Other Materials in the Archives

Autographed photo of Glen Gray.

The George A. Borgman Archive (GABA) doesn't just contain books, recordings and Borgman's writings and photographs, it also conatins a modest collection of jazz memorabilia which includes autographed photographs, letters and various signatures of jazz and big band figures.

Some of the autographed photographs include signed photos by Thomas "Fats" Waller's guitarist Al Casey, Louie Bellson, Max Roach and one of drummer Jack Carter from 1937.

Other materials include letters written and signed by Lionel Hampton and Paul Whiteman as well as autographs of Bob Crosby, the Mills Brothers, and Woody Herman. There are also some signed albums of various artsist new and old.

These are just some of the other interesting items held in the Archives.

"Interesting Experiences as a Special Agent with Military Intelligence" by George A. Borgman

"I had many interesting experiences in the Army in the United States and overseas. I have been involved in various counterespionage activities and investigations in Washington, Germany and Vietnam, plus anti-terrorist activities in Germany.


As a MI Special Agent, US Army, I was in West Berlin when the Wall went up in August 1961 and was in the Pentagon during the last days of the Cuban missile crisis in November 1962.

In October 1967, I worked undercover as a middle-aged hippy during the Pentagon anti-war demonstration and took part in Army coverage of the burning of Washington, D.C., after the assassination of Martin Luther King in April 1968.

I supplimented Secret Service during President Richard M. Nixon's first inauguration in January 1969. Then I spent one year in Vietnam. I was in charge of MI special agents who supplimented the Secret Service during President Jimmy Carter's visit to the Federal Republic of Germany in 1978.

I retired from the U.S.Army, after 23 years total service, as a Chief Warrant Officer 3. I've had an interesting life and have enjoyed it."

Milton Irving Orchestra

"I played tenor sax and clarinet in Milt Irving's Orchestra at the Catholic USO in St. Louis in 1944. Donald Stolz, who played trumpet in the St. Louis Symphony, was in the band. Later, we were classmates at the St. Louis Institute of Music in Clayton, Missouri."

Irving A. Kurth and a man named Milton formed a small band called the Milton Irving Orchestra in 1944. They played for the entertainment of army personnel through the USO in the St. Louis area.

Kurth was born in 1905 and married a woman by the name of Adelaide and they had one son Robert. It is not known when Irving died but his wife passed away, presumably after he did in August of 1979.

George joined the band in September of 1944 and stayed with them until the orchestra folded in around June of 1945.

There is evidence that the orchestra may have reformed as there was a band by this name in Missouri  in operation as late as September 1948 and may have continued several more years after that date.