A fascinating Fortean, fascinated by Korzybski.
Allen Elias Flagg was born 24 June 1922 in Ord, Nebraska. His grandfather, Asa, had been a Commodore China Steamship Navigation Co, and his father was born in Shanghai in 1895. Gould Bailey Flagg returned to his family home state of Maine in 1910, then moved to Nebraska to live with an uncle. He served during World War I. Some time between 1920 and 1923, Gould married a woman named Doris. She gave birth to three children, first two boys, then a daughter. Allan Elias Flagg was the eldest.
According to the 1930 census, Gould made a good living at selling automobiles: the family owned a home worth $6,000 dollars, this just as the Great Depression was settling not he nation, and the Flagg’s were at heart of the dustbowl. Also according to the census, the family spoke Chinese at home, which may account for some of Allen’s later interests. A decade later, the family was still in Ord, Gould still selling cars, but its fortunes had declined. They rented a home, at $18, with Gould only making $390 for 52 weeks of work (54 hours per week). Doris also did some work—she reported having worked 7 weeks in 1939 as a news reporter, making $10. Allen, 17, sold clothes, making $125 for 16 weeks of work in 1939, and even his 15 year old brother, Gould, Jr., put in 5 weeks of work as a custodian, bringing to the family pot $72. Only Priscilla, aged 13, reported no employment or income.
Flagg served during World War II as part of the marines. Afterwards, he attended New York University. The yearbook puts him in the school of arts, where, he said, he majored in mathematics and minored in English. Afterwards, he went to work as an insurance casualty underwriter, settling in New York City and its environs.
Allen Elias Flagg was born 24 June 1922 in Ord, Nebraska. His grandfather, Asa, had been a Commodore China Steamship Navigation Co, and his father was born in Shanghai in 1895. Gould Bailey Flagg returned to his family home state of Maine in 1910, then moved to Nebraska to live with an uncle. He served during World War I. Some time between 1920 and 1923, Gould married a woman named Doris. She gave birth to three children, first two boys, then a daughter. Allan Elias Flagg was the eldest.
According to the 1930 census, Gould made a good living at selling automobiles: the family owned a home worth $6,000 dollars, this just as the Great Depression was settling not he nation, and the Flagg’s were at heart of the dustbowl. Also according to the census, the family spoke Chinese at home, which may account for some of Allen’s later interests. A decade later, the family was still in Ord, Gould still selling cars, but its fortunes had declined. They rented a home, at $18, with Gould only making $390 for 52 weeks of work (54 hours per week). Doris also did some work—she reported having worked 7 weeks in 1939 as a news reporter, making $10. Allen, 17, sold clothes, making $125 for 16 weeks of work in 1939, and even his 15 year old brother, Gould, Jr., put in 5 weeks of work as a custodian, bringing to the family pot $72. Only Priscilla, aged 13, reported no employment or income.
Flagg served during World War II as part of the marines. Afterwards, he attended New York University. The yearbook puts him in the school of arts, where, he said, he majored in mathematics and minored in English. Afterwards, he went to work as an insurance casualty underwriter, settling in New York City and its environs.