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Diary of Thomas C. Key, musician, 357th Infantry Band, American Expeditionary Forces

 Collection
Call Number: RH MS B75

Overview

This World War I diary of Thomas Clarke Key documents his military service from 1917 to 1919 as a musician in the 357th Infantry Band of the American Expeditionary Forces, including his tour of duty from 1918 to 1919 in France and Germany. Included are Key's notes of his subsequent civilian employment in Kansas from June 1919 to 1949, and notes of his Key family history.

Dates

  • Creation: 1917-1919, with additions to 1949

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

No access restrictions

Biography of Thomas C. Key, 1896-1959

Thomas C. Key was born at Steelville (Crawford County), Missouri on January 19, 1896 to Samuel A. and Sarah L. Keys. On September 19, 1917, he was called to military service at Camp Travis, Texas, where he was assigned to Company F of the 357th Infantry Division of the American Expeditionary Forces. On March 24, 1918, he was designated a band musician in the Signal Platoon of Headquarters Company. He went to Europe on June 10, 1918, where he served in France and Germany from 1918 to 1919. With his military discharge in June 1919, he rejoined his wife Edna in Kansas, and in subsequent years was employed in banking in various Kansas communities. He died November 7, 1959.

Extent

1 volume (1 volume + 1 folder)

Language of Materials

English

Scope and Contents

On 108 numbered pages of his diary, Thomas C. Key documents his military service from 1917 to 1919 as a band musician in the 357th Infantry Division of the American Expeditionary Forces, and his World War I service from 1918 to 1919 in France and Germany. On an additional 56 pages are Key's notes of his subsequent civilian employment in Kansas from June 1919 to 1949; his transcriptions of military poems, essays, and military burial rites; brief notes of Key family history (including Francis Scott Key), and post-war postal addresses of Key's military comrades. Affixed to the diary's title page is a photograph of his wife, Edna Alma Key.

Physical Location

RH MS B75

Physical Location

RH MS P648

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchase, Charles Apfelbaum, 2005.

Title
Guide to the Thomas C. Key Collection
Subtitle
Diary of Thomas C. Key, musician, 357th Infantry Band, American Expeditionary Forces
Author
Finding aid prepared by mh, 2006. Finding aid encoded by mh, 2006.
Date
2006
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Finding aid written in English.
Finding aid permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/10407/0614334478
Preferred citation
Diary of Thomas C. Key, musician, 357th Infantry Band, American Expeditionary Forces, Kansas Collection, RH MS B75, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas Libraries

Repository Details

Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository

Contact:
1450 Poplar Lane
Lawrence KS 66045-7616 United States
785-864-4334