World War I Papers of Thomas, James, and Victor Kegel
Description
The World War I Papers of Thomas, James, and Victor Kegel collection contains materials written and collected by three brothers who fought during World War I in the 109th Machine Gun Battalion. The collection contains letters written by the brothers to their families while in the service, and some other letters from their loved ones. There are also newspaper articles, literature on the battalion they fought in, post cards, military paperwork, and photographs.
Admin/Biographical History
Thomas Kegel (1895-1958), James Kegel (1891-1927), Victor Kegel (1898-1923) were three brothers who served together in the 109th Machine Gun Battalion during World War I. Their parents were Charles and Mary Rogers Kegel, and they had eleven children. Their family home was on 59 Locust Street in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. They were all drafted in 1917, and were trained in Camp Hancock in Augusta, Georgia. After their extensive training, they were sent to fight in the trenches in France. On separate occasions, each brother was wounded during the war, but they all survived and came home to Lancaster after the war in 1919.
James L. Kegel was born on August 10, 1891. He was a poultry dresser and dealer and was married to Arabella E. Raymond Kegel (1884-1966) on August 27, 1911. They had three children: Charles, James, and Mary Annabelle. James passed away at the age of 35 on February 9, 1927, due to pneumonia.
Thomas Kegel was born on January 18, 1895. He married Veronica R. "Fannie" Karch Kegel. Together, they had four children: Thomas, Helen, Dorn Anne, and John. He was a watchmaker, in addition to other various occupations. By a doctor's recommendation in 1939, Thomas and his family moved to Miami, Florida, due to his injuries and struggles with PTSD. He passed away on February 18, 1958.
Victor A. Kegel was born on March 29, 1898. He was a poultry dresser after coming back to Lancaster from the war in 1919. He was married to Ellen F. Kegel. He passed away on December 26, 1923, due to inflammation of the brain. He was 25 years old.
The dosuments in folders 24, 33, and 47 are fragile and require staff supervision.
Object ID
MG0798
Related Item Notes
World War I Collection, 1916-1972, MG-45
World War I Papers for Frank Schober, MG-797
Charles E. Schuler Papers, MG-780
William Barlow Papers, MG-781
William Raymond Elbert Papers, MG-784
Military Records for Charles A. Meisenberger, MG-782
Diary Collection, 1836-1978, MG-247
William J. Buch Papers, 1917-1958, MG-658
Notes
Donation was made possible with the assistance of Charles and Mary Brill.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Restrictions are noted at the item level. The documents in Folders 24, 33, and 47 are fragile and require staff supervision. Please contact research@lancasterhistory.org at least two weeks prior to visit.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at research@lancasterhistory.org. Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Other Numbers
MG-798
Other Number
MG-798
Classification
MG0798
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Processed and finding aid prepared by EM, January/February 2019.
3-ring binder with genealogy for the extended Harsh family, compiled by M. Elinor Harsh ca. 1970.
3-ring binder for the extended Meguigan family.
Original manuscript from 1889 of the Black Horse Tattler, an in-house newspaper created by students at a rural Lancaster County school. Cabinet card of Jacob N. Beam.
Panoramic photograph of the unit Duff [trained with] during WWII. (maybe basic training?)
Research reports (not family):
Early Bomberger Properties: Warwick Twp. 1979
[Sheaffer Family History Materials]. 1985
A History of 2601 Kissel Hill Road, including a Short History of Landis Valley. 1993
Notes on Samuel Frantz (1799-1872). 1997
Notes on an Old Notebook (Abraham Hoover). 2001
Transcription of pew rent book of First Presbyterian Church of Lancaster, 1844-1849. 2002
Meriwether Lewis in Lancaster: a Search for Documentation. 2002
Notes on Lancaster City "Warrants & Survey" Books at LancasterHistory. 2003
First Presbyterian Church: a Real Estate History. 2004
Wheatland Before and After Buchanan: a Graphical Chain of Title. 2004
History of a Farm: 380 Kendig Rd., Conestoga. 2004
213 Old Trinity Place: a House History. 2004
Notes on the Fulton Grocery, ca. 1924-1925 (Duff's family, see business records in MG). 2006
Property History to 1909 for 126 North Water Street. 2006
Randon Notes: Benedict Family Members, 1776-1867. 2006
Two Soldiers: The Story behind the Hamilton Street Honor Roll. 2008
Notes on Frederick Harsh (probably not related). 2008
Notes on the Taylor Papers. 2008
Miscellaneous Notes: The Hambright/Brubaker/Wirth Farm (New Holland Pike, Manheim Twp.). 2010
Raising Oscar's Barn: a Work in Progress. With photo album and note from Duff's Aunt M. Elinor Harsh. 2011
Collection of about 100 photographs of family members (Lancaster County residents). Nearly all have names written on back, some with information identifying families and dates. Beam family and Meguigan family. ca. 1880-1910.
Photograph Collection (MDH-01-01-01 to MDH-01-10-01)
Notes
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
These items have been added to a previous donation of Mr. Harsh's house and schoolhouse research. This collection was given in memory of M. Duffield Harsh.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
This collection is not cataloged. Original items may be used by appointment--contact Research@LancasterHistory.org prior to visit.
Copyright
Collection items may be photographed. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory. Persons wishing to publish any material from this site must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright or other use restrictions. Publication fees may apply.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Grace Lutheran Church, Lancaster, PA. C. Emlen Urban, Lancaster, PA. 22 February 1906. Color photocopies of elevations on linen. Gift of Grace Lutheran Church, 14 March 2011.
North Queen Street Elevation, Section through Tower, James Street Elevation. Scale: 1/8"=One Foot.
North Side Elevation, East End Elevation, Plan of Belfry. Scale: 1/8"=One Foot.
Design of Grace Lutheran Church, Queen and James Street, Lancaster. John Evans & Son, Arcts., Lancaster, PA. December 1888. Blueprint. (fragile) Transferred from the Object Collection, 12 May 2011.
Elevation of Queen Street Front and James Street Front. Scale: 1"=Eight Feet.
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Collection Title (MG#), Box #, Folder #, (or Object ID), LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. URL if applicable. Date accessed (day, month, year).
Access Conditions / Restrictions
Please make an appointment by contacting the Research Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org prior to visit.
Copyright
Collection may be photographed. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at Research@LancasterHistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Persons wishing to publish any material from this collection must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright or other use restrictions. Publication fees may apply.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
