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Department of Special Collections and University Archives
McFarlin Library. University of Tulsa.  2933 E. 6th St.  Tulsa, OK.  74104-3123 (OKT - OkTU)

Bruce McAllister papers

Collection 2001-008

  

Dates:  1981-1989.

Extent:  4 linear feet (8 boxes, 1 oversize map folder)

Level of Description:  Item level.

Name of creator(s):  Bruce McAllister.

Date of creation:  Unknown.

Scope and Content:   The papers consist of the following:

  • Draft versions of, “Dream Baby,” a short story that appeared in the anthology, In the Field of Fire (New York: St. Martin’s/Tor, 1987), and was a finalist for the Nebula Award in 1988. “Dream Baby” was later expanded to become the novel Dream Baby (New York: St. Martin’s/Tor, 1989), the various drafts and galley proof of which are also included within the collection.

  • The first and only draft of the short story, “Little Boy Blue,” compressed from an abandoned novel by the same name appearing in Omni Magazine (June, 1989). Three pages of “Little Boy Blue” would later be expanded to become the short story, “Dream Baby”.

  • Draft versions of the short story, “Songs from a Far Country,” directly inspired by the ESP accounts of Vietnam vets. 

  • Draft version of an un-produced screenplay, “Skywatchers,” written in collaboration with McAllister’s three Vietnam vets who acted as his consultants for the novel, Dream Baby. 

  • Correspondence between McAllister and numerous Vietnam vets in which they shared their ESP experiences with him, many of which were, with their permission, incorporated directly into the novel, Dream Baby; correspondence between McAllister and various U.S. government agencies as well as the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, requesting information pertaining to his research.

  • Vocabulary lists of English words and phrases for which the author needed translations into Vietnamese and Russian.

  • Various maps of Vietnam and Southeast Asia, some heavily annotated by the author. (All maps are located in Map Case 2: Drawer 10)

Administrative/Biographical History:  Author Bruce McAllister researched the subject of stress-induced extra sensory perception (ESP) and the possibility of a CIA project rumored to have existed during the Vietnam Conflict in which possible uses of mind control were explored.  He also gathered accounts of ESP experiences from numerous Vietnam veterans and contacted various government agencies (American and Vietnamese) for information.  This research became the basis for the writing of the novel Dream Baby, the short stories "Little Boy Blue," "Songs From a Far Country," and the un-produced screenplay "Skywatchers."

Access and Copyright:

Language and Scripts:  English.

Finding aid/Inventory:  Finding aid is available online.

Provenance/Source of Acquisition:   Purchased from Ken Lopez, Jul 2001.

Date(s) of description:   Milissa Burkart, Sept 2001.

Access Points:

Subject Headings 

 
Personal names 


Corporate names

Places

Inventory
 
The author, Bruce McAllister, researched the subject of stress-induced extra sensory perception (ESP) and the possibility of a CIA project rumored to have existed during the Vietnam Conflict, in which possible uses of mind control were explored.  He also gathered accounts of ESP experience from numerous Vietnam veterans and contacted various government agencies (American and Vietnamese) for information.  This research became the basis for the writings housed within this collection.
       
Personal accounts of extra sensory perception
1:1 “Sections of the novel (D.B.) which came from letters from Vietnam vets and which I edited for the novel.  I contacted the letter writers for their approval and for their input.”  Author’s handwritten note on file folder containing this material.    
       
Ashley, William
1:2 Ashley, William from McAllister.  3 Apr 1988.  “Unless I’m mistaken, we corresponded briefly years ago…”  Photocopied typed and signed letter, 1s with typed transcription, 1p    
       
  Photocopied typed draft of Ashley’s account as it appeared in the manuscript, 1p.    
       
Davidson, Paul
1:3 Davidson, Paul to McAllister.  9 Feb 1981.  “…After the first two or three missions I seemed to acquire a ‘6th sense’ about where to find ‘Charlie’…”  Handwritten and signed letter, 2s with typed transcription, 2p.    
       
  Davidson, Paul from McAllister.  3 Mar 1981.  “…Your sixth sense experiences in Nam are fascinating and exactly what I’m looking for…”  Typed letter, 2s.    
       
  Davidson, Paul from McAllister.   2 Apr 1982.  “The work on the novel continues and I thought I’d try to make contact again…”  Carbon copy typed letter, 1s.    
       
  Davidson, Paul from McAllister.  3 Apr 1988.  “This is a longshot, since the address I’m using is from 1981 and you never answered my last two letters…”  Photocopied typed and signed letter, 2s.    
       
  Photocopied typed draft of Davidson’s account as it appeared in the manuscript, 1p    
       
Hammett, John W.
1:4 Hammett, John W. to McAllister.  no date.  “…To tell of stories of the terror and dehumanizing actions of what happen [sic] in the war is almost impossible…”  Typed letter, 1s.    
       
  Hammett, John W. from McAllister.  3 Apr 1988.  “This is a longshot, since the address I’m using is an old one…”  Typed and signed letter, 2s with envelope, returned as undeliverable.    
       
  Photocopy of same with handwritten note  by McAllister.    
       
  Photocopied typed draft of Hammett’s account as it appeared in the manuscript, 1p.  (See Chapter 10, p92 in published version)    
       
Hinsch, Rod
1:5 Hinsch, Rod to McAllister.  no date.  “The ESP experience is real, I have heard stories from guys I believe and have on at least six occasions experienced it myself…”  Handwritten and signed note, 1s with Ttyped transcription, 1p.    
       
  Hinsch, Rod from McAllister.  10 May 1988.  Typed and signed copy of the about letter sent to a different address.    
       
  Photocopied typed draft of Hinsch’s account as it appeared in the manuscript, 2p.    
       
Janssen, Alan J.
1:6 Janssen, Alan J. to McAllister.  [circa 1982-1983].  “I read about your ad in the N.V.V.R. 10/82 about ‘combat ESP’…”  Handwritten and signed letter, 1s.    
       
  Janssen, Alan J. to McAllister.  28 Sept 1983.  “One combat experience I vividly remember happened during June or July 1969 during Operation Pipestone Canyon…”  Typed and signed letter, 2s.    
       
  Janssen, Alan J. to McAllister.  19 Dec 1986.  “I received your postcard today.  Glad to hear that your novel is getting published…”  Handwritten and signed letter, 1s with typed transcription, 1p.    
       
  Janssen, Alan J. from McAllister.  3 Apr 1988.  “A good draft of the ‘Vietnam ESP’ novel is finished at last…”  Photocopied typed and signed letter, 2s.    
       
  Photocopied typed draft of Janssen’s account as it appeared in the manuscript, 1p.    
       
John [?]
1:7 John [?]  from McAllister.  20 Aug 1987.  “…I’ve got a dozen Namvets—Laos ’59, Phoenix and Ibex, Marine Recon, SEAL, Oval Office briefer and others—helping out as consultants…”  Photocopied typed and signed letter, 6p.    
       
 Kimpel, Ed
1:8 Kimpel, Ed to McAllister.  27 Jan 1981.  “I would like to tell you about my experiences in Vietnam with a fire direction crew for a 4.2 mortar section…”  Handwritten and signed letter, 2s with typed transcription, 1p.    
       
  Kimpel, Ed from McAllister.  10 Feb 1981.  “Thanks for sharing your ‘sixth sense’ Vietnam experience with me.  It’s not exactly what I’m after for the book…”  Carbon copy typed letter, 1s.    
       
  Kimpel, Ed to McAllister.  17 May 1988.  “…I was glad to hear that the novel is going to get published…you really don’t owe me anything…”  Handwritten and signed letter, 1s.    
       
  Kimpel, Ed from McAllister.  2 Jun 1988.  “Thanks for writing, and for waiving the fee…”  Photocopied typed and signed note, 1s.     
       
  Kimpel, Ed to McAllister.  [circa 1989].  In reference to receiving a copy of the book.  Handwritten and signed note, 1s.    
       
  Kimpel, Ed to McAllister.  [26 Apr 1989].  “Thanks for sending me the copies of the story…I liked the story but it was kind of depressing…”  Handwritten and signed letter, 1s.    
       
   Photocopied typed draft of Kimpel’s account as it appeared in the manuscript, 2p.    
       
Longgrear, Paul (Reverend)
1:9 Longgrear, Paul (Reverend).  to McAllister.  [circa Jan 1981].  “I had what I consider an out of body experience on 7 Feb 1968 in Lang Vei…”  Handwritten and signed letter, 1s with typed transcription, 1p.    
       
  Longgrear, Paul (Reverend) from McAllister.  28 Jan 1981.  “…If I’m correct in guessing that your 1968 ‘out of body’ experience has something to do with the ‘Reverend’ now in front of your name, I can certainly understand your caution…”  Typed letter, 4s.    
       
  Longgrear, Paul (Reverend)  from McAllister.  25 Mar 1981.  “Given your silence, I have to assume that my last letter managed to alienate you pretty completely…”  Photocopied typed and signed letter, 2s    
       
  Longgrear, Paul (Reverend) to McAllister.  1 Apr 1981.  “I regret that you did not receive the 60 minute tape I sent you…”  Handwritten and signed letter, 1s with typed transcription, 1p.    
       
  Longgrear, Paul (Reverend) to McAllister. no date.  “…track down the tape if you can…”  Handwritten and signed note, 1s.    
       
  Longgrear, Paul (Reverend) to McAllister.  16 Apr [1981].  “…the average kid in Nam had no death wish what so ever.  (If you ever run into the writer Tim O’Brien ask him about Nam)…”  Handwritten and signed letter, 3s with typed transcription, 3p.    
       
  Longgrear, Paul (Reverend) from McAllister.  30 Apr 1981.  “Dr. Thelma Moss, one of the nation’s leading esp [sic] researchers, has suggested that after the novel-in-progress is done I put together a book of combat esp [sic] accounts…”  Typed and signed letter, 2s.    
       
  Longgrear, Paul (Reverend) to McAllister.  no date.  “I’m glad you’re getting some insight…you have my interest aroused so now I want to know you better…”  Handwritten and signed letter, 1s with typed transcription, 1p.    
       
  Longgrear, Paul (Reverend) to McAllister.  no date.  “…John Early Arm in the Wine was one of my Sgts. in V.N…”  Handwritten and signed leter, 2s.  Attached:  Photocopied typed and signed letter Florida Southern College (Dean Pearce) letter to all concerned assuring them of Longgrear’s ability to complete his degree; with cover sheet directed to Col. Kenneth E. Webber, Jr. (Infantry, Professor of Military Sciences), 2s.    
       
  Longgrear, Paul (Reverend) to McAllister.  no date.  “…You will want to advertise your novel in the SF magazine The Drop.  Potential audience is in the thousands.”  Handwritten and signed letter, 1s.    
       
  Longgrear, Paul (Reverend) to McAllister.  no date.  “Sorry to hear you got side tracked on the novel.  Interest is real high on VietNam [sic] right now…”  Handwritten and signed letter, 1s.    
       
  Longgrear, Paul (Reverend) to McAllister.  15 Jan 1984.  “…In your last communication you said you would not ‘turn away from it again…there’s too much of importance spiritually in the thing to turn my back’…”  Handwritten and signed letter, 1s.    
       
  Longgrear, Paul (Reverend) to McAllister.  [Christmas] 1986.  “…I thought you were in prison in some foreign country on espionage charges…”  Photocopied typed letter with handwritten note at bottom, 1s.    
       
  Longgrear, Paul (Reverend) to McAllister.  2 Jul 1987.  “I love you.  Your stories are still weird but I love you…”  Typed and signed letter, 1s.    
       
  Longgrear, Paul (Reverend) from McAllister.  13 Aug 1987.  “…Thanks too for thinking of putting Dream Baby in your movie friend’s hands….”  Photocopied typed and signed letter, 3s.    
       
  Longgrear, Paul (Reverend) from McAllister.  3 Apr 1988.  “A good draft of that ‘Vietnam ESP’ novel is finished at last!…”  Photocopied typed and signed letter, 3s.    
       
  Longgrear, Paul (Reverend) to McAllister.  12 Apr 1988.  “You amaze me like the NCO’s that worked for me in Special Forces in Vietnam, you keep showing up…”  Typed and signed letter, 1s.    
       
  Longgrear, Paul (Reverend) from McAllister.  14 Apr 1988.  “…I thought you’d be getting into counter terrorism, fellow.  I remember a news wire piece 8 years ago on the ‘regroupiing’ of Green Beanies at Bragg for counter terrorism…” Photocopied typed and signed letter, 1s.    
       
  Longgrear, Paul (Reverend) to McAllister.  no date.  “…You asked for my honest reaction:  Here it is!  I read it the first time but was in shock and didn’t know what to say…”  Handwritten and signed letter, 1s.    
       
  Photocopied typed draft of Longgrear’s account, 4p.    
       
  Photocopied typed draft of Longgrear’s account as it appeared in the manuscript, 2p.  (See Chapter 22, p190-191 in the published version)    
       
Morales, Joe
1:10  Morales, Joe from McAllister.  no date.  “A short story based on that combat esp [sic] research I did awhile ago if finally going to appear…”  Typed postcard, unsent.    
       
  Photocopied typed draft of Morales’s account as it appeared in the manuscript, 4p.  (See Prologue, p7-8 and Chapter 2, p28 in published version)    
       
Nixon, William
1:11 Nixon, William to McAllister.  [Aug 1987].  “…I wanted to thank you and send this book to you—Casualties—that you said you hadn’t located yet…”  Handwritten and signed letter, 1s.    
       
  Nixon, William to McAllister.  [Aug 1987].  “You may wonder why I found Casualties so special…I was struck by two common thread throughout the people interviewed…”  Handwritten and signed letter, 1s.    
       
  Nixon, William from McAllister.  12 Aug 1987.  “…Casualties is the most moving book about the Vietnam experience I’ve read, its emotions of love and loss are exactly what the novel is all about…”  Photocopied typed and signed letter, 1s.    
       
  Photocopied typed draft of Nixon’s account as it appeared in the manuscript, 2p.  (See Chapter 10, p101 in the published version)    
       
Perry, James M.
1:12 Perry, James M. from McAllister.  20 Mar 1988.  “I use a lot of quoted material in the novel…I don’t want to get sued, I don’t even want to get angry base-less threatening letters from people…you read the novel, Jim; you didn’t redflag [sic] the Hicks letter…”  Photocopied typed and signed letter, 2s; photocopy of a typed letter from Perry to “Pappy” (Capt. D.L.) Hicks, 30 Mar 1988, requesting his permission for McAllister to use letter in question, 1s.    
       
  Hicks, Capt. D.L. “Pappy” to McAllister.  21 Apr 1988.  “…Jumping Jim Perry wrote me and said you wanted to use my story of my ‘out of body experience’, or what I call ‘dead’ern hell.’  Use the portion Jim sent me…”  Typed and signed letter, 1s.    
       
  Hicks, Capt. D.L. “Pappy” to Perry.  no date.  Photocopied typed and signed letter containing the segment that McAllister wishes to use, 3s.    
       
  Photocopied typed draft of Hicks’s account as it appears in the manuscript, 2p (See Prologue, p4 in published version); photocopied typed draft of Perry’s account, 2p (See Prologue, p7 in published version).    
       
Ramelis, James
1:13 Ramelis, James to McAllister.  no date.  “I saw your advertisement in Soldier of Fortune Magazine, requesting information on ESP experiences in combat.  I had some interesting experiences as a Detroit Firefighter…”  Typed and signed letter, 1s.    
       
  Ramelis, James from McAllister.  4 Mar 1988.  “A good draft of the novel I was working on is finished at last and has been sent to agent and editor…I would very much like to use your brief ESP account…”  Photocopied typed and signed letter, 2s.    
       
  Photocopied typed draft of Ramelis’s account as it appeared in the manuscript, 1p.  (See Chapter 52, p429-431 in published version)    
       
Riggs, John A.
1:14 Riggs, John A.  to McAllister.  22 Apr.  “I understand you are interested in ESP experiences from the military…”  Handwritten and signed letter, 1s.    
       
  Riggs, John A. to McAllister.  no date.  “My ESP experiences aren’t really that much, no ghosts or mind reading, etc., just some flashes…”  Handwritten and signed letter, 2s with typed transcription, 1p.    
       
  Riggs, John A. to McAllister.  no date.  “…Your article was good and I liked it.  I’m looking forward to the longer version…”  Handwritten and signed letter, 1s.    
       
  Riggs, John A. to McAllister.  Christmas [1987].  “…Yes, I’m still interested…”  Handwritten and signed card.    
       
  Riggs, John A. from McAllister.  3 Apr 1988.  “A good draft of that ‘Vietnam ESP’ novel is finished at last!…”  Photocopied typed and signed letter, 2s.    
       
  Riggs, John A. to McAllister.  Apr 1988.  “…I would like a copy of the book…”  Handwritten and signed postcard.    
       
  Riggs, John A. from McAllister.  18 Apr 1988.  “…Here’s another $30—to make $50—and don’t argue, please…”  Photocopied typed note, 1s.    
       
  Photocopied typed draft of Riggs’s account as it appeared in the manuscript, 2p.  (See Chapter 10, p97-98 in published version)    
       
Simpson, William W.
1:15 Simpson, William W. to McAllister.  1 May 1981.  “I saw an article in the April issue of the Vietnam War Newsletter about you working on a novel based on the documented ‘ESP’ experiences of a Green Beret in ‘Nam…”  Handwritten and signed letter, 1s with typed transcription, 1p.    
       
  Simpson, William W. from McAllister.  8 May 1981.  “Thanks very much for writing.  I certainly would like to hear the details of your premonitions and what you called your ‘near death’ experience…”  Photocopied typed letter, 3s.    
       
  Simpson, William W. from McAllister.  17 Aug 1981.  “I think I scared you away.  I’m sorry; I simply wanted your trust and I’m afraid I overkilled [sic]…”  Typed and signed note, 1s.    
       
  Simpson, William W. to McAllister.  (Handwritten and signed note written on the previous typed note)  “I feel like a real ass-hole…I was in school when I received your letter…”    
       
  Simpson, William W. from McAllister.  22 Apr 1982.  “Work on the novel continues and I thought I’d make contact again…”  Carbon copy typed letter, 1s.    
       
  Simpson, William W. to McAllister.  2 Jan 1987.  “…As far as my experiences are concerned I suppose they weren’t all the Earth shaking.  If you are interested I’ll condense it down to a few lines…”  Handwritten and signed card with typed transcription, 1p.    
       
  Simpson, William W. from McAllister.  3 Apr 1988.  “A good draft of the ‘Vietnam ESP’ novel is finished at last (!) and it even has a publisher…”  Photocopied typed and signed letter, 2s.    
       
  Photocopied typed draft of Simpson’s account as it appeared in the manuscript, 5p.  (See Prologue, p3, 5-6 in published version)    
       
Stockham, Roger
1;16 Stockham, Roger to McAllister.  5 Aug 1987.  “Great hearing from you, but something tells me I’d better walk carefully with this one.  If you’re into your own research and writing about paranormal experiences in combat, you’re probably not going to want to have me write about your material…”  Typed and signed letter, 4s with envelope, unsent.    
       
Sutz, Russel
1:17 Sutz, Russell to McAllister.  29 Jun 1982.  “…I don’t know if you have completed your book yet, but if you need more information on out of the body experiences—perhaps I can help…”  Handwritten and signed letter, 1s.    
       
  Sutz, Russel from McAllister.  3 Apr 1988.  “This is a longshot, since the only address I’ve got for you is a 1982…”  Photocopied typed and signed letter, 2s.    
       
  Photocopied typed draft of Sutz’s account as it appeared in the manuscript, 2p.    
       
Towell, Thomas
1:18 Towell, Thomas to McAllister.  8 Apr 1982.  “I read about your plans for a book in the National Vietnam Veterans Review.  If you are still interested I would like to share with you my experiences in the Nam…”  Typed and signed letter, 1s.    
       
  Towell, Thomas from McAllister.  22 Apr 1982.  “…I certainly would like to hear about those two ‘esp’ experiences you mentioned.  I’m tempted to call you…but I’m writing instead because I’d like to have your story down in writing…”  Carbon copy typed letter, 2s.    
       
  Towell, Thomas  to McAllister.  4 May 1982.  “…I don’t know if my stories will help you with your book or if they are in fact ESP experiences.  I believe that they are but I will let you judge for yourself…”  Typed and signed letter, 6s.    
       
  Towell, Thomas to McAllister.  5 Nov 1982.  “…Although the novel you are writing is fictional, I know it has it’s base in truth.  I know that, in a small way, my own experience [sic] have helped you…and it makes me feel that perhaps there was some purpose for my being over there…”  Typed and signed letter, 1s.    
       
  Towell, Thomas to McAllister.  2 Jan 1987.  “…I’m glad as all hell you finally stopped having babies long enough to finish the book…”  Typed and signed letter, 1s.    
       
  Towell, Thomas from McAllister.  3 Apr 1988.  “A good draft of the novel is finished at last (!) and even has a publisher.  At long last…”  Photocopied typed and signed letter, 2s.    
       
Wagner, Dick
1:19 Wagner, Dick to McAllister.  17 Mar 1987.  “I was on the U.S.S. Forestall.  She was on fire with heavy ordinance blowing…”  Handwritten and signed letter, 1s with typed transcription, 1p.    
       
  Wagner, Dick from McAllister.  3 Apr 1988.  “A good draft of that ‘Vietnam ESP’ novel is finished at last—after eight long years and an abortive version of it in 1982…”  Photocopied typed and signed letter, 2s.    
       
  Wagner, Dick to McAllister.  9 Apr 1988.  “…Thank you for accessing my story.  I washed a piece of me in writing it to you…”  Handwritten and signed letter, 1s.    
       
  Wagner, Dick from McAllister.  18 Apr 1988.  “You sure write an eloquent letter knots-in-the-throat can be mutual, guy…”  Photocopied typed and signed letter, 1s.    
       
  Photocopied typed draft of Wagner’s account as it appeared in the manuscript, 2p.  (See Chapter 36, p311-312 in the published version)    
       
White, Craig L.
1:20  White, Craig L. to McAllister.  30 Mar 1987.  “A friend showed me your request for assistance in a recent issue of The Vietnam Bookstore and suggested I write to you about one of my Vietnam combat experiences…”  Typed and signed letter, 1s.    
       
  White, Craig L. to McAllister.  16 Jun 1987.  “…I hope my unusual experience helps you in your writing project.  I’ve wanted, for several years now, to write and publish my story, but always bow out after 30 to 40 pages…”  Handwritten and signed letter, 1s.     
       
  White’s artist résumé and samples of his artwork.    
       
  White, Craig L. from McAllister.  5 Aug 1987.  “Great news that you’re willing to serve as a consultant on the novel.  I won’t have any work for you until I have a readable copy…”  Photocopied typed and signed letter, 2s.    
       
  White, Craig L.  from McAllister.  4 Mar 1988.  “A good draft of the novel is finished at last and has been sent to agent and editor.  My seven Namvet consultants…are in the process of reading it now…”  Photocopied typed and signed letter, 2s.    
       
  White, Craig L. from McAllister.  20 Mar 1988.  “Good to hear from you, and I’m very happy you’re willing to read the manuscript, but we may have a problem…”  Photocopied typed and signed letter, 2s.    
       
  Photocopied typed draft of White’s account as it appeared in the manuscript, 3p.  (See Prologue, p1 in the published version)    
       
Whitehead, Jim
1:21 Whitehead, Jim to McAllister.  31 Jan 1981.  “I read in SOF where you were writing a novel on ESP experience in Vietnam.  I had a very traumatic experience that you might be interested in…”  Handwritten letter, 6s with typed transcription, 2p.    
       
  Whitehead, Jim  from McAllister.  3 Mar 1981.  “…Thanks very much for writing, and for mustering the guts the letter obviously took…”  Carbon copy typed letter, 2s.    
       
  Whitehead, Jim to McAllister.  16 Jan 1987.  “Received your note on the status of your book.  Yes, I am alive and doing well…”  Typed and signed note, 1s.    
       
  Whitehead, Jim from McAllister.  3 Apr 1988.  “A good draft of that ‘Vietnam ESP’ novel is finished at last…”  Photocopied typed and signed letter, 2s.    
       
  Photocopied typed draft of Whitehead’s account as it appeared in the manuscript, 3p.  (See Chapter 22, p194-196 in the published version)    
       
McAllister's invented accounts, all of which are photocopied typed drafts  (It has been noted where each account, if used, appears in the published version)
1:22 Prologue, p2-4, 6.  6p.    
  Chapter 10, p92-101.  13p.    
  Chapter 22, p191-194.  3p.    
  Chapter 36, p312-315.  5 p.    
  Similar to Chapter 41, p345-350.  7p.    
  “Inspired by Towell and even [Moneso], Nixon.”  1p.    
  “Other invented accounts.”  8p.    
  Photocopy of an excerpt from Everything We Had by Al Santoli.  (See Acknowledgments, pxi)    
       
1:23 Anonymous account to McAllister.  no date.  “The best way to describe myself would be N I N J A with ESP…”  Photocopied typed draft, 2p.    
       
  Draft of proposed form letter from McAllister to Jake Jacobsen, Al Janssen, and William Ashley.  “I’m going to give it another try.  If I came across all wrong in my last (letter of January 1983) so be it…”  Typed draft, 2p.    
       
  Photocopy of information pertaining Department of Motor Vehicles (Redland, California) charge for driver’s license numbers by name and date of birth.  April 1988.    
       
Other research correspondence
1:24 Army, Department of (Office of Public Affairs) from McAllister.  16 Aug 1987.  Requesting information on dog scout handlers in Vietnam.  1 piece.    
       
  Block, Msgt. Paul A. (USAFR) to and from McAllister.  Jul-Aug 1987.  Regarding locating the name or names of dog scout handlers who served in Vietnam.  3 pieces.    
       
  Brown, Hildegarde (Department of Defense Dog Center) to McAllister.  Jun-Aug, 1987.  Regarding the use of dogs in Vietnam.  2 pieces plus photocopy of 4 relevant newspaper articles.    
       
  Central Intelligence Agency (Director of Public Affairs) from  to McAllister.  Jun-Aug 1987.  Specific queries and answers pertaining to Vietnam, its demographics, agriculture, weather, etc.  6 pieces.    
       
  Defense, Department of (Dog Center).  (See Brown, Hildegarde)    
       
  Federal Bureau of Investigation from  to McAllister.  Jul-Aug 1987.  General queries  and answers with regard to Vietnam.  7 pieces.    
       
  Food Research Institute (Stanford University) from  to McAllister.  Jul-Aug 1987.  Requesting information regarding rice cultivation in southeast Asia during the 1960s and 1970s.  4 pieces.    
       
  Library of Congress (Geography and Map Division) from  to McAllister.  Jul-Aug 1987.  Request for various maps of Vietnam.  4 pieces.  (See also Maps)    
       
  Marine Corps (Washington Headquarters) from McAllister.  Aug 1987.  Regarding his difficulty in contacting a dog scout handler who served in Vietnam; includes text for a call for dog scout handlers to serve as consultants.  2 pieces.    
       
  National Archives.  (NAJC/Cartographic and Architectural Branch).  from McAllister.  Aug-Oct 1987. Request for copies of specific maps of North Vietnam.  3 pieces.  (See also Maps)    
       
  Navy, Department of (Division of Public Affairs).  to McAllister.  Sept 1987.  Regarding their inability to contact dog scout handlers who served in Vietnam.  1piece.    
       
  Special Forces Association (Organization of active-duty and retired Green Berets, etc.)  Address, phone and contact information.  1 piece.    
       
  Tom [?] from McAllister.  Jun 1987.  Requesting the placement of an ad in [Vietnam Newsletter] in an effort to find dog scout handlers who served in Vietnam.  Includes text for ad in 2 versions.  2 pieces.    
       
  Vietnam, Socialist Republic of (Department of Transportation) from McAllister.  Jun 1987.  Request for information pertaining to western Vietnam (from Laotian border east of Dien Bien Phu to the Black River, and from the Black River south past Hoa Binh to the Red River) and a list of other queries.  4 pieces.    
       
  (Ministry of Foreign Affairs-Via Requests) from McAllister.  Oct 1987.  Request for travel visa.  1 piece.    
       
  (Foreign Press Center) from McAllister.  Nov 1987. Follow up after receiving no response from previous letter.  1 piece.    
       
  Lists of Vietnamese and Russian words and phrases.    
       
1:25 Photocopied typed list of English words and phrases provided by McAllister, with handwritten translation into Vietnamese provided by a north Vietnamese colleague of one of the Namvet consultants for the novel, 4p.    
       
  Typed list of English words and phrases provided by McAllister, with typed translation into Russian by an individual from the Russian community in Los Angeles, CA; includes photocopied typed pronunciation key; 6 p.    
       
Maps (Located in Map Case 3: Drawer 10)
  Photocopy of topographic map of Vietnam.  (23 x 30.5 cm)    
       
  Photocopy of enlarged segment of same.  (21.7 x 27.9 cm)    
       
  Vietnam Conflict Map featuring Vietnam and neighboring countries.  On verso, an economic map of Southeast Asia and a chronology of events, with handwritten note by McAllister.  (53.4 x 75 cm)     
       
  South Vietnam featuring economic groups and activity, land utilization and vegetation, population distribution, ethnic groups, etc., with annotations by McAllister.  (72.4 x 60.2 cm)    
       
  Defense Mapping Agency Operational Navigation Chart (Series ONC sheet K10 edition 10) featuring Kampuchea, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.  (72.9 x 105.7 cm)    
       
  (Series ONC sheet J-11 edition 12) featuring China, Hong Kong and The New Territories, Laos, Macao, Paracel Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam, with annotations by McAllister.  (72.9 x 106 cm)    
       
  Tactical Pilotage Chart (Series TPC sheet J-11D edition 3) featuring Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam.  Heavily annotated by McAllister.  (72.9 x 105.7 cm)    
       
  Photocopy of contour map of Vietnam.  8 ½ x 14 sheets pieced together, with routes and specific areas marked with colored pens.    
       
"Dream Baby" (short story)
2:1 Version 1:  Originally titled, “Girl of Our Dreams.”  Typed draft short story with AMs revisions, p1-14; deleted text p14-16. (4200 words)    
   Another typed version of p13 (numbered as p15).    
       
2:2 Version 2:  Incomplete typed draft with handwritten alternative title “Dream Lover” and a line from a Ricky Nelson song and handwritten revisions, p1-14.    
       
2:3 Version 3:  Typed draft with the title “Dream Baby” crossed out and replaced with “Girl of Our Dreams,” and other AMs revisions and additional text, p1-17.  AMs notes indicate “Linda” as the main character, and handwritten lines from a Roy Orbison song.  (4200 words)    
       
2:4 Typed notes on plot and character development, and character motivations, 2p.    
  Similar notes marked “craft notes”, 1p.    
       
2:5 First typed draft expanding the short story from beyond the point of character Steve’s departure, (“I thought maybe he’d call or write…I thought about him a lot…”), 24p, with handwritten additions to text and text typed out; handwritten author’s notes (numbered 1-32) on verso of last 5 pages of draft.    
       
2:6 Version 4:  Typed draft with the title “Girl of Our Dreams” crossed out and replaced with “Dream Baby”.  Heavily revised with handwritten revisions, deletions and additions to text, 49p.  (13,000 words)    
       
2:7 Version 5:  Typed draft, heavily revised with handwritten deletions and additions to text, especially from p20-56; 56p.    
       
2:8 Version 6:  Clean photocopied typed draft marked as “old”, 45p.  (12,000 words)    
       
2:9 Photocopied typed draft of Version 6, with handwriten notes and suggestions by consultant, Art Watson (101st Airborne light weapons expert).  Includes handwritten revisions by McAllister, 45p..    
       
2:10 Photocopied typed draft of Version 6, with handwritten notes, revisions, and suggestions in pencil by consultant, David [?].  Includes additional penciled revisions by McAllister, 45p.    
       
2:11 Photocopied typed draft of Version 6, with handwritten suggestions by consultant, Jim[?].  Includes additional handwritten revisions by McAllister, 45p.    
       
2:12 Photocopied typed draft of Version 6, the consultant’s name, Jon [?] marked at top, with handwritten revisions and additions to text [by McAllister], 45p.    
       
2:13 Version 7:  Clean typed draft, marked “final”, 46p.    
       
2:14 Photocopy of Version 7.    
       
2:15 Photocopy of same, marked “Final Draft”.    
       
2:16 Version 8:  Photocopied typed draft of Version 7 with minor handwritten revisions in pen, and some text deleted with white out; p1-45, p46 missing.    
       
2:17 Photocopy of short story as it appeared in In the Field of Fire (p271-304) edited by Jeanne Van Buren Dann and Jack Dann (see online catalogue for full record), with copy editor’s notes and corrections intended for publication in Years Best Science Fiction [?].    
       
  Typed dot matrix copy of a form letter from Gardner Dozois to McAllister, no date.  In reference to publication, 1s.  Memorandum of Agreement attached and signed by Dozois, 1p.    
       
  Photocopied typed form letter from NolaCon II (Hugo Coordinating Committee) to McAllister, no date.  In reference to the 1988 Hugo Award nomination for “Dream Baby”, 1s.    
       
  Nebula Awards Report, Dec 1987.    
       
Dream Baby (the novel)
Please note:  The color of paper, white or yellow, on which a draft was made has been noted in those instances where it appears significant in the illustration of the author’s writing process.
WP white paper    
WP white paper pasted over    
YP yellow paper    
YP yellow paper pasted over    
       
3:1 Version 1:  Typed dot matrix copy, the first draft of the novel, with handwritten revisions, blanks in the text, deletions and rearrangement of text.  [Pieces and pages have been numbered 1-127 so as to retain their original order]    
       
3:2 Typed dot matrix draft, lightly revised overall (heaviest revisions occur on p1-2, 67), with handwritten revisions, author’s notes, and blanks in the text, p1-100 WP.    
       
3:3 p101-192, inserted text on YP (numbered p[250]-262), resumes p193-200 WP.    
       
3:4 p201-300 WP, with light handwritten revisions and notes from p273-281.    
       
3:5 p301-369, [369A author’s notes  on YP], 370-379, inserted text with handwritten notes (numbered 11-18), 380-407, inserted text (numbered 31-33), inserted text (numbered [34A], 34-50), 408-409 missing, 410-414, [414A author’s notes and questions on YP], 415.    
       
  Version 2:  (Author’s handwritten note:  “One of the novel drafts from approximately 2/3 of the way through the writing process”):  Typed draft, with text deleted with white out and/or white out tape and new text (excised text from another draft on YP or WP) pasted over or corrections written in with pen.    
       
3:6 Title page, front matter, Prologue; and text, p1-125 YP.    
       
3:7 p126-175 YP, 176-177 YP handwritten author’s notes on plot and character development (and on verso), 178-300 YP.    
       
3:8 p301-373 YP, 374 WP, 375-377 YP, 377a WP, 378-380 YP, 381-382 WP, 383-385 YP, 386-387 WP, 388-389 YP, 391 WP, 392-395 YP, 396 WP, 397-404 YP, 405-407 WP, 408-410 YP, 411-423 WP, 423a YP, 424-428 WP, 429-431 YP, 432-440 WP.    
       
4:1  p441-452 WP with revised text pasted over old text (WP WP); 452a YP with revised text pasted over old text (WP YP); 453-475 (WP WP); 475a-c (WP WP); 476-520 (WP WP); 520a (WP YP); 521-542 (WP WP); 543-544 Epilogue (WP WP).    
       
  Version 3:  Dated Oct 1988.  Photocopy of Version 2 with some pages of typed, all on WP with handwritten revisions, additions to text, and author’s notes.    
       
4:2 Title page, dedication page, pi-iii, 1-1a, 2-14, 14a, 15-16, 16a, 17-18, 18a, 19-[19a], 20-23, 23a, 24-29, 29a, 30-36, 36a-c, 37, 37a, 38-49, 49a-b, 50-59, 59a-c, 60-69, 69a, 70-84, 84a, 85-125.    
       
4:3 p126-141, 141a, 142-153, [153a], 154-185, 185a, 186-198, 198a, 199-201, [201a], 202-227, [227a], 228, 228a-b, 229-235a-b, 236-272.    
       
4:4 p273-274 missing, 275-314, 314a, 315-323, 323a, 324-377, 377a, 378-391, 391a, 392-397, 397a-b, 398-398a, 399-411, 411a, 412-420, 420a.    
       
4:5 p421-423, 423a-b, 424-427, 427a, 428-440, 440a, 441-451, 451a-b, 452-452a, 453-463, 463a-c, 464-466, 466a, 467-469, 469b, 470-471, 471b, 472-475, 475a-c, 476-477, 477a, 478-494, 502a, 503-515, 519b-c, 520a, 521-522, 528a-b, 529-532, 532a-b, 534-537, 537a, 538-538a, 539-545, Acknowledgments 546-551.    
       
4:6 Photocopied type draft, a clean and edited copy dated Nov 1988.  Title page, i-iv, Prologue p1-15, 16-131.    
5:1 p132-259.    
5:2 p260-382.    
5:3 p383-546.    
5:4 p547-634; Acknowledgments p1-4.     
       
Final draft dated 2 Mar 1989
5:5 Publisher’s photocopy of Version 4, with photocopied handwritten editorial marks, corrections, and notes to the typesetter.    
5:5 Title page, dedication page with AMs revisions, i-iii, Acknowledgments iv-viii, Prologue p1-15, text p16-131.    
5:6 p132-322.    
5:7 p323-498.    
6:1 p499-632, Epilogue p633-634.    
       
6:2 Copy editor’s style sheet, 1p; listing of proper names as they appear in the novel, 1p; alphabetical listing of compound words, special usages, places, and words frequently misspelled, 3p; editor’s queries, 10p.    
       
6:3 Photocopy of page proof with the author’s photocopied handwritten corrections.  Includes typed and signed letter from Torr Books (Claire Eddy, Associate Editor) to McAllister.  8 Aug 1989.  In reference to the proofs and final corrections, 1s.    
       
6:4 Photocopy of blurb for the publication notice for the paperback edition, 1p.    
       
Dream Baby  (Current war version)
6:6 Typed draft of the screenplay by Michael Ajakwe, Jr. and Bruce McAllister.  Based on the short story and novel by Bruce McAllister.  17 Aug 2007.  118p.    
       
“Little Boy Blue”
  (Author’s handwritten and signed note:  “Rough draft of “Little Boy Blue”, the first version (not draft) of 'Dream Baby.'  This was a third-person Ludlum-like thriller using the Vietnam-ESP research but set in California with an ESP commando team.  This version contained a 3-page section told in first-person ‘colloquial’ by an unnamed army nurse which became the short story 'Dream Baby' (with the short story later becoming the novel Dream Baby.  After finishing the novel Dream Baby [I went] back to this novel and pulled sections of it to make the short story “Little Boy Blue” (which appeared in Omni [Magazine]).  This novel was never revised or polished…”)    
       
6:7 Handwritten and typed character and plot notes, and diagrams, 24p.    
6:8 Typed draft segments and fragments on YP with moderate handwritten revisions, additions, and blanks in the text, 94p.    
6:9 29p (WP and YP).    
6:10 Typed draft segments and fragments pertaining to the covert operation in California, with handwritten revisions, additions, and author’s notes, 66p (WP).    
6:11 52p (WP).    
6:12 27p (WP and YP).    
       
  The following typed draft segments and fragments, originally found in no discernable order, are arranged according to the character(s) that predominate each segment; all contain handwritten revisions, additions, and author’s notes.    
7:1 Martin Burdick, 28p (WP).    
7:2 Gayla and Agent Allen, 9p (WP).    
7:3 Daniel Mark (the stories main character), 16p (WP).    
7:4 Daniel Mark and Mai, 74p (WP).    
7:5 Carl Sebek, 37p (WP); includes photocopy of p23-26 of Yinglish-Yiddish Glossary by Moishe Mencken.    
7:6 Ben Stratton, 27p (WP).    
7:7 Tennessee (the pilot), 34p (WP).    
       
  Typed draft segments and fragments relating to the stories characters experiences in/memories of Vietnam, with handwritten revisions, additions, and author’s notes.    
7:8 Teddy Dougherty, 34p (WP).    
7:9 Daniel Mark, 16p (WP).    
7:10 Tony Pavese, 10p (WP).    
7:11 [Silas Westjohn], 16p (WP).    
7:12 Vietnam in general, 38p (WP).    
       
  (McAllister's handwritten note:  “…compressed version of the 600-page abandoned novel “Little Boy Blue” which was based on the research for Dream Baby and which also contained 3 pages that would become the short story and novel versions of D.B.  This story appeared in Omni [Magazine]).    
7:13 Version 1:  Typed dot matrix draft, dated 10 Jun 1986, with handwritten revisions and additions, p1-30, [30a], 31; handwritten author’s notes and queries, 1p.    
       
7:14 Version 2:  Typed draft with handwritten revisions, marked “Final rewrite 6/88”, p1-30.    
       
7:15 Version 3:  Photocopy of Version 1, marked “Final rewrite 7/88”, with further handwritten revisions and corrections, p1-31.    
       
7:16 Author’s contract with Omni Magazine, signed 23 May [1986].    
       
  Photocopy of short story as it appeared in Omni, Jun 1989.    
       
“Skycatcher”
  (McAllister's handwritten note:  “Rough draft of a screenplay planned as a collaboration with budding screenwriter Jim Perry, an important ex-Green Beret captain who was one of the three main consultants on the research and (later) the writing of Dream Baby.  This is my first draft of the screenplay and was written shortly after the uncompleted writing of “Little Boy Blue”…did not do a rewrite of this screenplay and the collaboration stopped there…”)    
8:1 Version 1:  Handwritten draft in pencil, with inserted text stapled onto some pages and replacement text stapled over existing text, p1-66 (YP).     
       
  Continues as typed draft with handwritten revisions in pencil, (numbered p33-34 (WP)).   Resumes as handwritten draft in pencil, with handwritten revisions in blue ink, p67-96, another p96 (handwriten and typed), all on YP.    
       
  Continues as typed draft with handwritten revisions in blue/black ink; deleted text blacked out and inserted text stapled on; p97-104; p105-116YP; 117-130 WP, 131-149 YP, AMs insert (WP) at p150; 150 YP, 151-152 YP, 153-156 YP, typed insert (WP) at p157, p157 YP, 158-215 WP.  (p105-117 are typed on verso of advertisement for Byrd House Bookshop)    
       
  Version 2: Typed draft, cut and reassembled by stapling; handwritten marks and notations in pencil throughout the draft, especially p14.  Author’s pattern was to staple fragments of text together onto white 8 ½ x 11 ruled sheets in order to standardize and number all pages.  Page numbers appearing in [ ] are provided to preserve the order and placement of these fragments of text.    
       
8:2 p1-3, 3a, 4-8, 8a, 9-29, 29a, 30-43, 43a, 44-56, 56a, 57-58, 58a, 59-80.    
8:3 p81-128, 130-163, [163A-C, order uncertain], 164-16.    
       
8:4 Version 3:  Photocopy typed draft, a clean copy, p1-165.    
       
8:5 Version 4:  Photocopied typed draft of opening segment of the final draft, with handwritten notes and revisions in red ink by Milton Gellman, p1-20.    
       
  Critique in the form of letter from Gellman to McAllister.  no date.  “…Let me start with some crude rules which you have violated to a certain extent…”  Photocopied typed and signed letter, 3s.    
       
“Songs from a Far Country”
  (McAllister's handwritten note:  Jim Perry (CIA/Special Forces), Art Watson (101st Airborne light weapons expert) and [Jim Perry] were the three main consultants out of 25 involved consultants on the novel D.B.  I first met Watson in the mid-70s and his accounts of ESP in Nam (his own) haunted me for years—before I started formal research for a novel about them.  Those account led to this story…a story conceived and finally finished separately from the D.B. research and work.  It appeared in a science fiction magazine.”)    
8:6 Author’s handwritten preliminary notes and research, 22 pieces.    
       
8:7 Typed draft of preliminary notes on plot and character development, [p1A-3A].  Alternatively titled, “Songs of the Sons”/“Brothers”    
       
  [p1B-3B].  Alternatively titled, “Little Boys Blue”/“The Blue Light”.    
       
   [p1C-2C].  Alternatively titled, “Brothers”/“Songs from a far Country”.    
       
8:8 Typed dot matrix background information on extra sensory perception, [p1A-2A].    
  Typed notes about the story’s setting, [p1B-2B].    
  Typed dot matrix notes on images to use in the story, [p1C].    
  Typed notes on “The Adobe”, its description and significance in the story, [p1D-3D].    
  Handwritten notes on various characters and plot development, [p1E-4E].    
       
8:9 Typed character dossier on Daniel Mark, [p1A-9A].    
  Typed drat of poems and quotes on which to base Daniel Marks songs, [p1B-10B].    
  Typed notes on plot and character development, [p1C-3C].    
  Typed character dossier on Kari Tatum, [p1D-5D].    
       
8:10 Typed character dossier on Waylon Randall Burdick, [p1A-8A].    
  Typed notes about the war experiences of character Burdick, [p1B-3B].    
  Typed background information regarding “hot spots” [i.e. world conflicts and wars] at the time the story takes place, [p1C-5C].    
  Typed notes on further plot and character development, Burdick in particular, [p1D-2D].    
       
8:11 Typed and typed dot matrix notes on further plot development, [p1A-5A]; on further character development, [p1B-12B].    
       
  [p1C-16C].  Alternatively titles: “Singer in a Far Country,” “The Singer,” “The Song of a Far Country,” “Songs of a Far Country,” “Saints or When the Killers Love.”    
       
  Handwritten to-do list, 1p.    
       
8:12 “Songs from a Far Country.”  Version 1:  Photocopied typed draft with handwritten note from McAllister to his typist, Rosemary; includes handwritten revisions and corrections, 48p.    
       
8:13 Version 2, marked “2/18/84 revision”.  Photocopy typed draft with corrections incorporated from Version 1 and editorial marks and notations, 47p.    
       
 
Copyright © 2008 McFarlin Library - The University of Tulsa. All rights reserved.
Revised: 08/20/09.

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