The Horace Porter Goff papers span 1917-1919 and are arranged chronologically. They document Goff's activities from his enlistment to his discharge from the United States Army.

The collection includes letters written by Horace Porter Goff to his family, namely his mother and father, James, and his siblings, George and Earl. The letters detail the everyday events in training camps and on the field in France. His letters originate from Columbus, Ohio, where Goff went through early training, from Ft. Meyers, Virginia, where he had more specialized military training and drills, and finally from France, where Goff served on the front. He describes military drills, kitchen detail, inoculations, life in the barracks, the French people and countryside, and scenes of war.

Also included is Goff's diary from his time as a soldier, dating from 1917 to 1918. The entries in the diary supplement the correspondence, and often describe detailed accounts of his experiences, such as his military training, his transports to various locations, and his time on the front. Interesting entries contain details of his Atlantic voyage and descriptions of his life in France and French culture. A typewritten prayer for soldiers, origins unknown, was found within the diary.

Goff's grandson, James M. Goff, transcribed the letters and the diary in 1983 and combined them to create a chronological record of all of Goff's writings as a soldier.

Additional items include Goff's honorable discharge papers, verification of his honorable discharge for the Victory Medal application, Goff's 1918 commencement program from Indiana University, and several photographs described in Separated Materials below and published online in the Archives Photographs Collection.

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