Correspondence, publications, and other materials re Dorn's childhood and youth as an active member of 4-H and other extension service activities aimed at young people in rural South Carolina during the Great Depression, and re his military service during World War II in the European Theatre, including letter, on 28 Nov. 1944, to Dorn's parents (written on notepaper illustrated with French landmarks), "I guess this will have to do for this Christmas so lets just hope that by next Christmas we can all be together." Dorn was killed on 23 Dec. 1944 in Belgium. This collection holds materials for researchers interested in the 4-H program as well as the realities of parents grieving the loss of their only son. First Sgt. George Burchett, who had served under Captain Dorn, related the events surrounding Dorn's death in a letter to the parents of his late commanding officer. Dorn and three of his officers were in a house planning an attack on German-held Haugimont when they were attacked. "I went down to the house where Capt. Dorn was. He was lying in just inside the front door. He had died instantly.... five 88's had hit the house." Buried first in the Henri Chappelle Cemetery in Belgium, Olin Dorn, Jr., was re-interred in Sumter County, S.C., in 1947. His widow relinquished her rights as the next of kin and his mother began her mission of memorializing her son. In a letter to Special Information Section, Office of Technical Information, H[ead]q[uarters] Army Ground Forces, Washington, D.C., 2 Aug. 1947, Mrs. Dorn wrote, "...if there is any thing that you may, in the form of, records or history of my son, send me I shall be rewarded in a small measure for being robbed of my only heir." Materials dating to Dorn's early life in Sumter County, S.C., include images of his success growing corn and other crops and in animal husbandry in Sumter County, S.C., as a high school student at Sumter High School, and at college friends in Clemson, S.C.; souvenir book of clippings and writings, 1930s, re his work with 4-H and his award-winning corn and agricultural products; autograph book dating to Dorn's 1938 graduating class at Sumter High School. Photographs of Olin G. Dorn, Jr., his wife, his parents, other family members; African American playmates and farm hands, some of whom are identified by name; high school and college classmates; and fellow soldiers are included with the collection, as well as a several years of images produced for the family's annual Christmas card showing image of Dorn's parents with a photograph of their deceased son. There are also two memorial books, a scrapbook, and a small photo album. Additional materials include certificates/citations, diplomas, 4-H patches, caps, and ribbons awarded during the Sumter County and S.C. State Fairs; ROTC pins, a felt pennant from Clemson College (ca. 1938-1942) with tiger (in Pob-3), and items and photographs documenting the National Boys and Girls Club Congress, Chicago 1934.
