March 26, 1975 (Letter from Gordon)

Your very informative letter was much appreciated.  (I'm trying to keep contact with Montana and MSP.)  And thanks much for the "Findings of Fact, etc." in Sather.  Give Bill my sincere, warm greeting when you next see him.

Very bizarre indeed, the theft!  Are you sure?  Didn't happen to me, but I was expecting such things.  You should try to reproduce them (a debriefing) as soon as possible.  And then leave them elsewhere...on tape or something.

Enclosed is the anonymous article, which is still being pedalled.

On my job:  as for the future, I'm keeping my options open.  Am casting about for alternative work (in liaison, media or information access), probably with Native peoples locally.  I would very much like to be adopted and given a name by my new brothers and sisters.  Will be working with the local Tacoma Indian Center shortly (serving mainly: Puyallup, Misqually, and Steilaqnamish -- of the now 22 small tribes of western Washington.  The Duwamish of the Seattle area have just joined S.T.O.W.W.)

After 5 years in libraries, from clerical to librarian, from prison to university to public, I'm about ready to leave "the institutions".  The bureaucracies kill my spirit.

Give my clear greetings to N.A.I.L. brothers.

March 4, 1975 (Letter from Gordon)

Just a note on a few things:

You've never mentioned it, but I will assume you have read the long manual Dick asked me and the others to write about our institutional positions.  All aspects of your job are covered, including life in the community, area contacts, etc.  Again, if for any reason you do not have access to it, I will be pleased to send you a copy of my copy.  It amounted to a total debriefing and is strictly for internal use by state library staff.  A.J. has a copy too, as well as Dick.  It is 26 pages long, mostly single-spaced.

Glad to see the papers are still circulated, so I will continue sending them.  One incident I had with the Black Panther might be worth citing.  There was one article I posted (at the time I wasn't regularly bringing in the Panther papers) that mentioned by name a man (black) who snitched on fellow inmates in a California case.  The reason I posted it was because the case also involved another California inmate transfer who was at MSP for awhile and who, when he went out to the coast to testify for the defense (Ron Jones -- long gone), was set up by MSP staff for reprisal on his return.  The rumor spread was that he had testified for the State.  I phoned one of the defense attorneys in Oakland from home and confirmed that Ron was telling the truth.  Thus a rumor was quashed, and the MSP staff member who had started it was discredited. This sort of thing is common practice.

Anyway, the named snitch (in the issue of Black Panther) was transferred to MSP while I was still there (his name is Johnson, I believe)!  Crist confronted me with this, saying it was an irresponsible and dangerous error on my part, as if I had any control over what was printed in a national weekly of 150,000 subscriptions, let alone the dissemination of such information.  I said that it was an error on Crist's part to place Johnson out at Rothe Hall, since he was a nationally advertised snitch!  I feel he should have been in isolation until appropriate staff were warned, at the very least.)  This was sort of a "last straw" between Crist and me, and he asked me to leave the prison forthwith.  This was two weeks after I had resigned, and waiting for a replacement!  If I had it to do over again, I would have been not so outspoken, and asked to consult with Dick first.  That is the cool thing to do:  let him have his say, take it as he puts it to you, saying you will have to consult with Dick.

I can justify taking in the Panther paper on these grounds:  It is intercommunal, and has news of events in the various "minority" communities (including native peoples, of which is comprised from 25-30% of the MSP population -- a dramatic statement in itself).  It tires to break down interracial and (now intersexual discrimination and exploitation, and promotes cooperation.  It has been more or less Marxist socialist, and the new editor (David DuBois) now runs a series on China, so it leans that way, with a stronger third world view.  Crist more or less despises it, but then his criterion of objective journalism is exemplified by Deer Lodge's Silver State Post!!

The point I want to make is:  When confronted by something like that, be cool -- let him make his point -- and say you'll see Peel about it.

I justify papers like Panther, Barb, Militant, etc. not only on constitutional grounds, but on rehabilitative grounds.  If a lot of these minority, low economic and otherwise oppressed and alienated guys see that their "misfortunes" are shared, and have a socio-political basis that is defensible, their self-respect, self-esteem and self-confidence (hence motivation overall) will strengthen.  What is the use of shoving utterly straight Christian and majority establishment (WASP, or liberal white) stuff at them?!  They KNOW that point of view (and its dominance is in large measure what got them in prison in the first place.)

Also, the prison lets the North American Indian League bring in hundred of copies of Akwesasne Notes, which present all the views of militant AIM people, etc.  I asked the editor of The Hunter to send me back copies, by the way, but haven't received any.  Could you ask Editor Al Charlot or whoever it is to do this?

Please do send me a copy of my letter to the editor of the Missoulian.  Haven't seen it.

Montana and Deer Lodge in the spring and summer are great, so you have a lot of improvement to look forward to.  I'm a westerner by adoption, myself, so maybe you're new to the west.  And to the rural scene.  After several months it slowly begins to grow on you.  But there are those who, for a variety of understandable reasons, don't like the country, period.  In places like Montana it's individuals precisely who count, in one's social relations.  Not groups or organizations.  UM in Missoula and MSU in Bozeman can provide university-type contacts.  In Montana you can also get to know legislators, state officials, supreme court justices, biggies generally, relatively easily. Cultivate contacts like these.  One sure way to make a lot of friends in Deer Lodge is to work with youth.  (Scouts, the high school, sports teams.)  Unless you want to join the Elks!!  Also, the little book store just off Main on Milwaukee is a contact for Powell County cultural life.  Life in Montana is very different, Paul, but it definitely has its good side -- for us city-bred types it takes time to appreciate it.  Have you visited KDRG studios just outside of town?  (Marisa Mappes and I got very close, by the way -- almost considered getting married.)

Also, getting to know a ranching family or two this spring can get you into horse-riding.  I put an ad in the paper and contacted a rancher for learning horseback riding from his 3 daughters!!  (Wasn't there long enough to follow through.)

Dick or other Helena folk will have other ideas.  How do you like working with them?

For my part, I also carried on a heavy correspondence, inside and outside of the state.  Do you have any kind of tape recorder?  I could send you or loan you various taped programs off Seattle AM and FM radio stations.  I have a Sony 800-B reel-to-reel (5") tape recorder, and can record at any speed.  If you could compensate me for the tape cost, I'd send you all tapes you want (line-recorded).  Just let me know the kind of things you want to hear -- I can also record on cassette.

P.S.  Here are a few good personal friends to contact (mention that I referred you to them): Sandy and Howard Heffelfinger -- Howard is a city guy, came here recently to be Powell County Planning person, hence a controversial figure.  Both are in their early 30's.  They have an adopted baby and a huge dog named Aristotle ("Ari") who eventually will be a friend.  See him in the county courthouse; I think he's in the assessor's office.  Just ask for him by name.  They are also in the phone book.

Dave and Lynn Pugsley -- a young couple with a baby, and ardent bicyclists.  No phone.  He works at the high school as a science teacher, I think.  They may have split up (one never knows these days).  Ask whoever you know where they are -- they were living in a trailer a stone's throw across the river from you.  Marisa and the Heffelfingers know them.  They are enthusiastic and hip (if straight) young marrieds.

The bookstore I mentioned is:  Books and Records, 306 Milwaukee.  The proprietor is Dean Tavenner (wife -- Trish) who has money and is a wheeler-dealer in real estate, stamp collections, etc.  He is a heavy-set, mustachioed guy with a direct, blunt gaze.  A local cultural pillar worth knowing.

One last note:  Do you visit the State Law Library?  To get legal materials for the men?  By the time I left I was spending an hour there, borrowing law books for copying at SML (returned before returning to D.L.)  Learned a lot about various legal reference tools.

Enough for now!

February 19, 1975 (Letter from Gordon)

I'm mailing today another package of newspapers.  I no longer get the Guardian or the Militant  so all there is are Berkeley Barb and Panther.  Also one more poster.

Did you get the last package?  Would appreciate a card of acknowledgement each time so I know you got them and can still use them.

If for some reason you don't take them to the MSP guys, I know university places would like them, once you're through with them, like Freddy's Feed and Read in Missoula.

My Northwest history job here is fairly dominating.  If I were out of debt I'd prefer to haul my trip out to the mountains on the coast and bum around for the summer.  Who knows, I may be enabled to do that, since federal funds for my present position end May 30th and I am not sure if they'll be able to refund me beyond that.  (The probability is high, but not guaranteed.)

Are you still funded by money transferred from the Dept of Institutions?  Let me know if you get involved with the Deer Lodge Library.  Visit it sometime and ask to see their basement.  I made an inventory of their gov docs.

P.S.  We will be subscribing to the Great Fall Tribune, finally, starting in mid-April.

It is depressing working in an institution (city library) that you know is completely ignored by native people...however, we strive constantly to staff and supply it as if they were to descend on us any minute.  I'm really quite alienated from the whole Euroamerican thing (mentally and mind-set).

Greetings to all at MSP.  With the weather shortly to improve, you will find a love affair starting between yourself and Montana!

My memories of MSP men are sharp, as if graven in metal.  To tell the truth, I was really an "inmate" in disguise!

Wrote a letter to the Missoulian, which probably wasn't printed.

December 11, 1974 (Letter from Gordon)

Paul -- the following letter is pretty free-wheeling and quite subjective -- not to say chaotic.

I wanted to let you know before hand that the same evaluation, observations, and conclusions are arrived at in the Manual (for my old job) and various enclosures and memoranda that are in the MSP librarians' file at MSL, but in a restrained, relatively objective and deliberative manner.  Well aware of my own proclivities and emphases, and peculiar insights and sensitivities, I tried to back off and take a look, comprehensive and fair look at the MDL position and work at MSP, but only as presently conducted but with proposals for the future.

If you are unable, in the end, to have access to these materials, I will be delighted to provide you with a copy of my own set.  (End of prefatory notes.)

Well I can see you're already going over the contents of Pandora's box, even at this early stage!  I assume you have already asked Dick Peel for the long manual and accompanying memoranda on my work and evaluation of the job, all of which he has.  If it does not appear you will be given these materials, let me know and I'll send you the whole shitpot full. Also, Alma Jacobs has a complete file of the above, as well.  (So did I, heh, heh!)   It would be preferable if one of them gave you access to it (thinking in terms of their support, etc.)

In the Manual and the memoranda I spell out all my views and measurements of the job.  I have also this fall written a 15-page (double-spaced) account of the job, called "Prison Librarianship -- Some Controversial Aspects", written in an anonymous context, which I am trying to get published.  It is loaned out at the moment, but when it returns I will send you a copy, for yourself.  It is thoroughly doctored for anonymity.

I have a package of papers, and also a number of posters, both of which I will try to get off this week.  It might get a bad reaction if Crist sees my mailing address on the papers, but "I can't help it".  Whether you remove it or not is your business.  Crist tends to get terribly upset and "emotionally involved in (his) job" (something he accused me of, by the way.)   Hoping you can get access to the above sources, I won't run on here about the job, expect to say that the prison pressure is to get you to identify totally "with the inmates".  Cultivate an objective, professional stance and approach.  So that any decision you make has been well-though-out.  That way you can never be caught off guard.

Paul, try your very cool and patient best to stay there as long as possible --

On the administration people you mentioned:  Generally speaking, never trust anything they tell you.  (Not totally anyway.)  Boyette, Jaksha, Blodgett, Weer, and Yankoskie are first of all the warden's toadies and flunkies.  They are excellently conditioned bureaucratic subordinates.  Like they talk to the prisoners, they will feed you a story, a line or a "cue" to get you to talk loosely. Control of staff, to Crist's ilk, is every bit as important as control of inmates.  (Read the Policy and Procedures on staff conduct in my life.)  Communicate orally, not in writing, if at all possible.

Hence the supreme importance of maintaining your own professional integrity.  I never had problems with the prisoners, or with line staff -- only with Roger, Joe, and Jim.  Blodgett is especially treacherous because he comes on so loosely, easy, and "nice".  Don't believe your eyes and ears!!  His head is aching for a wardenship all his own, once Crist goofs up badly enough.

Jaksha - a toady and a dunce (but who will be silent at times, too)

Yankoskie - a craven, uptight, paper bully of a dunce

Blodgett - viper (nothing he doesn't say will come to pass) and bully.

Weer - an original nice guy undergoing final institutionalization.

Boyette - a redneck, at bottom

Crist - Hitleresque and arch-chauvinist (watch him around women), custody-obsessed, "Christian" (watch out!), militaristic (chain of command).

But despite all this--

I let 15 months go by before letting it go - I also loved it, and as a first library job I learned an immense amount.  I went about my job with full self-respect and with a pride in associating with such a victimized and oppressed clientele, (whose spirit also remains high -- right?)  I came to like Montana very much -- try to get East any time you can.  (At first I was thoroughly uptight, coming from an urban ghetto straight to rural Montana!  Bought a .38 special and was armed most of the time off the job.  (Fearful of Montanans!!)  But I got over that -- it's a fine life environment  really, and maybe someday I'll be working again over there (at least for another stint).

My prior association with parolees and prisoners helped.  Plus 3 years army experience (in the 1950's, well remembered though).  Also several years in militant civil rights and anti-ware activity. (In Seattle the next stage was terrorism, when Johnson relented...)  Not to state my politics -- I'll let you draw your own conclusions.

I kept a detailed journal of my experiences there, as well.

I am corresponding now and then with Al Charlo of the Hunter, and it's a wonder Crist's mail room lets it happen.  Others have been refused permission to write me.  I asked to be able to write:  (list of names).  I know several of these are gone, but no matter.  Bless every one of their devious hearts!  Maybe under capitalism, "deviance" is every person's survival option.

Now to the State library -- bless their hardy trooper souls -- I accept and recognize a minimal degree of bureaucratic complicity on their part (the politics of government?), regarding working with the prison and the Dept. of Institutions.  I hope Dick Peel can weather the storm and find the recognition he richly deserves.  Though we came to disagree somewhat at the end (I am totally against the concept of a "warden", and the absolute thought control he feels necessary to exercise over staff in every area.)  I really appreciated working with him that first year or so.  When Alma Jacobs came things sort of fell apart, at MSL, structurewise (organizationally).

The "complicity" I refer to above is derived from: 1.  The fact that Peel wasn't upset that Crist had a big dossier on me, which included an excessive amount of evaluative materials by a variety of persons.    (I wanted to demand access to it.)  2.  The fact that perhaps MSL does the same thing (background checks of an excessively prying nature) and that Peel (for one) sends letters of reference or recommendation without ever sending you a copy.  This is a kind of oppression that thoroughly erodes the trust and confidence of "subordinates".  If we don't work for the people's best interests, whose interests are we serving?

P.S.  Keep in mind too that Deer Lodge is a very small, loyalist town....the barroom walls have eyes and ears.

P.S.  Regarding meetings or (audiences) with Crist, or any of his lieutenants; often a certain reaction will be feinted (like shock or whatever with the comix), to put you on the the spot as corrupting innocents, etc.  Here let it be said that anyone who stays longer in the closed institution than a nominal period (1-2, 3 years?) is becoming corrupted.  The essence of traditional, and closed, institutions is abnormality and prostitution and corruption, both in principle and practice. (Anything to stay on the job, maintain or curry the administration's favor, anything to control the prisoners for control's sake.)

There is a monstrous double standard working in prisons that should see a whole lot of collaborators taken to the wall and shot.  One thing we con the public into thinking we're doing; one thing we are really doing.  And control of staff under these circumstances is critical.  Don't educate them too much.  One reason "staff training" has come so late into prisons is because no warden wants an "aware" group of officers to deal with.  They might get some self-respect and start reflecting on their work, and on the efficacy and purpose behind "corrections".  A lot of line staff come from the same socio-economic experience as the prisoner s they tend -- a situation that has not escaped the "aware" con's observation (see Fred Perry, et al.)

September 16, 1974 (Letter from Gordon Hill)

Just a note from the former MSP librarian....

Any help or introductions I can give you I will gladly do.  Especially in Deer Lodge, of course.  Has Dick given you the manual I was asked to write, for the position?

I also would be able to donate newspapers I subscribe to, namely The Guardian, The Militant, Berkeley Barb, and the Black Panther Intercommunal News Service.  Any or all of these.  For my materials selection philosophy on these items, see the above-mentioned manual.

The MSP librarian who preceded me, John Mason, now as MHS, is a close friend, and I hope you get acquainted.

At any rate, I wish you well.  Let me know where you are living.  I am working on a long article, on my MSP experience, and if and when it appears someplace, I will let you know.

I started work at Tacoma Public Library August 26th, as librarian for the Northwest Room, which is the Pacific Northwest collection, and I'm just getting into the job.  I will emphasize Montana, Idaho, B. C., and Native Americana, these areas being a lot weather than more local, recent subjects.

Take care, and keep cool.  You will be a very valuable staff worker to the men, especially.

At first when I arrived from the black ghetto area in Seattle to start work in Deer Lodge (just as winter hit in '72 -- a week after I arrived in late November  temp went to 40 below!), I was somewhat paranoid.  I came to like Montana, however, and would like to return, in a year or so, circumstances permitting.  Depends on how things go here.  Basically, though, I'm beginning to wonder, at age 42, if it is worth it to keep pouring oneself into a "career", when a quieter balance between it and plain living seems more sensible.  Like living and working on or near an Indian settlement: The Makah at Cape Flattery:  or in "rural" Montana....