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derivative filename/jpeg
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363-05900 to 363-05902.pdf
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Digital Object Identifier
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363-05900 to 363-05902
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Title
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Beverly Keever's letter to her family from Korea
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Description
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Letter from Beverly Keever to her parents and sister shortly after the May 16 coup. Keever discusses the coup, the curfew, her travels, and articles she is writing about the coup and Korean famers.
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Transcript
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Dear Mom and Dad and Joani,
Tokyo, May 26, 9:45 p.m.
I've been a very bad girl for not writing you more often--please
forgive me. I hope that you weren't worried about me. And hope you got
my cable, Mom, which I sent knowing you'd be concerned at this time.
I should have written sooner and I intended to each night, but I was actually
so busy. Since the May 16th coup d'etat, I wrote 6 stories for AP and was
trying to get last minute information for a couple of others. There was
always something to do, and I never did get it all done very well.
So much has happened that I hardly know how to begin. First, I'm all
right no bullets were even fired at me. I was in Pusan during the big
explosion on the 16th and called AP with a story on the situation there.
From there, I went to Kyongju-supposedly a hot-spot tourist attraction
of a "golden age" in Korean culture. But wasn't very good. I didn't get
Bick in Korea-but had a slight touch of dysentry that day. Then want back
to Seoul and tried to write as much as I could. Hope that you saw some of
the stories, but think that New York probably filed them under JUNK.
Tuesday, I went to the DMZ-the demiliatarized zone and spend a
an interesting day. That's the place patroled by RM.North Koreans on one
side and the South Koreans and U. S. on the other. Supposed to be neutral,
but it isn't. Both sides spy on each other. And it's supposed to be
"demilitarized", but it isn't. Both sides can carry non-automatic weap sons
It's a crazy mess.
in.
xnxx Monday, I had interviewed thax MBs. Chang do-Young, the wife of
the head of the military revolutionary committee and now prime minister.
Hope you got to see the story. Was sorty of fun. She's fairly Americanized,
but still alot of Korean too. Their official residence--for the chief of staff
of army--was large and spacious, but very poorly furnished. In the guest
room, there wxxxx were 2 davenports facing each other covered with mousey
looking material and a small coffee takble inbetween. She served me
tea and delicious strawberries that had a sirupy white sauce on top. Was great.
I keep wondering how you all are--and hope that everything is
Joanie, what's new with you and Vienna-except the arrival JFK?
this bring alot more work to you and the Embassy? And how is Gramps? And what
does Stewie have to say about you Mom? Dad, I keep assuming you're okay-or
are you still getting shots also.
fine.
Does
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On may 25, Thursday, I interviewed the wife of Maj. Gen. Pak Chung-Hi,
the big wheel who engineered the whole revolt. She was exceptionally nice--
typically Korean, soft-spoken, shy and modest. Mrs. Chang was rather
vain and artificial in trying to be too Westernized.
Left at 2 p.m. from Tokyo and arrived here at 5:30. Am now staying
at this hotel, but will probably move again. Sort of out of the way and
rather expensive. Will write you more about is where to write me. I
haven't check the AP office here since I got in too late, but hope that
you have letters for me. I'd better have one from hahat sister of mine or I
feel inx sorry for her.
Incidently, Mother, I mailed you a small box of materials I collected
on Korea, plus alot of my notes. It's in a Coca Cola box-very dilapadated-
will probably never make it, but let me know if you dop or don't get it.
Have carbons of most of the stuff. Also, did you get the first small box of
stuff I sent you from Korea and Joanie did you get the small asily exe
enveolope with pin in it. Hope so. Sent them sea mail, so will probably
take an age.
I figured out that this Korean jaunt cost me $321.60-including $135.60
plane fare, round-trip. So will probably have to negotiate with the AP
Hope that I can meet expenses here.
bureau here for money.
About the coup-it really didn't affect me too much. They were
fairly kind to foreigners--not strict at all. When I came in from
Kyongju, I arrived passed 10 p.m., the curfew hr. No taxaxx taxis or busses
to take me to a hotel. I was with a young college boy who had goen with
me as interpreter. Finally a couple of U. S. MP's dropped me off at a hotel
downtown. And then I had to be in at 10 and later at 11 curfew hour, which
didn't hurt me. I made it everynight except one-when the AP man dropped me
The press could go anywhere at any time. But I didn't have a curfew
off.
pass.
And actually, it was pretty hard for a change in the govt. to affect the
lives of most of the people anyhow. Life goes on pretty much like always-
except they have more to talk and stew about. I don't know what will happen
there. The situation doesn't look too good. But, with tighter govt.
control and less corruption, alot could be done.
going to be paradise. They have started out a pretty high-handed fashion-
some say they're a carbon copy of the dictatorship under Rhee. But they might
But even then Korea isn't
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curbed later, tho I doubt it.
I'm hoping to write an article on the ari farmer's life in Korea.
18ts areally an exaggeration to call them farmers-they're actually good
gardners. Each farmer has so little land. Hope to start working on
that tomorrow, after checking things around town.
I'm getting a little groggy right now. Will quite for now and write
more later and more often. I should cable you that I'm ok, but think I best
save my dough.
Please do write. I'll pick up my mail tomorrow and then write me later.
Love,
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Date
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1961, May 26
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Subject
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Agriculture--Economic aspects--Korea (South); International travel; Tourism; Democracy--Korea (South)--History; Korea (South)--History--May Revolution, 1961; Keever, Beverly Deepe
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Location
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Seoul, Korea
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Coordinates
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37.5665; 126.9780
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Size
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20 x 26 cm
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Container
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B174, F7
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Format
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personal correspondence
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Collection Number
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MS 363
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Collection Title
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Beverly Deepe Keever, Journalism Papers
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Creator
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Keever, Beverly Deepe
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Collector
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Keever, Beverly Deepe
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Copyright Information
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These images are for educational use only. To inquire about usage or publication, please contact Archives & Special Collections.
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Publisher
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Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries
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Language
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English
