Manuscripts Collection
Walter O'Meara was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota (1897) and grew up in Cloquet, Minnesota. He graduated from Cloquet High School (1914) and attended the University of Minnesota before serving in the army during World War I. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Wisconsin (1920) with a degree in journalism.
After working as a reporter for the
In 1950 O'Meara left advertising as a full-time profession to pursue a
writing career. He published several magazine articles and 16 books, two of
which,
O'Meara lived most of his working life in Connecticut. He moved to Arizona in 1969 and later moved to Cohasset, Massachusetts, where he died on September 29, 1989. Walter O'Meara married Esther Arnold (1922) and had four children: Ellen, Donn, Wolfe, and Deirdre.
Biographical data was taken from the collection.
Includes correspondence of various family members, friends, and business associates. Topics include family matters; special advertising projects; reactions to O'Meara's books; the construction of O'Meara's house in Sasabe, Arizona (1949); O'Meara's election to membership in The Players club (Dec. 3, 1948) and The P.E.N. (April 16, 1951); and the death of O'Meara's wife (1983).
The miscellaneous personal papers include a genealogy of the Wolfe family; photocopies of O'Meara's birth (1897) and marriage (1922) certificates; photocopies of O'Meara's military appointments and discharges (1918 and 1945); a testimonial presented to O'Meara by the University of Wisconsin for his achievements in journalism (1957); photographs, sales brochures, and addresses of O'Meara's various residences; correspondence (1957-1959, 1965) related to a police training film produced by O'Meara and his son, Wolfe; newspaper clippings related to a bombing at La Guardia airport in which O'Meara was injured (Dec. 1975); photographs, correspondence, and newspaper clippings related to the celebration of "Walter O'Meara Day" in Cloquet (Sept. 10, 1982); a memorial book containing obituaries and correspondence at the time of O'Meara's death (1989); and photocopies of O'Meara's entries in three biographical reference works.
Papers related to O'Meara's work in advertising (1924-1968) consist of
correspondence, magazine and newspaper clippings, and book excerpts. The papers
trace his career as a copy writer and consultant with J. Walter Thompson
(1920-1932 and 1942-1956); Benton & Bowles (1932-1940); Lennon and Newell,
Inc.; and Sullivan, Stauffer, Colwell, & Bayles. Several copies of
O'Meara's column, "Just Looking...," published in
Papers documenting O'Meara's writing career include correspondence
(1946-1988), notes, photographs, newspaper clippings, contracts, copyright
forms, and royalty statements connected with the writing and publication of
O'Meara's books; biographical data on Daniel Harmon, an early Canadian explorer
(1819-1843), particularly his activities around Coventry, Vermont and
speculation about his death in Montreal, Quebec; correspondence discussing
O'Meara's donation of World War II posters and papers related to the novels
The remainder of the collection contains the manuscript for
These records are organized into the following five sections:
Copyright in the unpublished manuscripts is retained by the donor. No more than 50 pages of any single literary manuscript may be photocopied for any individual researcher without the express written consent of the donor, or the donor's specified designee, until 2039.
Accession number: 6798; 11,824; 12,206; 14,289
Processed by: Frank Hennessy, August 1991
PALS number: 09-00022257
Includes correspondence of various family members, friends, and business associates. Topics include family matter; special advertising projects; reactions to O'Meara's books; the construction of O'Meara's house in Sausabe, Arizona (1949); O'Meara's election to membership in The Players club (Dec. 3, 1948) and The P.E.N. (April 16, 1951); and the death of O'Meara's wife (1983).
The miscellaneous personal papers include a genealogy of the Wolfe family; photocopies of O'Meara's birth (1897) and marriage (1922) certificates; photocopies of O'Meara's military appointments and discharges (1918 and 1945); a testimonial presented to O'Meara by the University of Wisconsin for his achievements in journalism (1957); photographs, sales brochures, and addresses of O'Meara's various residences; correspondence (1957-1959, 1965) related to a police training film produced by O'Meara and his son, Wolfe; newspaper clippings related to a bombing at La Guardia Airport in which O'Meara was injured (Dec. 1975); photographs, correspondence, and newspaper clippings related to the celebration of "Walter O'Meara Day" in Cloquet (Sept. 10, 1982); a memorial book containing obituaries and correspondence at the time of O'Meara's death (1989); and photocopies of O'Meara's entries in three biographical reference works.
The photographs and slides consist of family pictures; several photographs of O'Meara; and pictures taken on various camping and canoe trips. Also included are photographs, a map, pamphlets, and newspaper clippings elated to O'Meara's participation in a canoe caravan (1962) that retraced a route of the Wisconsin voyagers of the 1690s.
The photographs and slides consist of family pictures; several photographs of O'Meara; and pictures taken on various camping and canoe trips. Also included are photographs, a map, pamphlets, and newspaper clippings related to O'Meara's participation in a canoe caravan (1962) that retraced a route of the Wisconsin voyagers of the 1690s.
This series begins with correspondence (1942-1946), military records (1942-1945), newspaper clippings, and reminiscences (1947, 1963, 1989) documenting O'Meara's World War II service with the Office of Strategic Services and the Office of Price Administration.
Papers related to O'Meara's work in advertising (1924-1968) consist of correspondence, magazine and newspaper clippings, and book excerpts. The papers trace his career as a copy writer and consultant with J. Walter Thompson (1920-1932 and 1942-1956); Benton & Bowles (1932-1940); Lennon and Newell, Inc.; and Sullivan, Stauffer, Colwell, & Bayles. Several copies of O'Meara's column, "Just Looking_," published in Advertising Age, are also included (1955-1957).
Papers connected with O'Meara's political activities include correspondence (1956-1957) related to his service as media director for Adlai Stevenson's 1956 presidential campaign; correspondence (1945-1968) and book excerpts related to his longtime friendship with Connecticut senator William Benton; and correspondence and printed matter connected with his support of the Johnson and Humphrey presidential ticket in 1968.
While pursuing his advertising career, O'Meara also contributed his services to various civic organizations including the United Nations, the Atlanta Urban League, and the National Conference of Christians and Jews. Correspondence and examples of promotional material (1944-1958) connected with this work are included.
Papers documenting O'Meara's writing career include correspondence (1946-1988), notes, photographs, newspaper clippings, contracts, copyright forms, and royalty statements connected with the writing and publication of O'Meara's books; biographical data on Daniel Harmon, an early Canadian explorer (1819-1843), particularly his activities around Coventry, Vermont and speculation about his death in Montreal, Quebec; correspondence discussing O'Meara's donation of World War II posters and papers related to the novels The Duke of War and Guns at the Forks to Boston University; magazine articles written by O'Meara; newspaper clippings describing talks given by O'Meara; and book excerpts with references to his writing. A number of letters and reviews connected wit the Minnesota Historical Society's publication of O'Meara's book We Made It Through the Winter are also included. Reminiscences contained in letters from the book's readers provide a good amount of historical information on Cloquet. There is also a collection of notes on logging that O'Meara sent the Minnesota Historical Society relevant to the Society's Forest History Center in Grand Rapids, Minnesota.
The remainder of the collection contains the manuscript for The Trees Went Forth; several unpublished manuscript; and book reviews (1951-1969). Titles of the unpublished works, and of the books reviewed, are included in the container list.
While pursuing his advertising career, O'Meara also contributed his services to various civic organizations including the United Nations, the Atlanta Urban League, and the National Conference of Christians and Jews. Correspondence and examples of promotional material (1944-1958) connected with this work are included.
Papers connected with O'Meara's political activities include correspondence (1956-1957) related to his service as media director for Adlai Stevenson's 1956 presidential campaign; correspondence (1945-1968) and book excerpts related to his longtime friendship with Connecticut senator William Benton; and correspondence and printed matter connected with his support of the Johnson and Humphrey presidential ticket in 1968.
The diaries relate O'Meara's work on three novels
Contains a chapter entitled "On Business Writing," p.49-56, by Walter O'Meara.
O'Meara's copy of a privately printed anthology on friendship compiled in honor of the 36th birthday of William Benton.
A special report that O'Meara helped prepare for Sullivan, Stauffer, Colwell & Bayles.
Includes O'Meara's diploma from the University of Wisconsin (1920); a program from a Bastille Day celebration (July 14, 1941) in Woodstock, New York, which Walter and Esther O'Meara helped produce; advertisement proofs designed by O'Meara and written in Spanish promoting travel to the United States in Argentina and Franklin D. Roosevelt's book Why We Arm Ourselves; and a poster prepared by the Office of Price Administration outlining its program of rent control, price control, and rationing (Dec. 1943).
Includes O'Meara's diploma from the University of Wisconsin
(1920); a program from a Bastille Day celebration (July 14, 1941) in Woodstock,
New York, which Walter and Esther O'Meara helped produce; advertisement proofs
designed by O'Meara and written in Spanish promoting travel to the United
States in Argentina and Franklin D. Roosevelt's book