New York State Library
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Arthur Joseph O'Keefe
Papers 1918-1924; bulk, 1918-1919

SC23201

Quantity: 1 box (0.25 cubic ft.)
Access: Open to research
Acquisition: Gift: Anne P. Morris, Nassau, N.Y. (via New York State Museum), September 2010
Processed By: Fred Bassett, Manuscripts and Special Collections, October 2010; revised April 2015

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Biographical Note:

Arthur Joseph O'Keefe was born January 3, 1900, in Albany, New York, the son of Thomas and Catherine Owens O'Keefe. He served in the U.S. Navy Reserve during World War I, rising to the rank of petty officer. The O'Keefe family resided at 103 Second Street in Albany during his time of service. After the war, census and other records indicate he was employed for many years in various positions with the Delaware & Hudson Railroad Company. These records indicate he was married about 1930 to Madeline Gibbons, the daughter of William and Mary (Tefft) Gibbons of Greenwich, New York.  They had two daughters: Mary and Elizabeth.  Their home was on Myrtle Avenue in Albany.  O'Keefe died in Bennington, Vermont, April 25, 1991.

Scope and Content Note:

These papers consist of correspondence and a personal narrative related to Arthur O'Keefe's service in the U.S. Naval Reserve Force during the First World War.  The correspondence was primarily between Arthur and his mother, Catherine Owens O'Keefe, but there are also a few letters with other family members and friends. The letters written by Arthur detail his personal experiences and social activities while being stationed for several months at a special training camp in Pelham Bay Park, Bronx, New York. His letters also indicate he attended the petty officers school after completing basic training. His mother responded with news about family, friends, and their neighborhood in North Albany. 

Box and Folder List:


Box Folder Description
1 1 Diary of A. J. O'Keefe with the U.S. Naval Reserve Force during the great world war [title from spine]; 1 v. ca. 120 p. 22 cm. This "diary" is really a personal narrative based on transcripts of the correspondence between Arthur O'Keefe and his family. The volume is illustrated with pictures clipped from The Broadside, a  weekly publication that was issued by personnel of the naval training camp at Pelham Bay, New York
1 2 Military service records and official correspondence, 1918-1924 (7 items)
1 3 Correspondence, July 1918 (9 items)
  1. Arthur to mother, [July 19, 1918] (postcard)
  2. Arthur to mother, July 20, 1918
  3. Arthur to mother, July 22, 1918
  4. Mother [Catherine O'Keefe] to Arthur, July 23, 1918
  5. Father Kiffins, St. Joseph's Rectory, Albany, to Arthur, July 24, 1918
  6. Joseph P. Hayes, Albany, to Arthur, July 26, 1918
  7. Arthur to mother, July 27, 1918
  8. Mother to Arthur, July 28, 1918
  9. Arthur to mother, July 29, 1918
1 4 Correspondence, August 1918 (14 items)
  1. Arthur to mother, August 1, 1918
  2. Arthur to mother, August 3, 1918
  3. Mother to Arthur, August 4, 1918
  4. Arthur to mother, August 5, 1918
  5. Mother to Arthur, August 8, 1918
  6. Arthur to mother, August 13, 1918
  7. Arthur to mother, [August 13, 1918] (postcard: view of the Fence at Pelham Bay Naval Training Station, N.Y.)
  8. Mother to Arthur, August 18, 1918
  9. Arthur to mother, August 18, 1918
  10. Arthur to mother, August 24, 1918
  11. Mother to Arthur, August 25, 1918
  12. Arthur to mother, August 29, 1918
  13. Mother to Arthur, August 29, 1918
1 5 Correspondence, September 1918 (13 items)
  1. Arthur to mother, September 9, 1918
  2. Arthur to mother, September 11, 1918
  3. Mother to Arthur, September 12, 1918
  4. Gertrude [O'Keefe] to Arthur, [September 14, 1918]
  5. Arthur to mother, September 15, 1918
  6. Arthur to mother, September 16, 1918
  7. Arthur to mother, September 19, 1918
  8. Arthur to mother, September 22, 1918
  9. Arthur to mother, September 23, 1918
  10. Arthur to mother, September 26, 1918
  11. Mother to Arthur, September 28, 1918
  12. Arthur to mother, September 28, 1918
  13. Arthur to mother, September 29, 1918
1 6 Correspondence, October 1918 (12 items)
  1. Arthur to mother, October 2, 1918
  2. Arthur to mother, October 4, 1918
  3. Arthur to mother, October 4, 1918 (2nd letter)
  4. Mother to Arthur, October 8, 1918
  5. Arthur to mother, October 12, 1918 (postcard)
  6. Mother to Arthur, October 16, 1918
  7. Arthur to mother, October 16, 1918
  8. Arthur to mother, October 20, 1918
  9. Mother to Arthur, October 20, 1918
  10. Arthur to mother, October 26, 1918
  11. Mother to Arthur, October 27, 1918
  12. Arthur to mother, October 29, 1918
1 7 Correspondence, November 1918 (12 items)
  1. Mother to Arthur, November 1, 1918
  2. Arthur to mother, November 3, 1918
  3. Mother to Arthur, November 3, 1918
  4. Arthur to mother, November 6, 1918
  5. Arthur to mother, November 7, 1918
  6. Arthurto mother, November 12, 1918
  7. Mother to Arthur, November 15, 1918
  8. Arthur to mother, November 17, 1918
  9. Mother to Arthur, November 20, 1918
  10. Arthur to mother, November 21, 1918
  11. Arthur to mother, November 27, 1918
  12. Mother to Arthur, November 28, 1918
1 8 Correspondence, December 1918 (11 items)
  1. Mother to Arthur, December 2, 1918
  2. Arthur to mother, December 4, 1918
  3. Arthur to mother, December 10, 1918
  4. Arthur to mother, December 14, 1918
  5. Mother to Arthur, December 15, 1918
  6. Mother to Arthur, December 16, 1918
  7. Arthur to mother, December 18, 1918
  8. Mother to Arthur, December 20, 1918
  9. Arthur to mother, December 22, 1918
  10. Arthur to mother, December 26, 1918
  11. Arthur to mother, December 31, 1918
1 9 Correspondence, January 1919 (11 items)
  1. Mother to Arthur, January 2, 1918
  2. Arthur to mother, January 7, 1919
  3. Mother to Arthur, January 10, 1919
  4. Arthur to mother, January 11, 1919
  5. Mother to Arthur, January 12, 1919
  6. Arthur to mother, January 16, 1919
  7. Arthur to mother, [January 19, 1919] (postcard: color view of the Hoboken, N.J., city hall)
  8. Arthur to mother, January 22, 1919
  9. Arthur to mother, January 24, 1919
  10. Mother to Arthur, January 24, 1919
  11. Arthur to mother, January 29, 1919
1 10 Correspondence, February 1919 (17 items)
  1. Arthur to mother, February 1, 1919
  2. Mother to Arthur, February 1, 1919
  3. Arthur to mother, February 4, 1919
  4. Arthur to mother, February 6, 1919
  5. Arthur to mother, February 8, 1919
  6. Mother to Arthur, February 9, 1919
  7. Arthur to mother, February 10, 1919
  8. Mother to Arthur, February 11, 1919
  9. Arthur to mother, February 13, 1919
  10. Mother to Arthur, February 13, 1919
  11. Arthur to mother, February 16, 1919
  12. Arthur to mother, February 18, 1919
  13. Arthur to mother, February 22, 1919
  14. Mother to Arthur, February 24, 1919
  15. Arthur to mother, February 26, 1919
  16. Arthur to mother, February 27, 1919
  17. Mother to Arthur, February 27, 1919
Last Updated: March 2, 2022