DOI: 10.25549/cswa-c34-180
title: John Milner interviews, 1987-1988

description: Milner, John - Audio Oral History Interview 1988 - CSWA ❧ Interviewed by Elizabeth McBroom on February 15, 1988. An interview with John Milner as he discusses Ryther Child Care Center; Children's Protective Society; general state of social work in World War II San Francisco; work with Children's Protective Agency of San Francisco; social work in U.S. Army during World War II; experiences as inductee and soldier; psychiatric social work in Pacific Theater; psychiatric social work in India; establishment of social work in Army; opinion on work of Red Cross in India and Pacific Theater; contact with Arlien Johnson and entrance into USC; outstanding students; philosophy of teacher-student relationships; changes in student-teacher relationship at USC; use of audiovisual aids in teaching and social work; professional influences; philosophy of teaching; evaluation of student performances; student evaluations of professor's teaching; handling of student controversies in early 70s; relationship between art and practice of social work; other university teaching experiences; confrontation with racism while teaching at Tulane; experiences in foster care; early experiences in foster care in Idaho; changes in foster care; Head Start; adoption training program for social workers; practices of California Children's Home Society; article on American Indian adoptions and Phoenix meeting re same; juvenile delinquency; training of correctional officials through Delinquency Control program; training of judges in Idaho; use of audiovisual devices in teaching and demonstrations; Native American concept of adoption, as seen at Phoenix meeting; early resistance to taping of social work interviews; film production; reiterates earlier points re foster care and foster care in Idaho, and adoptions; more on Delinquency Control Institute; more on training of judges, Head Start, and use of audiovisual equipment; training films and videos; consultant on commercial films; study of Jewish Big Brothers; consulting work; House of Good Shepherd; studies for Family Service; volunteer work; pedagogy; consultation work; recruitment programs for adoption; state and national meetings for volunteers; foster parents; Junior League volunteers; Roundtable for Children; Welfare Council; Volunteer Bureau; volunteer work at MacLaren Hall. ❧ John Milner. Professor of Social Work. John Milner Interviews. Interviewed by Elizabeth McBroom. Dates of interview: 2-15-88; also an unspecified day in February 1988. 4 cassette tapes. Length of interview: 5 hours and 42 minutes. Transcripts of interviews: #1, 29 pp.; #2, 30 pp.; #3, 32 pp.; #4, 19 pp. CD containing interview and transcript. ❧ INTERVIEW #1: Ryther Child Care Center and Children's Protective Society. ❧ INTERVIEW #2: General state of social work in World War II San Francisco; work with Children's Protective Agency of San Francisco; social work in U.S. Army during World War II; experiences as inductee and soldier; psychiatric social work in Pacific Theater; psychiatric social work in India; establishment of social work in Army; opinion on work of Red Cross in India and Pacific Theater; contact with Arlien Johnson and entrance into USC; outstanding students; philosophy of teacher-student relationships; changes in student-teacher relationship at USC; use of audiovisual aids in teaching and social work; professional influences; philosophy of teaching; evaluation of student performances; student evaluations of professor's teaching; handling of student controversies in early 70s; relationship between art and practice of social work; other university teaching experiences; confrontation with racism while teaching at Tulane. ❧ INTERVIEW #3: Experiences in foster care; early experiences in foster care in Idaho; changes in foster care; Head Start; adoption training program for social workers; practices of California Children's Home Society; article on American Indian adoptions and Phoenix meeting re same; juvenile delinquency; training of correctional officials through Delinquency Control program; training of judges in Idaho; use of audiovisual devices in teaching and demonstrations; Native American concept of adoption, as seen at Phoenix meeting; early resistance to taping of social work interviews; film production; reiterates earlier points re foster care and foster care in Idaho, and adoptions; more on Delinquency Control Institute; more on training of judges, Head Start, and use of audiovisual equipment; training films and videos; consultant on commercial films; study of Jewish Big Brothers; consulting work. (Note: Pp. 20-21 repeats material on pp. 8-9). ❧ INTERVIEW #4: More on consulting work in Phoenix, House of Good Shepherd; studies for Family Service; volunteer work; pedagogy; consultation work; recruitment programs for adoption; state and national meetings for volunteers; foster parents; Junior League volunteers; Roundtable for Children; Welfare Council; Volunteer Bureau; volunteer work at MacLaren Hall. ❧ interview with John Milner at Annual Spring Forum of California Social Work Archives. Interviewed by Elizabeth McBroom. Date of interview: 4-13-87. 1 cassette tape. Length of interview: undetermined. Transcript of interview: 11 pp. ❧ INTERVIEW TOPICS: Description of Los Angeles and USC at time of Milner's arrival in 1946; description of adoption and foster care practices; foster care institutions; California Youth Authority; adoption programs throughout state; Delinquency Control Institute; training programs and studies in Hawaii and Phoenix; Head Start; use of audiovisual material; training films; teaching at Tulane. ❧ ADDITIONAL MATERIALS: 1. California Social Work Hall of Distinction Biography ( https://socialworkhallofdistinction.usc.edu/honorees/ ). 2. 1 diskette of transcript of interview. 3. Manuscript, offprint, correspondence, typewritten introduction to Elizabeth McBroom, "John Milner: A Teacher for All Seasons," Journal of Teaching in Social Work 3 (1989): 139-49. 4. Program for installation of William Meezan as the "John Milner Professor of Child Welfare," 11-5-97. 5. Offprint of biographical statement from installation program (see no. 3). 6. 1 reel-to-reel tape: "Xmas Tape: The Social and Psychological Meaning of Holidays." Recorded for Vista del Mar, Nov. 1975, by John G. Milner, professor, U.S.C. 7. Curriculum Vitae.