Title: Tere Rios Versace Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1941-1977

Creator:

• Versace, Tere Rios, 1917-1999

Call Number: Mss 268; Micro 823; Audio 516A; DC 724-725

Quantity: 3.0 c.f. (7 archives boxes), 1 reel of microfilm (35mm), 24 tape recordings, and 2 film reels

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Papers of Tere Versace, a free-lance writer who became active in the POW/MIA controversy of the Vietnam War era when her son Humbert Roque “Rocky” Versace was captured and executed by the Viet Cong. The collection includes correspondence, biographical material, clippings, writings, tape recordings, a film, and groups of personal papers of Rocky Versace and of Sister Mary Aquinas, the “flying nun,” about whom Mrs. Versace planned to write a biography.

Note:

There is a restriction on use of this material; see the Administrative/Restriction Information portion of this finding aid for details.

Language: English, French, Vietnamese

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss00268

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Marie Teresa Rios Versace was born November 9, 1917, in Brooklyn, New York. Using the pen name Tere Rios, she wrote numerous short stories and novels, such as An Angel Grows Up (1957), Brother Angel (1963); and The Fifteenth Pelican (1965), which was better known as The Flying Nun and upon which the television series of the same name was based. In 1936 she married Humbert Versace, a graduate of West Point who retired from the service in 1963 as a full colonel. The Versaces had five children: Humbert Roque (Rocky), Stephen Vincent, Richard Patrick, John Michael, and Teresa Dominique.

Their oldest child, Rocky, graduated from West Point in June 1959. During the course of duty as a military advisor in South Vietnam in October 1963 he was captured by the Viet Cong. Rocky's capture changed the course of life for the entire Versace family, and for the next ten years they strove fruitlessly first for his return and then for some definite information about his status.

In 1965 the Viet Cong announced that they had executed Rocky, but the family refused to accept this statement. Unexpected obstruction of their investigative efforts by the American government gradually eroded their faith in the U.S. government and influenced Tere Versace to write several fiction and non-fiction accounts of the POW problem, none of which were ever published. In addition, she continued to pursue other writing projects during the 1960s, including uncompleted biographies of Father Bartholomew Kestell, a Capuchin missionary working in the Near East, and of Sister Mary Aquinas, a Green Bay, Wisconsin, science teacher better known as the “flying nun.” During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Mrs. Versace also became an active member of the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia.

After a prolonged illness aggravated by the loss of his son, Colonel Versace died in the early 1970s. Then, in 1973, Mrs. Versace's long wait for definite word about Rocky finally ended when the Defense Department confirmed that his execution by the Viet Cong had taken place in 1965, an apparent reprisal for the execution of some Viet Cong. Following that, Mrs. Versace worked for Off Duty Magazine in [West] Germany and was a free-lance writer based in Black Earth, Wisconsin. Rios Versace returned to Puerto Rico in 1990. In 1999, she was diagnosed with lung cancer. Marie Teresa Rios Versace died on October 17, 1999.

The papers primarily cover the years 1962-1973 and include correspondence, biographical material, clippings, writings, audio recordings, a film, and personal papers of Rocky Versace and Sister Mary Aquinas. Although half of the collection deals with Mrs. Versace's literary career, a student of the Vietnam War era will find this portion of the collection of considerable interest for the Versace family experiences form the subject for several of her literary works. The 1966 draft of “Embroglio” and the diary-like “Rocky's Book” are particularly informative, providing much information that is missing from the general correspondence. The collection is organized in two main categories: Rocky Versace's Papers, and Tere Rios Versace's Papers.

Rocky Versace's papers include biographical material and memorabilia documenting his education and service record, correspondence from individuals other than family members (primarily concerning his desire to become a Catholic missionary), military training material, and Vietnam memoranda and briefing books.

Tere Rios Versace's Papers contain biographical material (some available on microfilm), correspondence, writings, and research material on Sister Mary Aquinas and the POW situation. The general correspondence includes letters to and from family members, friends, sympathizers, publishers, military personnel, and government officials. Prominent and frequent correspondents include Harold K. Johnson, Lyndon B. Johnson, Robert Kastenmeier, William Proxmire, and Norodom Sihanouk. These exchanges concern Rocky's capture, family matters, and book publishing negotiations. Also grouped with the family correspondence are cassette recordings exchanged with Rocky while he was in Vietnam.

Writings include the aforementioned works about Rocky's capture, as well as “Some Years Are Longer Than Others,” a more general discussion of the POW problem. Many of these works are present in more than one draft, although some of the drafts are very incomplete. Unfortunately, Mrs. Versace's best known work of fiction, The Flying Nun, is not well documented, although there is one draft version and a draft of the television pilot which was not written by Mrs. Versace.

Following the writings are research material and clippings gathered for use on her writing about POWs (available on microfilm) and the personal papers of Sister Mary Aquinas, which were given to Mrs. Versace for use in writing the Sister's biography. The latter includes four undated tape recordings and transcripts, biographical sketches and four chapters of an unidentified biography, a film of a 1956 Studio One program based on her life, general correspondence annotated by Sister Aquinas, microfilmed clippings, and junior high school textbooks on science, civics, and religion written by the Sister. The correspondence deals with science teaching techniques, aviation, and speaking engagements. There is also fan mail and exchanges with Sister Thomas More, a Franciscan nun, who also attempted to write Sister Aquinas' biography. Some letters from Colonel Barney Oldfield may also be noted.

Miscellany includes notes relating to Mrs. Versace's teaching at the Rhinelander School of the Arts, a transcript of an interview with Father Bartholomew Kestell (tape not in the collection), and a speech by James N. Rowe, who was captured with Rocky Versace.

Use Restrictions

Tere Versace and her children retain all literary rights.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Tere Rios Versace, Black Earth, Wisconsin, and Sister Mary Aquinas, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, 1973-1977. Accession Number: M73-97, M73-98, M73-109, M73-110, M73-111, M74-39, M74-89, M74-285, M74-286, M74-363, M74-381, M74-570, M75-479, M77-255, M77-356, M77-507

Processing Information

Processed by Michael Kohl, January 1974, and Carolyn J. Mattern, June 1980.

Mss 268	Series: Rocky Versace Papers
Box   1 Folder   1	Biographical material and memorabilia, 1951-1963
Box   1 Folder   2	General correspondence, 1955-1963
Box   1 Folder   3	Training material, 1960-1962
Box   1 Folder   4-5	Vietnam Notebooks, 1962-1963
Box   1 Folder   6	Commemorations, undated
	Series: Tere Rios Versace Papers	⇧
Box   1 Folder   7	Subseries: Biographical material, 1962-1969
Micro 823 Reel   1 Frame   1	Tere Versace and Versace family biographical clippings, 1963-1977
Mss 268	Subseries: General correspondence	⇧
Box   1 Folder   8-10	1946-1964
Box   2 Folder   1-5	1965-1977
Box   2 Folder   6	, Undated family correspondence
	Versace family tapes
516A/1	August 1, 1962 Scope and Content Note: Rocky describes his trip from Maryland to Vietnam and the situation there.
516A/2	August 10, 1962 Scope and Content Note: Rocky discusses the situation in Vietnam.
516A/3	August 1962 Scope and Content Note: Rocky speaks of his day-to-day activities and his assessment of the war.
516A/4	September 25, 1962 Scope and Content Note: Rocky and other members of his intelligence advisory unit talk about their life in Vietnam.
516A/5	October 9 & 16, 1962 Scope and Content Note: Rocky discusses day-to-day life in camp.
516A/6	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.
516A/7	November 1962 Scope and Content Note: Rocky discusses his situation and problems in Vietnam.
516A/8	December 1962 Scope and Content Note: Rocky discusses conditions in Vietnam, morale, and family matters.
516A/9	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.
516A/10	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]
516A/11-12	[Missing, January 2011]
516A/13	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.
516A/14	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.
516A/15	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.
516A/20-24	[Analog copies of 516A/1-9. Digitized in 2010.]
Mss 268	Subseries: Writings	⇧
Box   3 Folder   1	And Now the Stars, translated by Tere Versace, undated
	Brother Angel
Box   3 Folder   2-3	Draft, undated
Box   3 Folder   4	Printed copy, 1963
	“Embroglio”
Box   3 Folder   5	Outlines, 1965, 1966
	, 1966 version
Box   3 Folder   6	Pages 1-99
Box   4 Folder   1-2	Pages 100-320
Box   4 Folder   3	1969 version, pages 1-99
Box   4 Folder   4	1971 version, pages 73-75
	Flying Nun
Box   4 Folder   5	Draft, undated
Box   4 Folder   6	Printed copy, 1965
Box   4 Folder   7	Miscellany, undated
Box   4 Folder   8	TV pilot by Bernard Slade, second draft, August 18, 1966
Box   4 Folder   9-10	“Killer's Castle,” undated
Box   4 Folder   11	“No Tears for Guido,” synopsis for novel
	POW novel
Box   4 Folder   12	Undated, pages 2-10 (Pixie and Peter Ramstein)
	“Free Country”
Box   5 Folder   1	1967-1968 version, pages 9-406 incomplete (Elena & Jake)
Box   5 Folder   2	1968-1969 version, miscellaneous pages (Elena & Jake)
Box   5 Folder   3	1969 version, pages 2-120 incomplete (Elena & Jake)
	“Rest Assured”
Box   5 Folder   4	1970 version, pages 1-35 (Maria & Albert Joseph)
Box   5 Folder   5	1971 version, pages 1-10 (Maria & Albert Joseph)
Box   5 Folder   6	Puerto Rico book, research notes, undated
	“Rocky's Book”
Box   5 Folder   7	Draft, 1964, with , 1969 introduction
Box   5 Folder   8	Miscellaneous unused pages
Box   5 Folder   9	Captain Guild pages
	“Some Years Are Longer Than Others”
Box   5 Folder   10	1971 version, outline
	Early version
Box   5 Folder   11	Pages 2-94 incomplete
Box   5 Folder   12	Pages 2-5
Box   5 Folder   13	“Rest Assured,” draft, 1972, pages 1-132 incomplete
Box   5 Folder   14	Final version, undated, pages 1-132 incomplete
Box   5 Folder   15	Newspaper articles, 1971-1974
Box   5 Folder   16	Short stories and articles, undated
Box   5 Folder   17	Miscellaneous writings, 1966, undated
	Subseries: Sister Mary Aquinas research material	⇧
Box   6 Folder   1	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.
516A/16	Track 1, 1914-1935; Track 2, , 1930-1942
516A/17	Track 3, 1894-1910; Track 4, , 1870s, 1910-1915
516A/18	Track 5, 1941-1944; Track 6, , 1930s-1950s
516A/19	Track 7, 1944-1946
Mss 268 Box   6 Folder   2-9	Transcripts of autobiographical reminiscences
DC 724-725	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.
Mss 268 Box   6 Folder   10-12	General correspondence, 1941-1969
	Textbooks
Box   6 Folder   13-14	1953-1955
Box   7 Folder   1-4	1955-1966
Micro 823 Reel   1 Frame   168	Clippings, 1943-1968
	Subseries: POW research material	⇧
Reel   1 Frame   356	Clippings, 1962-1973
Mss 268 Box   7 Folder   5	House Committee Hearing on POWs, 1971
Box   7 Folder   6	Miscellaneous commemorations, 1965, 1971
	Subseries: Miscellany	⇧
Box   7 Folder   7	General, 1964-1972
Box   7 Folder   8	Notes regarding Rhinelander School of the Arts and other writing courses, undated
Box   7 Folder   9	Miscellany regarding other Versace family members
Box   7 Folder   10	Interview with Father Bartholomew Kestell, undated
Box   7 Folder   11	“My Five Years with the Viet Cong,” transcript of speech by Major James N. Rowe, March 7, 1970