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Joseph P. Orme Papers

 Collection
Identifier: GTM-GAMMS317

Collection-level Scope and Content Note

The collection contains eight autograph letters written by Georgetown College alumni to fellow alumus, Joseph P. Orme, between the years 1856 and 1860. The content of the letters range from catching up on news of friends and family to serious political debate. The opinions written by these young men display the divided state of the nation on the brink of civil war. Of the seven friends, at least three went on to fight in the war, two for the Union and one for the Confederacy.

Dates

  • 1856 - 1860

Collection-level Access Restrictions

Most manuscripts collections at the Georgetown University Booth Family Center for Special Collections are open to researchers; however, restrictions may apply to some collections. Collections stored off site require a minimum of three days for retrieval. For use of all manuscripts collections, researchers are advised to contact the Booth Family Center for Special Collections in advance of any visit.

Biographical note

Joseph Peabody Orme of Washington, D.C. attended Georgetown College from 1856 to 1860. He was part of the Reading Room Association, the Philodemic Society and the Dramatic Association. Upon leaving the area, he went to Bloomington, Illinois where on July 28, 1862 he was appointed captain of Company H Ninety Fourth Regiment, Illinois Infantry. He was killed January 1, 1863 by the accidental discharge of a musket in the hands of one of his soldiers while the army was marching through Prairie Grove, Arkansas.

William M. Boyce of Georgetown, D.C. attended Georgetown College from 1851 to 1853.

William James Blakely of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania attended Georgetown College from 1856 to 1858. He later earned his M.A. degree from Georgetown in 1876. He died in Erie, Pennsylvania January 7, 1877.

William Beresford Carr of Natchitoches, Louisiana attended Georgetown College from 1852 to 1861 earning his A.B. degree. He enlisted with the Confederate Army March 8, 1862 at New Orleans as Private, Company K, Crescent Regiment, Louisiana Volunteers, which became Company 1, Sumter Rifles, Louisiana Infantry. He was discharged for disability May 14, 1862. He earned an M.A. from Georgetown in 1872.

Clement S. Lancaster of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania attended Georgetown College from 1855 to 1859 earning his A.B. degree.

James Fairfax McLaughlin of Alexandria, Virginia attended Georgetown College from 1855 to 1860 earning his A.B. and M.A. degrees. He joined the Federal Service and was a Colonel and Aide-de-camp on the staff of the Governor of Maryland. He earned his L.L.D. from Georgetown in 1889 and authored the book College Days at Georgetown and Other Papers. His father was Hugh McLaughlin, author of Paddy's Lament.

James Andrew Wise of Washington, D.C. attended Georgetown College from 1856 to 1858 earning his A.B. degree. He died in Austin, Texas February 23, 1874.

[Biographical Sources: Georgetown University Archives, Alumni Files and Blue and Gray: Georgetown University and the Civil War by James S. Ruby]

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet (1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Title
Joseph P. Orme Papers
Status
Completed
Author
Georgetown University Library Booth Family Center for Special Collections
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Georgetown University Manuscripts Repository

Contact:
Lauinger Library, 5th Floor
37th and O Streets, N.W.
Washington DC 20057