Joseph L. Kochka and Mary M. Kochka travelogue album
Creation: 1950 August 13-1950 August 27Abstract
Joseph Lawrence Kochka (1892-1952) and Mary Murray Kochka (1893-1984) were high school teachers in the Washington, D.C., area from the 1920s through the 1940s. Mary Kochka continued teaching through the 1950s. The couple was married in 1926. This collection consists of a travelogue photograph album detailing the Kochkas' two-week tour through Syracuse and Palmyra, New York, with Holman Rides Inc., an outdoor amusement ride and carnival business, in August 1950. The Kochkas were hosted by company owners Lucy Holman Sprague (1894-1954) and Leonard "Speed" Sprague (1902-1970). There are images of the Spragues' home, their neighbors' homes, ride erection/disassembly crews, ticket booths, crew quarters, transport trucks, and views of the fairgrounds. Rides pictured include the Tilt-a-Whirl, Merry-go-Round, Ferris Wheel, and Baby Tug. Lucy and Speed Holman are often seen along with their dog, Dundee. Most images have extensive captions.
Dates
- Creation: 1950 August 13-1950 August 27
Creator
- Kochka, Joseph Lawrence, 1892-1952 (Person)
- Kochka, Mary Murray, 1893-1984 (Person)
Extent
1 volume(s)
Physical Description
1 album : green, leather ; 9 x 11 in. (closed) containing 67 photographic prints : b&w ; 3.25 x 4.5 in. with captions.
Biographical Note
Joseph Lawrence Kochka (1892-1952) and Mary Murray Kochka (1893-1984) were high school teachers in the Washington, D.C., area from the 1920s through the 1940s. Mary Kochka continued teaching through the 1950s. The couple was married in 1926. Joseph Kochka served in the American Expeditionary Force for seventeen months during World War I and was rendered almost completely disabled as a result of gas use. In 1946, he served as an educational adviser to the supervisor of the United States Merchant Marine Cadet Corps while on a leave of absence from the District of Columbia school system. He was frequently ill throughout his teaching tenure and retired in 1947 because of his illness.
After his retirement, Kochka traveled in his trailer, which was covered in signs advocating for the Merchant Marines. He conducted a "one-man campaign," speaking at events, showing films, and promoting the Merchant Marines. He conducted research at various museums, educated himself via experiences, and financed his travels entirely by himself. He died of a heart attack in his auto trailer near Claysville, Pennsylvania. Mary Kochka's brother, George E. Murray (1906-1972), was driving.
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of a travelogue photograph album detailing the Kochkas' two-week tour through Syracuse and Palmyra, New York, with Holman Rides Inc., an outdoor amusement ride and carnival business, in August 1950. The Kochkas were hosted by company owners Lucy Holman Sprague (1894-1954) and Leonard "Speed" Sprague (1902-1970). There are images of the Spragues' home, their neighbors' homes, ride erection/disassembly crews, ticket booths, crew quarters, transport trucks, and views of the fairgrounds. Rides pictured include the Tilt-a-Whirl, Merry-go-Round, Ferris Wheel, and Baby Tug. Lucy and Speed Holman are often seen along with their dog, Dundee. Most images have extensive captions.
The handwritten log describes the Kochkas' first week at Syracuse, New York, for the Men's Valley Club, which maintained their own ticket booth and would dispense to Holman Rides their share of the profits. It also includes details of events against the backdrop of preparing and running the show and the orphan's day, where children could ride all the rides for free. Views include the rolling cook shack for carnival workers and last call before heading off for the second show at the Wayne County Fair in Palmyra, New York. The fairgrounds in Palmyra offered horse races next to the carnival. The album includes a series of captioned aerial photographs taken from the top of the Ferris Wheel.
Holman Rides was founded in Seneca Falls, New York, by Lewis Holman (1865-1947), Lucy Holman Sprague's father, in 1924. The Spragues married in 1926 and worked for the family business, taking over as owners upon Lewis Holman's death.
Leonard Sprague married Aurelia Soeder O'Donnell Marks Sprague (1913-1979) in 1956. Aurelia O'Donnell Sprague had two sons from a previous marriage, James J. O'Donnell (1931-1970) and Leonard Francis O'Donnell (1936-1983); both worked at Holman Rides. Leonard O'Donnell became company president after Sprague's death in 1979. Holman Rides appears to have ceased operations upon Leonard O'Donnell's death in 1983.
Access Restrictions
No restrictions on access; this collection is open for research.
Language of Materials
English
Finding Aid & Administrative Information
- Title:
- Joseph L. Kochka and Mary M. Kochka travelogue album
- Author:
- Laurie Sather
- Date:
- 2024
- Description rules:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description:
- English
- Script of description:
- Latin
Repository Details
Repository Details
Part of the Audiovisual Collections Repository
