The Walter J. Ong Manuscript Collection documents the thought and work  of one of the most important intellectuals and scholars of the 20^th century.  In this collection, one will find Father Ong's scholarship, academic files, personal correspondence, class and lecture notes, research materials, and other related items. Included in the collection are such items as a number of Ong's unpublished articles and lectures, library cards from around the world, souvenirs from his trip to the 1929 Boy Scout World Jamboree, and correspondence with family, friends, and colleagues.  A detailed scope and content note for each of the series is available in the collection finding aid.  The first three series in the collection, Scholarship, General Files, and Index Card and Ephemera Files, will probably be of the most interest to research scholars.  In addition to being a meticulously organized person, Father Ong was very much aware that he was recognized as an outstanding scholar with an international reputation, and he believed that other scholars would be interested in reviewing and studying the material he produced or collected throughout his career.  The contents of this collection, and the way that it is arranged, reflects this organization and self awareness.

The Walter J. Ong Manuscript Collection has been divided into 8 series.  Most of these series are further divided into numerous sub-series.  For the most part, these series and sub-series divisions reflect the organizational scheme which Father Ong had established for his own research material.  These 8 series and the major sub-series are:

Series 1:  Scholarship

A. Personal Bibliography

B. Publications

C. Lectures (typescripts)

D. Unpublished and Unfinished Works

E. Research Materials/Sources

Series 2:  General Files

A. General Files

B. Correspondence

C. References

Series 3:  Index Card and Ephemera Files

A.  Alphabetized Index Card and Ephemera Files

B.  Address Index Cards

C.  Personal Bibliography Index Cards

D.  Current Research Index Cards

E.  Ramus Material Index Cards

Series 4:  Invitations

Series 5:  Offprints Given to Walter J. Ong

Series 6:  Conference Sessions and Classes on Walter J. Ong

Series 7:  Material Given to Saint Louis University Archives

A. Offprints

Series 8:  Route Book

A detailed scope and content note is available for each of these series below in this finding aid in the series descriptions.  The first three series, Scholarship, General Files, and Index Card and Ephemera Files, will probably be of the most interest to research scholars.