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About Oral History
Digital Identifier
RPCV-ACC-2019-015
Interviewee(s)
McMahon, Thomas Michael
Interviewer(s)
Wand, Patricia A. (Patricia Ann)
Access Restriction Status
Open
Use Restriction Status
None
Description
Thomas Michael McMahon served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) from 1961 to 1963 in education and irrigation projects. He was part of the first group of volunteers in mainland Asia. McMahon trained at the Experiment in International Living site in Putney, Vermont, with 31 recruits and studied the Bengali language and the social life and history of East Pakistan. He faced a medical problem and possible de-selection after training and was greatly relieved to enter the country with his group in November 1961. After homestay in Dacca and training in Comilla, he was assigned to teach electricity and physics in a technical school in Rajshahi where he helped to rewire emergency lights and became known as an electrical troubleshooter. In the second year, McMahon served as engineer advisor on the Ganges-Kobadak irrigation project and later became a volunteer leader. After the Peace Corps, he worked as a nuclear engineer and served 8 years as the mayor of Reading, Pennsylvania. McMahon continues with international projects and has two daughters who also became Peace Corps Volunteers. Interviewed and recorded by Patricia Wand, August 25, 2018. 2 digital audio files (web streaming files combined into 1 file).
Date(s) of Materials
25 August 2018
Extent
2 digital files (audio; stereo; 76 minutes)
Deed Status
Deeded
Copyright Status
Public Domain (Donated to the United States Government)
Collection
Series
006. Bangladesh (East Pakistan).
Preferred Citation
Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Collection. Bangladesh (East Pakistan). McMahon, Thomas M. (1961-1963): Oral history interview
Subject(s)
Organization(s)
Place(s)
Use Restriction Note
Consult with archivist to determine copyright holder.
Accession Number
ACC-2019-015
Transcript
Page Last Updated
November 8, 2023 2:03:25 PM EST