Paul J. O'Gorman (1893-1978), Papers, c.1911, 1917-1919 (C1057)
.1 linear foot
INTRODUCTION
Papers of Paul J. O'Gorman, who served in the 128th Missouri Field Artillery, Battery B, 60th Brigade, 35th Division during World War I. The papers consist of correspondence, a pocket diary, a pay book, and a 1919 photograph of O'Gorman.
DONOR INFORMATION
The Paul J. O'Gorman Papers were donated to the State Historical Society of Missouri by the Paul J. O'Gorman family through James F. O'Gorman, on June 22, 1982 (SHS Accession No. 2425). Additions to the papers were made on March 2, 1994 (SHS Accession No. 3002) and January 27, 1997 (SHS Accession No. 3133).
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Paul O'Gorman was born in St. Louis on 3 October 1893. He joined the Missouri National Guard when he was a teenager and was drafted from the Guard to the 35th Division.
While the 35th Division was in the United States much of O'Gorman's time was spent drilling on foot and horseback. In May 1918 he and his regiment sailed to England, arriving at Tilsbury and traveling by train to Winchester. From there they went to Plymouth and then sailed to France. For four weeks O'Gorman trained at an artillery school in Fenu, learning to load, aim, and fire French 75s, prior to being sent to the front in the Vasges Mountains region. After spending a short time there he was ordered to the Argonne Forest on September 22, where a major offensive had just begun. In October O'Gorman was sent to the front near Verdun participating in intermittent battles until an armistice was declared, ending the war.
After his return to the United States in 1919 O'Gorman worked at the Shapleigh Hardware Company in St. Louis. He married Dorothy Hogan in 1926 and they had four children. He died in 1978.
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
The Paul J. O'Gorman Papers consist of correspondence, a pocket diary, a pay book, and a 1919 photograph of O'Gorman. Except for the earliest letter, all of the correspondence, the diary, and the pay book pertain to his service as a soldier in World War I. The papers are arranged into four sections:
The Correspondence comprises letters arranged chronologically. Included are Paul J. O'Gorman's letters to his father, mother, and sisters, relating his experiences while stationed at Camp Rumbold in Nevada, Missouri, at Fort Sill and Camp Doniphan in Oklahoma, Camp Mills in New York, and in France. Following the correspondence is a copy of "Over Here," a transcription of O'Gorman's diary and letters transcribed by his son James F. The Diary consists of short daily entries he made during his military service. The Pay book is a military pay book in which O'Gorman's receipt of pay was noted. The Photograph is a 1919 photograph of O'Gorman taken while he was still in France.
In his letters and diary, O'Gorman writes about his military training, friendships, and experiences overseas.
FOLDER LIST
| f. 1 | Correspondence, c. 1911-August 4, 1918 |
| f. 2 | Correspondence, August 11, 1918-December 7, 1918 |
| f. 3 | Correspondence, December 12, 1918-April 24, 1919 |
| f. 4 | "Over Here" The Diary and Letters of Sgt. Paul J. "Budd" O'Gorman, A.E.F., 1917-1919 |
| f. 5 | Pocketbook diary, 1919 |
| f. 6 | Military pay book, 1918-1919 |
| f. 7 | Photograph of Paul J. O=Gorman, 1919 |
INDEX TERMS
These index terms are the subjects, people, places, etc. under which this collection is listed in all available indexes at the Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Columbia. If you are interested in a specific index term, please contact the reference staff.
- Merchants--New York
- Missouri. Artillery, 128th Field Artillery, Battery B, 60th Brigade, Battery B
- O'Gorman, Paul J.