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 2: Laura L. Sutter, c. 1880, tintype; J. F. McMichael, Baltimore, MD, c. 1895, tintype; Laura L. Sutter, Rolla, MO, c. 1874, carte de visite taken by D. B. Rugg, Pine Street, Rolla, MO; Jim McMichael in U. S. Navy uniform, 1917; Mac, 1908, man in police uniform; Mac, 1906; Mac, 1905, man wearing straw hat and bandanna.
Provenance
Album thought to belong to the family of Frank McMichael and his wife, Laura Sutter. They were orginally from the Quarryville area, but later moved to the city of Lancaster.
Page 3: Mae, Russel, Bird, Laura, at Atlantic City, 1890, tintype; James R. McMichael, United States Navy, 1917.
Provenance
Album thought to belong to the family of Frank McMichael and his wife, Laura Sutter. They were orginally from the Quarryville area, but later moved to the city of Lancaster.
Page 4: James McMichael in Navy uniform, 1917; Dad Mac - man with rifle, c. 1909.
Provenance
Album thought to belong to the family of Frank McMichael and his wife, Laura Sutter. They were orginally from the Quarryville area, but later moved to the city of Lancaster.
Page 6: James McMichael in Navy Uniform; the McMichael family, 1916, children in front are Bertha, William and Joseph, standing behind them are Frank, James, Laura, and Mildred; Bertha McMichael, 1922; Mildred McMichael, 1917; Joseph and William McMichael, 1917.
Provenance
Album thought to belong to the family of Frank McMichael and his wife, Laura Sutter. They were orginally from the Quarryville area, but later moved to the city of Lancaster.
Page 7: James McMichael, 1915; James McMichael in Navy uniform; Mim, 1923; Joseph McMichael, 1918.
Provenance
Album thought to belong to the family of Frank McMichael and his wife, Laura Sutter. They were orginally from the Quarryville area, but later moved to the city of Lancaster.
Page 14: Etta McMichael; Bobby McMichael; James McMichael in Navy uniform.
Provenance
Album thought to belong to the family of Frank McMichael and his wife, Laura Sutter. They were orginally from the Quarryville area, but later moved to the city of Lancaster.
Page 18: Bobby McMichael; James McMichael in Navy uniform.
Provenance
Album thought to belong to the family of Frank McMichael and his wife, Laura Sutter. They were orginally from the Quarryville area, but later moved to the city of Lancaster.
Page 52: Mom and I (Laura and James McMichael); Dad and George Dicely; Bill; Anna and Joe.
Provenance
Album thought to belong to the family of Frank McMichael and his wife, Laura Sutter. They were orginally from the Quarryville area, but later moved to the city of Lancaster.
Photograph a group of young men who were training in Camp Hancock before shipping off to the trenches in France during World War I. Two of these young men amongst the group are Thomas and Victor Kegel.
