Title: Max Kessel papers
Inclusive Dates: 1916-1991

Creator:

• Kessel, Max

CallNumber: MS 402

Quantity: Collection includes: papers; postcards; envelopes; photographs1.75 Linear Feet 3 legal sized document boxes, 1 half legal sized document box
Repository:

University of Wisconsin-Madison. Department of Special Collections

Abstract:

Correspondence, financial and legal papers, and miscellaneous other materials of Max Kessel, a German soldier during World War II. Most correspondence is from Max to his wife and daughter. Miscellaneous items include postcards with printed messages, food stamps, and a house plan for his home.

Language: German .

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-sc-ms402

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Max Kessel's birth and death dates are unknown. He served in the German army during World War II, after which he seems to have returned to his home village of Trübenbach, where he was a basket-maker. Trübenbach was near the town of Lichtenfels, which is still known for its basket-making industry today.

Kessel was married to Lina Stumpf; they had one daughter, Lotte. Kessel was also the guardian of a Barbara Kessel (born Nov. 1, 1940) until 1953 when his guardianship was terminated. Some of the papers also mention an Eduard Kessel, living at the same address – perhaps Max's father. In addition to basket-making, the family seems also to have grown some crops, and at some point Lina worked in a porcelain factory.

The collection contains correspondence from Max to Lina and Lotte, along with letters from Lotte to both of her parents. There are a few letters to and from other family members and friends as well. The letters are interspersed with miscellaneous items such as mail order clothes catalogs, food stamps, and petitions for Kessel to receive leave so he could come home and help with the harvest. There is also a photograph of Kessel in uniform.

Other materials in the collection date 1935-1940 and 1946-1961. This includes letters, bank statements, receipts, real estate papers, house plans, building permits and correspondence regarding legal proceedings. There are also various printed materials including an army-related newsletter and miscellaneous pamphlets and advertisements. Finally, there are letters addressed to various members of the Stumpf family, dated 1916 to 1919, some of which were found in an envelope addressed to Eduard Kessel and postmarked 23 March 1932. Others were found mixed in with the Karl Lofmann papers (MS 411) where they did not seem to belong, but it is unknown whether there was actually any connection between the two families or not.

Access Restrictions

This collection includes no known access restrictions.

Use Restrictions

Collection materials may be subject to laws governing rights. Researchers are solely responsible for determining the rights status of the materials they use. Permission may be required for some uses such as publication or reproduction.

Acquisition Information

Purchased by Barbara Walden, European History Librarian, from Charles Apfelbaum, Rare Manuscripts and Archives, in May 2002.

Germany -- Armed ForcesWorld War, 1939-1945 -- Germany -- History -- SourcesWorld War, 1939-1945 -- Personal narratives, GermanSoldiers

Box   1   Folder   1	Letters, January 10, 1941 - February 6, 1941
Box   1   Folder   2	Letters, February 8, 1941 - February 20, 1941
Box   1   Folder   3	Letters, February 22, 1941 - March 14, 1941
Box   1   Folder   4	Letters, March 14, 1941 - March 26, 1941
Box   1   Folder   5	Letters, March 28, 1941 - April 4, 1941
Box   1   Folder   6	Letters, April 4, 1941 - April 12, 1941
Box   1   Folder   7	Letters, April 13, 1941 - April 21, 1941
Box   1   Folder   8	Letters, April 21, 1941 - April 30, 1941
Box   1   Folder   9	Letters, May 1, 1941 - May 11, 1941
Box   1   Folder   10	Letters, May 12, 1941 - May 24, 1941
Box   1   Folder   11	Letters, May 25, 1941 - June 6, 1941
Box   1   Folder   12	Letters, June 6, 1941 - June 22, 1941
Box   1   Folder   13	Letters, June 22, 1941 - July 3, 1941
Box   1   Folder   14	Letters, July 6, 1941 - August 14, 1941
Box   1   Folder   15	Letters, August 14, 1941 - September 23, 1941
Box   1   Folder   16	Letters, September 24, 1941 - October 20, 1941
Box   1   Folder   17	Letters, October 23, 1941 - November 11, 1941
Box   1   Folder   18	Letters, December 2, 1941 - December 17, 1941
Box   1   Folder   19	Letters, December 18, 1941 - December 29, 1941
Box   2   Folder   1	Letters, January 4, 1942 - February 10, 1942
Box   2   Folder   2	Letters, February 11, 1942 - February 27, 1942
Box   2   Folder   3	Letters, February 28, 1942 - March 12, 1942
Box   2   Folder   4	Letters, March 14, 1942 - March 26, 1942
Box   2   Folder   5	Letters, March 28, 1942 - April 23, 1942
Box   2   Folder   6	Letters, April 24, 1942 - May 13, 1942
Box   2   Folder   7	Letters, May 17, 1942 - June 7, 1942
Box   2   Folder   8	Letters, June 10, 1942 - June 29, 1942
Box   2   Folder   9	Letters, July 3, 1942 - July 24, 1942
Box   2   Folder   10	Letters, July 27, 1942 - August 16, 1942
Box   2   Folder   11	Letters, August 16, 1942 - September 27, 1942
Box   2   Folder   12	Letters, October 1, 1942 - October 24, 1942
Box   2   Folder   13	Letters, October 31, 1942 - November 19, 1942
Box   2   Folder   14	Letters, November 24, 1942 - December 13, 1942
Box   2   Folder   15	Letters, December 18, 1942 - December 31, 1942
Box   2   Folder   16	Letters, January 2, 1943 - January 21, 1943
Box   2   Folder   17	Letters, January 27, 1943 - February 24, 1943
Box   2   Folder   18	Letters, March 5, 1943 - April 16, 1943
Box   2   Folder   19	Letters, April 17, 1943 - April 23, 1943
Box   2   Folder   20	Letters, April 24, 1943 - May 5, 1943
Box   2   Folder   21	Letters, May 6, 1943 - May 31, 1943
Box   2   Folder   22	Letters, June 2, 1943 -July 1, 1943
Box   2   Folder   23	Letters, July 8, 1943 - July 29, 1943
Box   2   Folder   24	Letters, August 1, 1943 - September 11, 1943
Box   2   Folder   25	Letters, September 11, 1943 - October 16, 1943
Box   2   Folder   26	Letters, October 19, 1943 - November 17, 1943
Box   2   Folder   27	Letters, November 21, 1943 - December 11, 1943
Box   2   Folder   28	Letters, December 13, 1943 - December 26, 1943
Box   3   Folder   1	Letters, January 6, 1944 - February 2, 1944
Box   3   Folder   2	Letters, February 3, 1944 - February 15, 1944
Box   3   Folder   3	Letters, February 16, 1944 - April 1, 1944
Box   3   Folder   4	Letters, April 2, 1944 - April 15, 1944
Box   3   Folder   5	Letters, April 17, 1944 - May 11, 1944
Box   3   Folder   6	Letters, May 12, 1944 - June 16, 1944
Box   3   Folder   7	Letters, June 16, 1944 - July 1, 1944
Box   3   Folder   8	Letters, July 3, 1944 - July 23, 1944
Box   3   Folder   9	Letters, July 24, 1944 - August 12, 1944
Box   3   Folder   10	Letters, August 13, 1944 - August 31, 1944
Box   3   Folder   11	Letters, September 3, 1944 - September 29, 1944
Box   3   Folder   12	Letters, October 2, 1944 - October 13, 1944
Box   3   Folder   13	Letters, October 16, 1944 - November 4, 1944
Box   3   Folder   14	Letters, November 7, 1944 - December 10, 1944
Box   3   Folder   15	Letters, December 12, 1944 - December 27, 1944
Box   3   Folder   16	Letters, January 6, 1945 - February 2, 1945
Box   3   Folder   17	Letters, February 3, 1945 - March 13, 1945
Box   4   Folder   1	undated/blank postcards, many to/from Lotte (Max's daughter)
Box   4   Folder   2	Letters, Undated
Box   4   Folder   3	Envelopes with no date
Box   4   Folder   4	Letters to Stumpf family, 1916 - 1919
Box   4   Folder   5	Misc. letters, August 3, 1935 - December 30, 1940
Box   4   Folder   6	Misc. letters, October 30, 1946 - February 2, 1961
Box   4   Folder   7	House plans, fire insurance, building permit 1928, 1939, 1950
Box   4   Folder   8	Misc. printed matter
Box   4   Folder   9	Misc. forms + notes (undated)