Raymond Arthur Dego Diary

Provenance

Raymond Arthur Dego’s diary was donated by Dego’s lover David Oscar through Eric Shorey.

Scope and Content

The collection contains Raymond Arthur Dego’s transcribed World War II army diary, which begins 11 Aug 1943 and ends Oct 1945, as well as a few photocopies of newspaper clippings, photos, and documents relating to Dego’s army years. There are 81 pages of typed journal entries. Most detailed entries take place between Aug 1943 and Jan 1944.  Also included are a preface and introduction to the diary written by Dego’s lover David Oscar. The diary primarily contains Dego’s day-to-day experiences of war life in Europe, including descriptions of country landscapes and art as well as discussions of army life, battles, and his fellow soldiers. Though Dego was gay, there is no discussion of his homosexuality.

History or Bio

Raymond Arthur Dego was born in East Orange, NJ on 3 Jun 1907 but soon moved to Brooklyn, NY and later to Connecticut. After finishing school, he worked in show business: dancing, vaudeville, and music comedy. When “talking pictures” threatened his livelihood, Dego quit show business, went back to school, and then worked for a publishing house until his induction into the United States Army’s 59th Field Artillery Battalion during World War II on 8 Apr 1942. He was honorably discharged 13 Nov 1945.

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