From a very early age, Johnny Eck learned to not only read and write, but also type. He he was a voracious letter writer and always kept a diary his entire life. He saved the carbons from all the business related letters he sent out to various show owners, managers, actors, magicians, etc. He also saved every letter, postcard and greeting card (his favorite) that was sent to him over the years. Reading all these correspondences is a wonderful, personal look into everything that was going on in Johnny's life. Some are as mundane as what the weather was like or who stopped by to see them and how their dogs are feeling. To other, more personal letters, which discuss their hard times getting work, ongoing fueds with their neighbors, future plans, upcoming sideshow adventures, etc.

Johnny also made extensive notes on the pages of books, magazines, newspapers and bibles. They offer an insight into how other peoples words affected Johnny. He was in a constant search to find out why he was the way he was and reading helped him to find the answers.

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