Military Musician: The Diary of Thomas C. Key
September 22nd, 2017“This book while today may not be of much value to me, I hope will in future years become priceless.”
– Diary of Thomas C. Key, 1918
The cover of Thomas C. Key’s diary.
Call Number: RH MS B75.
Click image to enlarge.
The first page of entries in Thomas Key’s World War I diary.
Call Number: RH MS B75. Click image to enlarge.
Thomas C. Key was a member of Company F in the 357th infantry division of the American Expeditionary Forces from 1917 to 1919. In March 1918 he became a member of the infantry band before being transferred overseas. He was stationed in parts of France and Germany from 1918 until his discharge in June 1919. During his time in the Army, he filled this diary with daily updates – concert preparation details; the receipt of a letter from his wife, Edna; the daily weather, etc. – so that in later years he would have a record of his military service.
The title page of Thomas Key’s World War I diary with a photograph
of his wife, Edna. Call Number: RH MS B75. Click image to enlarge.
Key’s list of the towns he visited in Europe during World War I.
Call Number: RH MS B75. Click image to enlarge.
In addition to Key’s entries from his time in Europe, the diary includes entries from his life after he returned home as well as a list of addresses for his bandmates, some of his family history details, and his transcriptions of military poems, essays, and burial rites.
The civilian addresses of Key’s bandmates.
Call Number: RH MS B75. Click image to enlarge.
Family history in the diary, including information about Thomas’s relative
Francis Scott Key, who wrote the Star-Spangled Banner.
Call Number: RH MS B75. Click image to enlarge.
Emily Beran
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