Correspondence to Mr. and Mrs. W. R. West, 1967 September - December

File — Box: 1, Folder: 6

Staff Only

This collection contains letters and postcards from Carolyn Martin Keith.They are written to her Mother, Father, siblings, and grandparents during her time in Boennigheim, Germany, as a part of the first study abroad program operated by Lawrence University. The collection also contains newspaper clippings and a brochure referencing the Lawrence study abroad program and its purpose. The material spans from July to December 1967. The letters describe, with character and sometimes humor, Carolyn and her friends’ experiences in Boennigheim and the surrounding area. Often times this includes descriptions of the locations, such as shops or landscapes. The most common topics are finances, classes, camera and film usage, pop culture, and day to day travels. Usually Carolyn is traveling or spending time with her friend Candy. For classes, Carolyn took German, History, Religion, and Freshman Studies while in Germany. For a brief time Carolyn’s father is away from home, so Carolyn writes to her father separately from her mother and siblings. Notably, the letters also mention the views of Lawrentians and Germans concerning the Vietnam War, the effects of WWII in Germany, and the “race riots” in America. There is also a section where Carolyn describes her experience crossing the border between East and West Berlin, and the Soviet Union control evident in East Berlin.