John Aloysius O'Keefe Jr. -- class of 1905

 

John Aloysius O’Keefe Jr. graduated from Harvard in the class of 1905. Here is what he submitted for the class reports, which were published every five years. Note: the first class report is at graduation.

(Collected by John Cavanaugh-O’Keefe, ne John Aloysius O’Keefe IV, Harvard 1972)

 

1910 report (Second Class Report)

John Aloysius O'Keefe, Jr.

After graduation I entered the Boston Normal School graduating in 1906. Since that time I have been teaching in Boston. Member: Second Corps of Cadets, M.V.M. I went with them to the inauguration of President Taft. I have been a member of the corps rifle team for two years. Present residence: 414 Broadway, Lynn, Mass.

 

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1915 report (Third Class Report)

John Aloysius O'Keefe, Jr.

Born                Lynn, Mass., June 21, 1884.

Parents             John Aloysius O'Keefe, Mary Anna Cronan.

School             Lynn Classical High School, Lynn, Mass.

College                        1901-1905

Degrees           A.B., 1905

Married           Mary Anna Didham, Lynn, Mass., July 24, 1913.

Occupation      Teacher.

Address           (home) 414 Broadway, Lynn, Mass.

(business) Dudley School, Boston, Mass.

 

After graduation, I took a one year course in the Boston Normal School. Entered into service of Boston Public Schools, September, 1906. At present am sub-master of Dudley School. Enlisted June, 1908, in Co. B, Second Core Cadets, at Salem. This is one of those old militia organizations whose origin anti dates EU. S. Constitution. Promoted corporal 1910; elected 2^nd Lieutenant, 1911; 1^st Lieutenant, 1912. Experience here so far has been confined to civil disorder or disaster. Lawrence Mill strike, January 29-February 12, 1912, and Salem fire, June 24-August 8, 1914.

            I have twice gone to Washington with the Cadet Corps to take part in Inaugural parades (Taft’s and Wilson’s). On the latter trip I visited Fredericksburg, Virginia, and walked up the slopes of Marye's Heights, where my grandfather, a corporal in the 19th Mass. Infantry had been killed in 1862.

 

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1920 report (Fourth Class Report)

John Aloysius O’Keefe

 

Address           (home) 414 Broadway, Lynn, Mass.

(business) Quincy School, Tyler St., Boston, Mass.

Occupation:     Teacher

Married:          Mary A. Didham, Lynn, Mass., July 24, 1913.

 

War Record: Enlisted in the United States Army July 25, 1917, and served until April 29, 1919. Was attached at various times to the 101^st F. A., 26th Division, the Adjutant general's Department, General Hq., A.E.F., and Hq., 51^st F.A.B., 26^th Division. Held rank of Captain and served as Battalion Adjutant, Personnel Officer, Battery Commander, and Division Statistical Officer.

            Left the United States September Sept. 9, 1917, and served until April 10, 1919. While in France was located at Soissons and the Chemin de Dames, in the Toul Sector, at Chateau-Thierry, Argonne, and in Belgium around Ypres. Engaged in Battle of Apremont, April 10, 1918; Seicheprey, April 20, 1918; Aisne-Marne (Chateau-Thierry) Offensive; Meuse-Argonne Offensive; Ypres-Lys Offensive.

 

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1925 (I think) – records of the class of 1905

John Aloysius O’Keefe, Jr.: educator; married Mary Anna Didham, Lynn. Mass., July 24, 1913; child, John Aloysius O’Keefe, 3^rd, Aug. 6, 1920; address, (home) 414 Broadway, Lynn, Mass., (business) 9) Tyler St., Boston, Mass.

 

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1930

[This is the 25^th anniversary report, which is generally more extensive than other class reports.]

 

John Aloysius O’Keefe, Jr

BORN: Lynn, Mass., June 21, 1884. PARENTS: John Aloysius O’Keefe, Mary Anna Cronan

PREPARED AT: Lynn Classical High School, Lynn, Mass.

IN COLLEGE: 1901-1905. DEGREES: A.B. 1905; A.B. (Boston College) 1922.

MARRIED: Mary Anna Didham, Lynn, Mass, July 24, 1913. Child: John Aloysius 3d, August 6, 1920.

OCCUPATION: Teacher.

ADDRESSES: (home) 137 Colberg Ave., Roslindale, Mass.; (business) John D. Philbrick School, Philbrick St., Roslindale, Mass.

Entered the employee of the Boston School Committee in September, 1906. Remaining in the same employment I have been promoted through the various grades and am now a master in charge of the Charles Sumner District.

            During the war I was a captain in the 101^st Field Artillery, 26^th Division. I sailed for France on September 9, 1917, and took part in the following engagements: Chemin des Dames sector: La Reine sector (Apremont and Seicheprey); Chateau-Thierry and Second Battle of the Marne; Marne-Aisne, Meuse-Argonne, and Ypres-Lys Offensives. I returned to the United States on April 10, 1919, and was discharged at Camp Devens two weeks later. At the present time I hold a Commission as lieutenant-colonel in the Field Artillery Reserve.

            PUBLICATION: “Junior High School Poetry,” (co-author with Guindon), (D.C. Heath & Co., 1927)

 

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1935 (I think) – records of the class of 1905

John Aloysius O’Keefe, Jr., did not reply. Last known address: 137 Colberg Avenue, Roslindale, Mass.

 

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1940 (I think) – Harvard College – Class of 1905

John Aloysius O’Keefe, Jr. reports only that he is still associated with the Boston Public Schools as master of the Charles Sumner District. Address: 157 Colberg Avenue, Roslindale, Mass.

 

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1945

John Aloysius O'Keefe, Jr.

Education: Principal of the Charles Sumner District of the Boston Public Schools. Married, Mary Anna Didham, July 24, 1913, Lynn, Mass. Child, John Aloysius 3d, August 6, 1920. Military services of family, John Aloysius O'Keefe, 3d, Harvard ’44, technician fifth grade, Headquarters Company 1166^th Engineer Group, Army of the United States. My answer would be best expressed by a quotation from Longfellow:

 

Toiling, – rejoicing – sorrowing,

Onward through life he goes;

Each morning sees some task begin,

Each evening sees it close;

Something attempted, something done,

Has earned a night's repose.

 

My father was a member of the renowned Class of 1880. He used to say that in the old world a patent of nobility was given to a family as a mark of distinction. In the new world, while No title of nobility was given, a family was entitled to such if it had an unbroken line of three generations who were graduates of Harvard. His three sons were graduates and each of these sons has had a boy who joined the list of those who have won degrees from the nations's greatest university.

Home Address, 137 Colberg Ave., Roslindale Mass. Office Address, Charles Sumner School, Roslindale, Mass.

 

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1950

John Aloysius O’Keefe, Jr.

Occupation: Principal, Charles Sumner District, Boston Public Schools.

Home address: 137 Colberg Ave., Roslindale, Mass.

Office address: Charles Sumner School, Basile St., Roslindale, Mass.

Married: Mary Anna Didham, July 24 1913, Lynn, Mass. (died April 14, 1949).

Child: John Aloysius, 3d, ’44, August 6, 1920 (m. Jane M. Becknell).

Grandchild: Mary Anna O'Keefe, April 4, 1949.