Walter J. Ong
1912 – 2003

Walter J. Ong

American philosopher and historian (1912–2003)

cultural studies scholaranthropologistliterary criticphilosopherjournalist
Born
1912-11-30, Kansas City
Died
2003-08-12
Birthplace state
Missouri

Biography

Walter J. Ong was born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1912 and died in 2003. A Jesuit priest, he worked as a professor of English literature, cultural historian, religious historian, and philosopher. His work examined how the shift from orality to literacy shaped culture and human consciousness. He served as elected president of the Modern Language Association in 1978.

Occupation

Walter J. Ong is recorded as a cultural studies scholar, a anthropologist, a literary critic, a philosopher, a journalist, a university teacher, a Catholic priest, a historian and a writer, born in Missouri (1912–2003).

Connections to Missouri

Walter J. Ong was born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1912. Explore other notable figures from Missouri, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Missouri›Missourihistory ›Historic sites in Missouri›
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Kansas City

Walter J. Ong came from Kansas City. A full Aubrey report on Kansas City pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Kansas City report
Or see a real report first

More notable figures from Missouri

Other historical figures born in Missouri, ranked by historical prominence.

Mark Twain
Mark Twain
American author and humorist (1835–1910)
Harry S. Truman
Harry S. Truman
president of the United States from 1945 to 1953; politician (1884–1972)
T. S. Eliot
T. S. Eliot
US-British poet (1888–1965)
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou
American poet, author, and civil rights activist (1928–2014)
Edwin Hubble
Edwin Hubble
American astronomer (1889–1953)
Robert A. Heinlein
Robert A. Heinlein
American author and aeronautical engineer (1907–1988)
Dale Carnegie
Dale Carnegie
American writer and lecturer (1888-1955)

Frequently asked about Walter J. Ong

Who was Walter J. Ong?
Walter J. Ong was American philosopher and historian (1912–2003), born in Missouri (1912 – 2003).
When and where was Walter J. Ong born?
Walter J. Ong was born on 1912-11-30 in Kansas City.
When did Walter J. Ong die?
Walter died on 2003-08-12.
What was Walter J. Ong known for?
Walter J. Ong is recorded as a cultural studies scholar, a anthropologist, a literary critic, a philosopher, a journalist, a university teacher, a Catholic priest, a historian and a writer.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report