Series: Tere Rios Versace Papers

Subseries: Biographical material, 1962-1969

Tere Versace and Versace family biographical clippings, 1963-1977

Subseries: General correspondence

1946-1964

1965-1977

, Undated family correspondence

Versace family tapes

August 1, 1962
Scope and Content Note: Rocky describes his trip from Maryland to Vietnam and the situation there.

August 10, 1962
Scope and Content Note: Rocky discusses the situation in Vietnam.

August 1962
Scope and Content Note: Rocky speaks of his day-to-day activities and his assessment of the war.

September 25, 1962
Scope and Content Note: Rocky and other members of his intelligence advisory unit talk about their life in Vietnam.

October 9 & 16, 1962
Scope and Content Note: Rocky discusses day-to-day life in camp.

October 2, 1962
Scope and Content Note: Rocky's views about Vietnam, the American press, and camp life; also, a Sergeant Campana speaks of a trip to Saigon.

November 1962
Scope and Content Note: Rocky discusses his situation and problems in Vietnam.

December 1962
Scope and Content Note: Rocky discusses conditions in Vietnam, morale, and family matters.

June 13, 1963
Scope and Content Note: Rocky and other members of his outpost converse in French and Vietnamese then speak in English about their day-to-day life.

July 1962 (1963?)
Scope and Content Note: Michael, Tracy, Humbert, and Tere Versace, a Catholic priest, and Chi-Chi Skelly discuss news from home. [Missing, December 2010]

[Missing, January 2011]

Major James N. Rowe: “My Five Years with the Viet Cong.” Address to the Cardinal Mindszenty Foundation, Twin Circle Conference, St. Louis, Missouri, March 7, 1970
Scope and Content Note: Speech on his experiences as a POW with Rocky Versace; indoctrination attempts by Viet Cong; everyday resistance by POW; death of Versace; escape of Rowe and return home.

Interview of Tere Rios Versace, Black Earth, Wisconsin, July 10, 1974
Scope and Content Note: Mrs. Versace tells of her attempts to learn the fate of Rocky Versace after his disappearance in Vietnam in 1963; interactions with the government; other POW recovery groups. Difficulties in the family.

Interview of Tere Rios Versace, Black Earth, Wisconsin, July 10, 1974 (continued)
Scope and Content Note: Mrs. Versace continues interview, talks of Rocky's initial status as “detained against his will” vs. POW and how it minimized the responsibility of the government to rescue him. Threats to Versace family by government for their outspokenness in learning the truth. Discussion of Rocky's co-captives, James Rowe and Daniel Pitzer and their avoidance of the Versace family upon return.

[Analog copies of 516A/1-9. Digitized in 2010.]

Subseries: Writings

And Now the Stars, translated by Tere Versace, undated

Brother Angel

Draft, undated

Printed copy, 1963

“Embroglio”

Outlines, 1965, 1966

, 1966 version

Pages 1-99

Pages 100-320

1969 version, pages 1-99

1971 version, pages 73-75

Flying Nun

Draft, undated

Printed copy, 1965

Miscellany, undated

TV pilot by Bernard Slade, second draft, August 18, 1966

“Killer's Castle,” undated

“No Tears for Guido,” synopsis for novel

POW novel

Undated, pages 2-10 (Pixie and Peter Ramstein)

“Free Country”

1967-1968 version, pages 9-406 incomplete (Elena & Jake)

1968-1969 version, miscellaneous pages (Elena & Jake)

1969 version, pages 2-120 incomplete (Elena & Jake)

“Rest Assured”

1970 version, pages 1-35 (Maria & Albert Joseph)

1971 version, pages 1-10 (Maria & Albert Joseph)

Puerto Rico book, research notes, undated

“Rocky's Book”

Draft, 1964, with , 1969 introduction

Miscellaneous unused pages

Captain Guild pages

“Some Years Are Longer Than Others”

1971 version, outline

Early version

Pages 2-94 incomplete

Pages 2-5

“Rest Assured,” draft, 1972, pages 1-132 incomplete

Final version, undated, pages 1-132 incomplete

Newspaper articles, 1971-1974

Short stories and articles, undated

Miscellaneous writings, 1966, undated

Subseries: Sister Mary Aquinas research material

Biographical material, 1959, undated

Taped autobiographical reminiscences
Scope and Content Note: Autobiographical reminiscences of Aquinas, from childhood to circa 1960. Growing up, education, teaching, service in convents, travel across United States.

Track 1, 1914-1935; Track 2, , 1930-1942

Track 3, 1894-1910; Track 4, , 1870s, 1910-1915

Track 5, 1941-1944; Track 6, , 1930s-1950s

Track 7, 1944-1946

Transcripts of autobiographical reminiscences

Studio One: “The Pilot”/CBS-TV, 1956
Note

Includes commercial for Westinghouse washing machines and preview of “Meet the Landlady's Daughter.”

This film is also listed in the “Studio One” Films finding aid on this website.

Physical Description: 16mm, b&w, 60 minutes 
Scope and Content Note: A romanticized version of the life of Sister Mary Aquinas, O.S.F., “The Flying Nun,” which traces her career, 1930-1956. The film concentrates on her efforts to “serve the need of the times” and to “keep one step ahead” of the inquiring minds of her students. This leads her to study aeronautics and get a pilot's license before World War II. She helps to establish over 500 aviation clubs in the U.S. and trains adults for government service for the Civil Aeronautics Authority (CAA) during the war. Sister Aquinas appears in person at the end of the film and makes a plea for additional funds for better training of science education teachers.

General correspondence, 1941-1969

Textbooks

1953-1955

1955-1966

Clippings, 1943-1968

Subseries: POW research material

Clippings, 1962-1973

House Committee Hearing on POWs, 1971

Miscellaneous commemorations, 1965, 1971

Subseries: Miscellany

General, 1964-1972

Notes regarding Rhinelander School of the Arts and other writing courses, undated

Miscellany regarding other Versace family members

Interview with Father Bartholomew Kestell, undated

“My Five Years with the Viet Cong,” transcript of speech by Major James N. Rowe, March 7, 1970