Oral history
Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Collection
RPCV-ACC-2015-023
Martin R. Ganzglass served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Somalia from 1966 to 1968 as a lawyer. He served alongside his wife Evelyn. Their Somalia IV training group at Columbia University Teachers College included both teachers and lawyers. As one of the lawyers, Ganzglass would help the newly independent country translate laws into English and integrate the diverse colonial legal systems. Assigned to the National Police Force headquarters in Mogadishu, Ganzglass advised officials in the interpretation and enforcement of laws. Working closely with police leadership, Ganzglass faced numerous challenges, including several with potential international repercussions. He and Evelyn, who was teaching in a girls school, taught English informally in their home and socialized with Somalis and fellow volunteers. The two years in Somalia formed the foundation of their strong marriage and resulted in life-long friendships with several Americans and Somalis, including a family of political refugees. Interviewed and recorded by Patricia Wand, February 25, 2015. 1 tape (web streaming files combined into 1 file). Note: Audio skips due a technical problem with the original tape.