Converted to EAD3 : Encoded Archival Description (EAD), Version 3 : Release: 1.1.1 : Release Date: 2019-12-16. Validating against latest version of schema.
Contact information: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.afc/vhp.contact
Catalog Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/2015655282
In English.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
Collection is split into three series: Manuscripts, Photographs, and Artifacts. Materials are arranged in alphabetical order by subseries.
Accessioned, 2006.
A special military map of Camp Knox, Kentucky, has been transferred to the Geography and Map Division of the Library of Congress. https://lccn.loc.gov/2012588573
Duplication of collection materials may be restricted.
Collection is open for research; access restrictions apply. To request collection materials, please contact the Veterans History Project at http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.afc/vhp.contact
Peter Shemonsky Collection (AFC/2001/001/38915), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress.
Peter Shemonsky was born in West Prussia, Germany, on January 22, 1878. After immigrating to the United States, Shemonsky enlisted in the United States Army on March 16, 1898, a month before the outbreak of the Spanish-American War. Shemonsky began his 30-year military career as a cook and retired in 1928 with the rank of captain in the Quartermaster Corps. He was stationed in Texas, Massachusetts, New York, Puerto Rico, The Philippines, and Panama. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States on April 10, 1916.
Shemonsky began his service at Fort Banks in Wiltrop, Massachusetts, as a cook in the
76th Company of the Coast Artillery Corps. During his second term of service (March 16, 1901-March 15, 1904), Shemonsky wed
Olga Butler, whom he was married to until his death. His second and third terms of
service were also with the 76th Company at the rank of private. On May 17, 1904, he
earned a 1st class gunner badge during this third term of service (March 18, 1904-March
17, 1907). On May 5, 1908, Shemonsky was appointed corporal in the 152nd Company, Coast
Artillary Corps during this fourth term (March 18, 1907-March 17, 1910). This was
followed by an appointment as sargeant on July 17, 1908 with the same company. On
November 18, 1908, he was appointed to the rank of post quartermaster sergeant and
traveled to Henry Barracks in Puerto Rico. He would remain as post quartermaster
sergeant at the Henry Barracks for a portion of his fifth term (March 18, 1910-March 17,
1913) before moving to Fort Santiago in Manila, Philippines. He remained in the
Philippines at the Cuartel de España before moving to Camp Eagle Pass, along the United
States-Mexico border, in Eagle Pass, Texas for his sixth term (March 18, 1913-March 17,
1917). His seventh term of service (March 18, 1917-October 11, 1917) began in Camp Eagle
Pass as quartermaster sergeant. Soon after, Shemonsky was appointed to the rank of
captain. He would move on to Camp MacArthur in Waco, Texas, during this time as well.
His eighth term (October 12, 1917-October 25, 1919) also began in Waco and ended at Camp
Meade in Maryland, as captain of the Quartermaster Corps. His ninth and final enlistment
term began on October 28, 1919, at Fort Jay in New York, and ended at Camp Gaillard at
the Canal Zone as technical sergeant of the Quartermaster Corps on October 4, 1920.
After each enlistment term, Shemonsky was honorably discharged and described as
Shemonsky was appointed first lieutenant of the Quartermaster Corps on July 1, 1920. He earned a temporary appointment to captain on February 2, 1921. He returned to his previous rank of first lieutenant on June 20, 1922. On September 7, 1927, Shemonsky was appointed captain of the Quartermaster Corps, a position he retained until his retirement on December 2, 1928. He was stationed in Kentucky for the latter portion of his career. He returned to Wilton, Conneticut, after his retirement. Following the outbreak of World War II, he attempted to reenlist in 1942, but was unable due to his advanced age. He would instead join the Civilian Defense Force, a part of the Conneticut Defence Council. Peter Shemonsky died on December 2, 1943, in Norwalk, Connecticut. He was survived by his wife, Olga.
The Peter Shemonsky collection documents Shemonsky’s 30-year career in the United States Army. Spanning from 1898-1970, the collection contains artifacts; civilian papers; correspondence; creative works; a diary; maps; military papers; other manuscript materials; periodicals; printed matter; scrapbooks; and digital prints.
Artifacts consist of a postcard of quartermaster depo in Jeffersonville, Indiana, a booklet produced by the military for distribution, "The Soldier's Ration," and various membership cards from clubs and organizations. Civilian papers include a certificate attesting to Shemonsky’s membership in the St. Jude Apostolate Church and photocopies of his certificate of naturalization and medical certificate of death. The correspondence chiefly consists of twenty-four letters from Peter to his wife, Olga, sent during his military career. Topics covered include Shemonsky’s posting, activities, and his relationship with Olga. Three additional items include a letter from Ray Slenderson to the veteran, a Christmas card from Shemonsky to an unidentified individual, a letter from Willie Worton to the veteran, and a letter from Research Collection at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, to Olga. Creative works consist of poems and songs created by the veteran about the military and war. The diary is a set of seven small pages documenting a day of travel by train on April 29, 1905.
Of noteworthy interest, the military papers in the collection extensively document the
administrative aspects of Shemonsky’s service. Topics cover transportation requests,
pay, reimbursement, assignments, retirement, pension benefits to Olga, and various other
topics related to Shemonsky's career. Several oversize items include certificates of
commission and a discharge letter from Walter Reed. Periodicals include the September
1930 edition of the newsletter,
Catalog Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/2015655282
MS01: certificate of naturalization (4/10/1916); medical certificate of death (12/2/1943); certificate of being a "Perpetual Member of the St. Jude Apostolate" (undated).
MS02: 24 letters written by veteran to his wife (12/28/1899-12/16/1931) during the times veteran was stationed at Fort Banks, Massachusetts; Manila (Philippines); Angel Island, California; and Walter Reed Medical Center, Maryland.
One letter from fellow soldier Ray Slenderson, (7/24/1918); Christmas card from veteran to unknown (undated); one letter from Willie Worton (7/13/1912); letter from Research Collection at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania to veteran's wife (undated). Topics covered include Shemonsky’s posting, activities, and his relationship with Olga.
MS03: Poems and songs written by veteran:
MS04: Handwritten journal entry on April 29th, 1905. Veteran describes a spring day when he boarded a troop train, then a troop ship leaving Boston, Massachusetts, with descriptions of dinner and sleeping quarters the first night (4/29/1905).
MS06: certificate of honorable discharge (3/15/1901, 3/15/1904, 3/17/1907, 3/17/1910, 3/17/1913, 3/17/1917, 10/25/1919, 10/4/1920); certificate of commission (10/11/1917); letter from Davis (Wednesday); leave orders (6/3/1926); letter from Colonel Fry (12/11/1926); transportation certificate (1/21/1927); memorandum regarding veteran's physical exam; letter regarding annual physical examination (6/1/1927); special orders (9/14/1927); pay and allowance account (3/17/1928); letter from Colonel Fry (3/30/1928); letter written by veteran to quartermaster general regarding retirement (4/14/1928); special orders; retirement (8/1/1928); letter from adjutant general regarding retirement (8/8/1928); letter from major general (12/17/1928); mobilization assignment (9/26/1940); letter from Captain Hagan (5/2/1942); letter regarding pension application (2/24/1944); letter regarding pension benefits (8/15/1944); letters and document from William Hillman (10/20/1945).
Promotion notice (9/9/1927); qualification for promotion (8/23/1927); leave of absence (5/25/1926); commissioned personnel (5/25/1926); leave of absence (4/13/1926); leave status (2/23/1926); leave credit (2/26/1926); duties questionnaire (2/20/1926); detail to quartermaster corps school (2/6/1926); record of service (8/12/1925); questionnaire (3/3/1923); telegram (1/29/1923); radiogram received (11/6/1922); purchasing and contracting officer (2/18/1922, 2/25/1922); acceptance of promotion (12/6/1921); qualification for promotion (12/1/1921); purchasing and contracting officer (4/23/1921); letter of acceptance (3/22/1921); officers record (11/1/1920); oath (10/12/1920); cablegram (10/1/1920); notification of appointment (10/1/1920); cablegram (8/19/1920); application for appointment (7/21/1920); commission in the Regular Army (11/26/1918); western union telegram (11/10/1917); service record (1917).
Correspondence from veteran to Colonel Fry (3/7/1927); expense account (2/25/1927); investigation (4/25/1928); expense account (2/7/1927, 7/12/1926, 4/11/1928, 5/15/1928, 1/10/1928, 4/1/1927, 6/17/1927, 1/22/1926, 10/21/1926, 3/2/1927, 9/24/1927); overpayment of reimbursement (9/16/1927); supporting certificate to voucher (12/1926); reimbursement for per diem (11/22/1927); expense account (11/1/1927); signal corps message (10/31/1927); inspection for federal recognition (11/1/1927); expense account (9/28/1927, 5/24/1928, 4/23/1928, 10/14/1926); bill of lading to ship household goods (9/4/1928); change in status (8/3/1928); correspondence from veteran to John Benson (2/18/1928); correspondence from veteran to Gale Feaster (1/11/1928); correspondence to veteran from Captain Schocklin (8/24/1928); promotion (9/12/1927); correspondence to veteran from Major Dillion (7/15/1927); correspondence from veteran to adjutant general (6/22/1928); retirement (6/20/1928); correspondence to veteran from Colonel Fry (9/20/1928); expense account (11/30/1927, 1/6/1928, 10/14/1927); special orders (6/3/1926, 5/26/1926); leave of absence information; special order (3/26/1926, 12/29/1925, 9/8/1925, 8/25/1925, 6/3/1925, 11/26/1923, 7/26/1923, 7/5/1923, 6/9/1923, 5/25/1923, 2/2/1923, 1/29/1923, 1/6/1923, 1/5/1923, 10/2/1922, 6/7/1922, 10/25/1919, 10/4/1920, 10/12/1917)
MS06: special orders (1/21/1927); certificate of commission to Corporal (5/5/1908); certificate of commission to Sergeant (7/17/1908); certificate of commission to Post Quartermaster Sergeant (11/18/1908); certificate of commission to First Lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps (2/5/1921); certificate of commission to Captain in the Quartermaster Corps (12/21/1921); certificate of commission to First Lieutenant in the Quartermaster Corps (12/4/1922); certificate of commission to Captain in the Quartermaster Corps (9/9/1927); certificate of commission to Captain in the Quartermaster Corps (12/20/1927).
MS11: Booklet titled
MS07: newsletter,
MS08: card with text
MS09: Small scrapbook (measuring 4 1/2"H x 5 1/2" W) containing snapshots taken by veteran during Army and Navy exercises at Fort Banks, Winthrop, Massachusetts and at camp in Maryland (5/1/1905-7/1/1905). Scrapbook contains 32 photographs and one clipping; some include captions. Scrapbook is a "'Ward's Souvenir Album.' Made in Light Gray and Dark Gray Leaves. This book is No. 101" (9/1/1905).
MS10: Oversize scrapbook (measuring 10 3/4" W x 12 3/8" H) containing 28 pages with clippings, invitations, family and military photographs, certificates, and miscellaneous ephemera.
PH01-PH10: Images include veteran in uniform, his wife, Olga, an unknown woman, and veteran's detachment. All prints are undated.
AR01: Postcard of quartermaster depot, Jeffersonville, Indiana (undated).
AR02: Bulletin no. 9 of
AR03: Conneticut Defence Council membership card with a small photograph of
Shemonsky on the back of card (undated; Order of the Eastern Star membership
card (01/01/1939); Ark Lodge No. 39 membership card (12/31/1942), United
Spanish War Veterans membership card (11/10/1942); a