taught musicians to read music and repair their instruments after a 1960 earthquake devastated the area, 1966.
Peace Corps Volunteer engineer Phil Burgi surveying road into new Trovolhue town, Trovolhue, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Phil Burgi worked with a community development project to help relocate and rebuild Trovolhue, which began experiencing annual flooding after the 1960 earthquake. As an engineer, Phil surveyed for the road, the plaza, the new school, and designed a new bridge and developed a site plan, 1965/1968.
Peace Corps Volunteer Frank Nuchi, left, with a colleague from INACAP designing a new improved hydraulic press, Nueva Palena, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Frank Nuchi 1965/1967 worked in urban community development in Nueva Palena, Chile. Nuchi worked with the community to build homes during Chile's mid-1960s urban housing deficit. This self-help housing project received a lot of publicity from New York Times reporter, Juan de Onis, philosopher Walter Lippmann, Robert Kennedy, and President Nixon.
Peace Corps Volunteer Fred Stoffel lecturing a class on electricity at the Universidad Técnica del Estado in Temuco, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Fred Stoffel taught first year students about electricity and electrical engineering at the Universidad Técnica del Estado in Temuco, Chile, 1965/1967.
Peace Corps Volunteer Gage Skinner in traditional dress sitting with Mapuche peoples, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Gage Skinner served in Chile between 1964-1966 under the supervision of the Dirección de Asuntos Indígenas (DAI). Skinner helped start the successful Mapuche beekeeping venture and proposed marketing the sticks and balls from the traditional Mapuche game of chueca, which sold out in Temuco. Next came drums, flutes, wooden masks, and cradle boards. Profits from the sales went one-quarter to the crafts person and the rest to the Reducción Quetrahue's women's organization for the purchase of wool and dye for weaving projects. After the Peace Corps, Skinner became a cultural anthropologist, with a specialty in Native American studies. Skinner eventually donated his extensive collection of Mapuche arts and crafts to San Diego's Museum of Man.
Peace Corps Volunteer Gail Bakken Goodhue displays Mapuche weavings and handicrafts at a conference, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Gail Bakken Goodhueworked with Mapuche weavers and wood carvers in Llama Volcano and Laguna Iclama regions to sell their crafts to supplement income. The Mapuche women of this region make traditional blankets, mantas, saddlebags, belts, and the Ski Llama vest. Mapuche men of this region make musical instruments and small wooden carvings.
Peace Corps Volunteer Gail Bakken Goodhue leads a meeting with Mapuche weavers, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Gail Bakken Goodhue worked with Mapuche weavers and wood carvers in the Llama Volcano and Laguna Iclama regions to sell their crafts to supplement income. The Mapuche women of this region make traditional blankets, mantas, saddlebags, belts, and the Ski Llama vest. Mapuche men of this region make musical instruments and small wooden carvings.
Peace Corps Volunteer Gaye Gilbert talks with a local man, near Quepe, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Gaye Gilbert 1965-1967 worked in rural community development in reducciones near Quepe, Chile. During her time in Chile Gilbert helped to build a 50 meter suspension bridge and was able to help the community with health problems because she spoke the Mapuche language.
Peace Corps Volunteer Helen Freeman Miller helping a child read music at a community orchestra practice, Valparaiso, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Helen Freeman Miller taught music and was music advisor for the School of Music, Universidad Católica in Valparaiso, Chile, 1966.
Peace Corps Volunteer Jack Marcus helps community members skin a sheep in preparation for a wedding celebration, San Vicente, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Jack Marcus worked on rural community development projects in San Vicente, Chile, 1966.
Peace Corps Volunteer Janie Beers presents a bowl of food to locals, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteers Janie Beers worked in rural community development with villagers.
Peace Corps Volunteer John Vinton examines a woman's pottery in Cobquecura, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer John Vinton worked with potters. Peace Corps volunteers frequently worked with artisans to create income generating cooperatives and industries selling their art.
Peace Corps Volunteer Jonathan Isleib demonstrating architectural design for his class at the Universidad Técnica del Estado in Santiago, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Jonathan Isleib taught architecture design at the Universidad Técnica del Estado in Santiago, Chile, 1966.
Peace Corps Volunteer Kay Burgi works in the lab at the Temuco Hospital, Temuco, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Kay Burgi worked as a lab technician and trained other lab technicians at the Temuco Hospital, Temuco, Chile, 1966.
Peace Corps Volunteer Larry Kness converses with two other men on a construction site in Barros Arana, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Larry Kness worked in urban community development as a civil engineer and master carpenter with community members in Barros Arana on a co-op and community center building, 1966.
Peace Corps Volunteer Larry Recter gives a lecture on crop production, Caburgua, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Larry Recter 1965-1967 worked in rural community development in the campo near Caburgua on a school construction project.
Peace Corps Volunteer Lynne Alper and Mapuche children holding a kitten on the Reducción Quetrahue, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Lynn Alper 1967-1969 worked in rural community development, and helped Mapuche women on the Reducción Quetrahue (Quetrahue Reservation) market their weavings.
Peace Corps Volunteer Lynne Alper and Mapuche children holding a kitten on the Reducción Quetrahué, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Lynn Alper worked on rural community development projects at the Reducción Quetrahué. She and Dan Alper replaced Gage Skinner in Quetrahué, and helped the weavers expand their market, 1968.
Peace Corps Volunteer nurse Diane Myers takes the blood pressure of a pediatric patient at John F. Kennedy Hospital in Valdivia, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer nurse Diane Myers worked at the John F. Kennedy Hospital in Valdivia, Chile. Myers served alongside Chilean colleagues in pediatric, burn, medical and surgical units. The program focused on helping prepare practical nurses and nursing student at University Austral.
Peace Corps Volunteer nurse Kate Lorig consults a mother regarding her child at the Consultorio Gil de Castro, Valdivia, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer nurse Kate Lorig worked in the well-child clinic at the Consultorio Gil de Castro in Valdivia, Chile.
Peace Corps Volunteer nurse Susan Blake and Dr. Jorge Hausmann inspecting an x-ray at the John F. Kennedy Hospital in Valdivia, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer nurse Susan Blake worked at the John F. Kennedy Hospital in Valdivia, Chile. Blake served alongside Chilean colleagues in pediatric, burn, medical and surgical units. The program focused on helping prepare practical nurses and nursing students at University Austral.
Peace Corps Volunteer Paul Slattery helping a woman adjust a displayed weaving in a shop, Santiago, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Paul Slattery worked in urban community development from 1966-1968, working with artisan groups through out the Central Valley, helping bring their handicrafts to shops in Santiago, 1967.
Peace Corps Volunteer Peter Wadsworth accompanying artisan fisherman on a boat, San Antonio, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Peter Wadsworth ran a fish packing plant in San Antonio where he froze and packed fish he bought from the artisan fisherman cooperative that he helped establish and began advising local fishermen in the port of San Antonio, Chile, 1967.
Peace Corps Volunteer Peter Wadsworth pulling in fishing nets with fishing cooperative members, San Antonio, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Peter Wadsworth ran a fish packing plant in San Antonio where he froze and packed fish he bought from the artisan fisherman cooperative that he helped establish and began advising local fishermen in the port of San Antonio, Chile, 1967.
Peace Corps Volunteer Peter Walsh plays his accordion for co-workers at the inauguration of their co-op and community center in Barros Arana, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Peter Walsh worked in urban community development in Barros Arana, Chile, 1966.
Peace Corps Volunteer Rex Jackson posing with his fourth grade students in a classroom, Melipeuco, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Rex Jackman with fourth grade students, Melipeuco, Chile, 1997.
Peace Corps Volunteer Rich Cross at the Instituto de Desarrollo Agropecuario (INDAP) in Pitrufquén, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Rich Cross worked with a savings and loan/consumer co-op in Pitrufquén, Chile. During his time in Chile, Cross wrote a text with flip charts for El Instituto de Desarrollo Agropecuario (INDAP) personnel to use.
Peace Corps Volunteer Richard Bennett and an unidentified man in a science lab at the Universidad de Chile in Montemar, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Richard Bennett taught marine biology and researched in the Oceanography Department of the Universidad de Chile in Montemar, Chile, 1976.
Peace Corps Volunteer Sharon Loveman chatting with a neighbor in Trovolhue, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Sharon Loveman worked with a community development project to help relocate and rebuild Trovolhue, which began experiencing annual flooding after the 1960 earthquake. As part of the project, Sharon taught home economics, taught the women in the three Centro de Madres how to can and preserve their fruits and vegetables and how to use sewing machines and patterns. Sharon also collaborated with a program initiated by the Director of the Regional hospital which trained health volunteers, establishing well-child clinics in Trovolhue and surrounding countryside, 1965/1968.
Peace Corps Volunteer Walter White instructs a forging class at the ship building school in Valdivia, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Walter White taught forging at the ship building school in Valdivia, Chile, and helped build recreation equipment for poblaciones, 1967.
Peace Corps Volunteers and community members, including Peace Corps Volunteer Brian Loveman, working on drainage ditches to make roads passable for Trovolhue construction projects, Trovolhue, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteer Brian Loveman worked with a community development project to help relocate and rebuild Trovolhue, which began experiencing annual flooding after the 1960 earthquake. Loveman worked directly with the townspeople on the project, 1965/1968.
Peace Corps Volunteers Jim Olenhauser (left) and Buso Warner demonstrate tree planting for a reforestation project, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteers Jim Olenhauser (left) and Buso Warner worked in rural community development educating and working with the reforestation of the region in 1966.
Peace Corps Volunteers John Buzenberg and Gail Bakken Goodhue meet with the Artesania Araucana Instituto Indígena, Icalma, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteers John Buzenberg and Gail Bakken Goodhue worked with Mapuche artisans in Icalma. John Buzenberg worked with the Artesania Araucana Instituto Indígena in Temuco to set up an artisan sales area. Gail Bakken Goodhue worked with Mapuche weavers and wood carvers in the Llaima Volcano and Laguna Iclama regions to sell their crafts to supplement incomel, 1967
Peace Corps Volunteers Pat Weidner and Jim Olenhauser show a forestry film to the Mapuche members of the community, Puerto Domínguez, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteers Pat Widner and Jim Olenhauser worked in rural community development in reforestation and road construction projects near Puerto Domínguez, 1966.
Peace Corps Volunteers Warren Howell and Paul Smith working with a credit savings and loan cooperative in Valdivia, Chile
Peace Corps Volunteers Warren Howell and Paul Smith worked with a credit savings and loan co-op in Valdivia, Chile, 1966.
Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Peter Wadsworth in San Antonio, Chile, 1998
Peace Corps Volunteer Pete Wadsworth ran a fish packing plant in San Antonio where he froze and packed fish he bought from the artisan fisherman cooperative that he helped establish and began advising local fishermen in the port of San Antonio in 1967. In April 1974 Wadsworth moved back to San Antonio to help run the artisan fisherman cooperative. In 1976 Wadsworth started exporting fish and built a small freezing plant. In 1982 Wadsworth and his Chilean partners devised a new way to catch swordfish that increased the total annual catch from 140 tons in 1978 to 6500 tons in 1992.
Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Peter Wadsworth's fish packing plant, San Antonio, Chile, 1998
Peace Corps Volunteer Pete Wadsworth ran a fish packing plant in San Antonio where he froze and packed fish he bought from the artisan fisherman cooperative that he helped establish and began advising local fishermen in the port of San Antonio in 1967. In April 1974 Wadsworth moved back to San Antonio to help run the artisan fisherman cooperative. In 1976 Wadsworth started exporting fish and built a small freezing plant. In 1982 Wadsworth and his Chilean partners devised a new way to catch swordfish that increased the total annual catch from 140 tons in 1978 to 6500 tons in 1992.