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.
Page 5. Top left, unidentified couple, cyanotype. Top right, man leaning against utility pole, cyanotype. Bottom left, Helen Getz, right, with unidentified man and woman. Bottom center, Helen Getz, right, with her mother, Alma Getz. Bottom right, tents at Camp Hancock, Georgia.
Provenance
Photograph album assembled by Helen Getz just before her marriage to William J. Buch. Helen Getz was born in Ephrata in 1893. Most photos date to the 1910s. Gift of her son, Stan Buch. See also MG 658 Stan Buch Collection in our archives.
Page 25. Top left, Helen Getz, left and Mary, standing by sidewalk. Top right, automobile wreck by train tracks. Bottom left, Helen Getz. Bottom center, man standing in road. Bottom right, Paul Gehman of Ephrata in World War I uniform.
Provenance
Photograph album assembled by Helen Getz just before her marriage to William J. Buch. Helen Getz was born in Ephrata in 1893. Most photos date to the 1910s. Gift of her son, Stan Buch. See also MG 658 Stan Buch Collection in our archives.
Page 26. Top left, man standing on road or driveway next to fence. Top center, Robert Lee in World War I uniform, Camp Meade, January 1918. Top right, Helen Getz. Bottom left, two women by a creek or pond. Bottom right, man sitting on park bench.
Provenance
Photograph album assembled by Helen Getz just before her marriage to William J. Buch. Helen Getz was born in Ephrata in 1893. Most photos date to the 1910s. Gift of her son, Stan Buch. See also MG 658 Stan Buch Collection in our archives.
Page 27. Top left, Robert Lee, second from left, and three unidentified soldiers at Camp Meade, Maryland, during World War I. Top right, unidentified woman standing in front of row of houses. Bottom left, Helen Getz. Bottom center, Pearl Getz. Center right, unidentified woman sitting in front of a tree. Bottom right, Helen Getz.
Provenance
Photograph album assembled by Helen Getz just before her marriage to William J. Buch. Helen Getz was born in Ephrata in 1893. Most photos date to the 1910s. Gift of her son, Stan Buch. See also MG 658 Stan Buch Collection in our archives.
Page 28. Top left, man identified as Pete T. Reich. Top center, couple sitting on the ground. Top right, Robert Lee, Camp Meade, Maryland, World War I. Bottom left, couple reclining on chaise lounge. Bottom center, Helen Getz. Bottom right, "our pony Queen".
Provenance
Photograph album assembled by Helen Getz just before her marriage to William J. Buch. Helen Getz was born in Ephrata in 1893. Most photos date to the 1910s. Gift of her son, Stan Buch. See also MG 658 Stan Buch Collection in our archives.
Page 29. Top left, Helen Getz, possibly in Red Cross nurse uniform. Top right, group of young women in front of a row of houses. Bottom left, Harry Getz in World War I uniform. Bottom center, unidentified woman seated at foot of steps by house. Bottom right, Helen Getz, left, and Jestina Dissinger swimming at Hersheypark.
Provenance
Photograph album assembled by Helen Getz just before her marriage to William J. Buch. Helen Getz was born in Ephrata in 1893. Most photos date to the 1910s. Gift of her son, Stan Buch. See also MG 658 Stan Buch Collection in our archives.
Page 31. Top left, Elmer Landis in World War I uniform, England. Top right, Helen Getz in Red Cross nurse uniform. Bottom left, Steve, Helen Getz, Jestina Dissinger, John "on the farm, Elizabethtown, Pa.", June 29, 1919. Bottom right, horse at Jacob G. Getz stables, Ephrata.
Provenance
Photograph album assembled by Helen Getz just before her marriage to William J. Buch. Helen Getz was born in Ephrata in 1893. Most photos date to the 1910s. Gift of her son, Stan Buch. See also MG 658 Stan Buch Collection in our archives.
Page 32. Top left, Jestina Dissinger with little boy. Top center, Ralph Bowman in World War I uniform in front of tent. Top right, unidentified man with tennis raquet. Bottom left, Jestina Dissinger on horseback. Bottom center, man with milk cans and woman with pails "on the farm, Elizabethtown, Pa". Bottom right, Jestina Dissinger and Helen Getz on horseback.
Provenance
Photograph album assembled by Helen Getz just before her marriage to William J. Buch. Helen Getz was born in Ephrata in 1893. Most photos date to the 1910s. Gift of her son, Stan Buch. See also MG 658 Stan Buch Collection in our archives.
Page 33. Top left, Harry Getz in World War I uniform. Top right, unidentified woman with little girl sitting on a fence. Bottom left, Helen Getz at Hershey Park, June 22, 1919. Bottom center, swimming at Hersheypark, June 22, 1919. Bottom right, Helen Getz at Hersheypark, June 22, 1919.
Provenance
Photograph album assembled by Helen Getz just before her marriage to William J. Buch. Helen Getz was born in Ephrata in 1893. Most photos date to the 1910s. Gift of her son, Stan Buch. See also MG 658 Stan Buch Collection in our archives.
