Bill McCloud papers on What Should We Tell Our Children About Vietnam?
Overview
Contains original letters from political and cultural figures in response to the question "What should we tell our children about the Vietnam war," which made up McCloud's book on the topic, as well as a typed draft, faxed galleys, publication-related correspondence, press clippings, a teachers' guide, and letters to McCloud in reaction to the book.
Dates
- Creation: 1987-1995
Language of Materials
English
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions on physical access to this material. Collection is open for research.
This collection is shelved offsite at the Harvard Depository. Retrieval requires advance notice. Readers should check with Houghton Public Services staff to determine what material is offsite and retrieval policies and times.
Extent
1 linear feet (1 box)Contains primarily the original letters on which Bill McCloud based his book What Should We Tell Our Children about Vietnam?, intended to provide guidance regarding instruction for students regarding the war in Vietnam. These letters were written to McCloud from national political and cultural figures, including Ronald Reagan, Eugene McCarthy, George Bush, Frances Fitzgerald, Geraldine Ferraro, Jimmy Carter, Barry Goldwater, Graham Greene, Allen Ginsberg, Richard Holbrooke, Robert McNamara, James Michener, John McCain, Gordon G. Liddy, Richard Nixon, Kurt Vonnegut, Oliver Stone, and many more. The letters are arranged alphabetically. Additional materials in the collection include letters in response to the book, including thank you notes from students, as well as press clippings and articles following its publications. There is a teachers’ guide that McCloud helped to develop. Some materials in the collection relate to the publication of the book, including a typed draft, faxed galleys, and related correspondence.
Biographical / Historical
Bill McCloud (1948-) is a Vietnam War veteran who became a junior high school teacher. When trying to develop a curriculum around teaching about the Vietnam War, he decided to ask those more directly involved, sending handwritten letters to soldiers, politicians, military officers, prisoners of war, nurses, refugees, writers and journalists, and families of veterans. He then published a collection of these letters in the book What Should We Tell Our Children about Vietnam.
Arrangement
Collection has been minimally processed. Materials were loosely arranged by McCloud into three groups: draft and publication-related correspondence; galleys, post-publication correspondence, teachers' guide, and press clippings; and the letters he received that make up his book, arranged alphabetically by correspondent surname.
Physical Location
Harvard Depository
Immediate Source of Acquisition
2009M-2. Purchase, Harmand Teplow Class of 1920 Book Fund, 2009 September.
Processing Information
Processed by Betts Coup, 2019.
- Title
- McCloud, Bill, 1948-. Bill McCloud papers on What Should We Tell Our Children About Vietnam?, 1987-1995 (MS Am 3317): Guide.
- Status
- completed
- Author
- Houghton Library, Harvard University.
- Date
- 2019 June 11
- Description rules
- dacs
- Language of description
- und
- EAD ID
- hou03208
Repository Details
Part of the Houghton Library Repository
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