Carl Booth Papers
Scope and Contents
All the letters are addressed to Betty who was living in their family home in Orlando Florida and dated between 1967 and 1968. Many of the letters are on Vietnam or army stationary with maps of the country on the envelopes. The letters discuss Carl's work, Vietnam as a country, problems with the army, and missing his family back home. He tries to not worry Betty saying that he's "in a safe place" despite "Charlie being active" in the distance. Occasionally the couple have arguments, usually about Betty being jealous of what she believes to be "entertainments" while serving overseas. He answers that he loves her and is hurt by her accusations but eventually he says he "gets over it." In a letter dated January 20, 1968, marked "personal" he says he's "stoned" but seems to have meant drunk, regardless of the substance he is more open. Here he writes about his deep affection for Betty and how much he misses her and not just sex but everything about her. Booth also discusses the war more in depth saying, "I want you to know my frank opinion and that is that we sure as hell are not winning this war. The situation becomes graver each day. If I get home in one piece or alive it will be close to a miracle in my estimation. Old Charlie is getting to where he plays with us all the time. As Charlie plays he gets stronger and the danger becomes greater." He continues, "I don't normally write and tell you what is going on ... sometimes it is because we are on alert and Charlie is playing hell with us." Carl lets her know that if anything happens to him, he loved her and their children and wants to be remembered as a good husband and father. The letters end in the summer of 1968.
Dates
- 1967 - 1968
Conditions Governing Access
Biographical Note - Carl Booth
Extent
.42 Linear Feet (1 Hollinger box)
Language of Materials
English
Overview
Physical Location
- Title
- Finding Aid for the Carl Booth Papers
- Status
- Partially Processed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Vanderbilt University Special Collections Repository
Jean and Alexander Heard Library
419 21st Avenue South
Nashville TN 37203 United States
specialcollections@vanderbilt.edu