The Alvin and Dorothy Piegols papers document the experiences of Alvin Piegols as he served in the Army during World War II and of his fiancée, Dorothy Cannon, who was studying to be a nurse at the University of Michigan School of Nursing. The materials date between 1939 and 2024, with the bulk of the textual materials dating between 1939 to 1947. Items in the collection include "the Scalpel" yearbook, correspondence between Dorothy and Alvin, newspapers, photographs from Alvin's tour in Europe, postcards of German towns, programs and pamphlets, publications about Alvin's battalion, the Thunderbolts, and artifacts such as Alvin's military patches, German pins, a Nazi flag, and a wooden crucifix. Family photographs document Dorothy and Alvin's marriage and family and date from 1943 to 1992.

Alvin Reinhart Piegols was born November 25, 1922 at the family farm in Midland, Michigan to Frieda Marie Feinauer Piegols and George Herman Piegols. Alvin was born prematurely, the younger of twins at approximately 2 pounds, 3 ounces, he and his twin brother, Alton, were kept warm near the wood-stove.

Alvin was raised on a farm in Midland, Michigan. In 1941 he graduated from Midland High School. He worked a year so his twin brother could take advantage of a college scholarship. In the fall of 1942 he started college at the University of Michigan. In the spring of 1943 his unit of the Army Reserves was called into active duty. Alvin attended basic training at Camp Roberts in California. He was commissioned to the 11th Armored Division of the Corps of Army Engineer Battalion as a mine sweeper. Prior to that, he was a cook. He fought in World War II in England, France, Belgium and Austria. After the Battle of Bastogne, also known as the “Battle of the Bulge,” he found a German parachute made of white silk which he sent to his fiancé, Dorothy Cannon, in Michigan. She used the silk material for her wedding dress.

While Alvin served in the military, Dorothy studied to become a nurse at the University of Michigan School of Nursing. She graduated in 1947.

On May 5, 1945 a platoon of 23 men from the 11th Armored Division of the US Third Army, led by Staff Sgt. Albert J. Kosiek liberated the Mauthausen main concentration camp.  

Alvin and Dorothy were married in March 1946 in Ann Arbor, Michigan and honeymooned in Niagara Falls, NY in June. Together they had three daughters (Clara, Lois, and Diane) and two sons (George and Bruce).

Alvin completed his bachelors’ degree in Chemical Engineering from Michigan State University in June 1950 and began working for Dow Chemical in Midland, Michigan. Due to an economic downturn, Alvin was laid off in 1958. Alvin and Dorothy moved to Indian Head, Maryland in September 1958. Alvin began working at the Potomac River Command. Alvin was a retired chemical engineer.

He lived with Dorothy in Maryland until his death on April 19, 2019. Dorothy passed away on May 16, 2024

Alvin's Obituary        Dorothy's Obituary

The Alvin and Dorothy Piegols papers document the experiences of Alvin Piegols as he served as a Private First Class in the Army during World War II and of his fiancée, Dorothy Cannon, who was studying to be a nurse at the University of Michigan School of Nursing. The materials date between 1939 and 2024, with the majority of items dating from 1939 to 1947.

The collection is divided into three Series: Series 1: Dorothy Cannon Piegols contains correspondence written by Dorothy to Alvin Piegols and her yearbooks from the University of Michigan School of Nursing. Series 2: Alvin Piegols contains digitized correspondence written by Alvin to Dorothy Cannon, digitized photographs including images from army camps, Europe, and the Mauthausen main concentration camp, newspapers, maps, ephemora, military patches and pins, artifacts and other materials he collected while serving abroad in the military. Links to digital scans of Alvin's letters and some of his photographs can be found in the Separated Materials section. Series 3: Family Photographs contains slides documenting Alvin and Dorothy's lives, children, family vacations and reunions, and other memories.

The collection is divided into three series: 

Series 1: Dorothy Cannon Piegols contains correspondence written by Dorothy to Alvin Piegols and her yearbooks from the University of Michigan School of Nursing.

Series 2: Alvin Piegols contains correspondence written by Alvin to Dorothy Cannon, photographs, newspapers, maps, ephemora, artifacts and other materials he collected while serving abroad in the military 

Series 3: Family Photographs contains family photographs dating from 1943 to 1992. The photographs remain in their original order. The first grouping is in chronological order, but the second grouping is less ordered. There are also some commercial slides from the 1980s.