Studs Terkel Interview with Eileen Barthe

I remember one of the first families I visited. This was a family from somewhere in Illinois, who had come to Chicago because-- I think this man was a railroad man. He was a Scotsman. I'm not sure I remember all the details. But I do have a picture of this man because of something that happened.

I was told by my supervisor that when I went out to the home to investigate, that I really had to see the poverty, that I had to know exactly what this family needed and what they lacked. So I was told that I should investigate to see how much clothing they had on hand if they asked for clothing. Well, I looked in this man's closet, because this was what I was told to do, that I should look in the closets. And this man, he was tall, well built. I don't know why I think he had gray hair, because he wasn't terribly old. But this is what I remember about him.

And I think he'd been a railroad man, and had always worked. Lost his job on the railroad, came to Chicago with his family to get work. I don't think he found work, so they were stranded here. They lived in another county, so they didn't qualify for permanent relief here, but only for temporary assistance until we could verify their residence somewhere in central Illinois, I believe.

And he let me look in the closet. [INAUDIBLE] But he was so insulted. He was so insulted to think that I would do this. I'm trying to remember. I just, I remember this feeling of humiliation, this sense, this terrible humiliation. And I think he said, well, if you have to look in the closet, I really haven't anything to hide. I think that's what he said. But I could see he was very proud. He was deeply humiliated and I was too.