Donald T. Tschudy collection of Keidel photographs

Henry Keidel (1840-1919) was born in Salzgitter, Hanover, Germany, the son of Dr. George Keidel (died 1875) , a government physician who was affiliated with the University of Goettingen. The family came to Baltimore in 1852. Henry Keidel attended private schools, and founded the Henry Keidel and Co. firm in the 1860s, a Baltimore hardware enterprise that operated until 1978. The business was located successively at 10 South Charles Street (circa 1870), then 407 West Redwood Street (in the Sagner Building), 31 South Calvert Street (circa 1929), 330 North Charles Street (circa 1970), and finally at 100 West Cold Spring Lane (1978). A Catonsville resident, Henry Keidel was married to Adela Lawrence Keidel, and was survived at the time of his death by two sons and two daughters.

Howard A. Tschudy (died 1981) was employed at the Henry Keidel and Co. firm starting in 1904, initially as a clerk. In 1965, he became the owner of the company. A Dickeyville resident, he lived at 2505 Pickwick Road. Howard Tschudy was a member of the Baltimore Hardware Club and the American Hardware Manufacturers Association.