By Ronald S. Coddington
History coursed through every fiber of Alex de Quesada’s being; he sensed it all around him. Militaria captivated him more than anything else. When a topic piqued his interest, he poured his heart and soul into studying it. “He would make himself an absolute expert in any subject he was studying,” recalled his friend and collections manager, Chris Krier.
Periods of frenetic activity often followed, as Alex dove deep into research rabbit holes. He acquired every artifact he could find to aid his studies, meticulously documented his findings, and shared what he learned in articles and books.
This cycle repeated throughout Alex’s life. After his sudden cardiac arrest last April at age 59, Alex left behind hundreds of articles, more than 60 books, and a warehouse filled with collections. The artifacts he amassed are his enduring body of knowledge, bearing witness to his passion for history.
The first inkling that Alex possessed the collecting gene dates to age four, according to Krier. His first acquisition was the hospital wristband worn by his mother when she gave birth to him.
Alex’s love of history came from his father, Dr. Alejandro Marcelo de Quesada, a towering figure in his life. Dr. de Quesada embodied the American Dream. In 1959, at the outset of Fidel Castro’s regime, he fled Cuba with five dollars, the clothes on his back, and a medical degree from the University of Havana. After a stint at D.C. General Hospital, he settled in Florida as a researcher at the University of Florida (UF). In 1964, he married Graciela Margarita Ubieta.
Two pivotal events transformed their lives the following year. Graciela gave birth to Alex (Alejandro Manuel). Meanwhile, a casual conversation in the UF cafeteria with a senior doctor and an assistant coach about why heat and dehydration drained the energy of football players led to the development of Gatorade. Dr. de Quesada became a patent holder for the sports drink—and fabulously wealthy after it became popular nationally.
After Dr. de Quesada passed in 2020, Alex reflected, “My father was a great man and had been a major influence throughout my life.” Inspired by his father’s success, Alex’s intelligence—bolstered by a history degree from Emory University and graduate studies at the University of South Florida—combined with his compulsive collecting to make him a force in the militaria world.
Alex’s vast collection filled a large warehouse. He collected items from the past and present: German and Prussian, the Civil War, World War II, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. Each period endlessly fascinated him. Krier recalls that Alex could tell you in great detail about any period in military history he’d researched, but not what he had for lunch.
Though American militaria dominated Alex’s holdings, he possessed a significant number of Nazi Germany artifacts. This explains, in part, another passion: Star Wars and the evil Galactic Empire. At his death, he re-enacted with the 501st Legion, an organization with global membership for fans of the world created by George Lucas. Alex’s Facebook page picture him in the familiar costume of an imperial officer. The 501st, also known as Vader’s Fist, portrays characters from the Galactic Empire—influenced by Nazi Germany. According to Krier, Alex did not admire the Nazi regime, but appreciated its efficiency, engineering and drive. How the Nazis conducted business—the business of evil—did not factor into Alex’s passion.
He was at his best with those who shared a common interest, and he held nothing back when it came to sharing information.
No matter what Alex’s interests were—militaria, cigars, good times with friends, English Bulldogs, cookbooks, his work as an illustrator, or Star Wars—he immersed himself in it.
Wherever he went, Alex found history, recalls Krier. They explored random places and Alex would find a battle site. He could tell you everything about it. Sometimes, he knew more than the guides, which happened once at the Pirate’s House, the popular restaurant that caters to tourists in Savannah, Ga. One time, after a tornado ripped through an area near his Tampa, Fla., home, Alex picked up bits of debris, cataloged them with a Sharpie, and filed the items away.
A mentor to young collectors and enthusiasts, he enjoyed a reputation as a happy and friendly guy, always smiling—a playful, friendly, introvert who worked hard to be outgoing. He was at his best with those who shared a common interest, and he held nothing back when it came to sharing information.
Considering all the artifacts Alex collected, the books and articles he wrote (many of the articles for the Company of Military Historians, in which he served as an officer), and other achievements, one stands out above the rest: his appointment as Historian of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary’s District 7. He had joined the volunteer organization, the largest of 16 districts, after the events of 9/11.
One way to remember Alex’s contributions is through his Civil War image collection, estimated at 1,300. They and other artifacts are being sold privately and through Fleischer’s Auctions of Columbus, Ohio. Representative images are pictured here.
Ronald S. Coddington is Editor and Publisher of MI.
A Confederate infantryman displays his Model 1842 Springfield musket and socket bayonet. His frock coat features dark trim on the cuffs and collar, and his belt is secured by a two-pronged frame buckle. The backdrop is documented in other images of Georgia soldiers.
An enlisted man holds what appears to be a wooden peg or perhaps a knife in his hands, with rings on each pinky finger. He wears an enlisted man’s federal frock coat; the straps on each shoulder, used for shoulder scales, are not present.
Photographic evidence supports a theory that this unidentified soldier was a Harvard student who supported Abraham Lincoln and joined the 20th Massachusetts Infantry. His waist belt buckle, embossed with a spread eagle flanked by the letters H and C, connects him to the Harvard Cadets, a student drill club called into service as a home guard unit during the Civil War. His cap insignia, featuring the letter A surrounded by a hunting horn, suggests he left the Cadets to become a member of Company A. Many Cadets joined the 20th Massachusetts Infantry, also known as the “Harvard Regiment.” The waterproof cape is similar in style to those worn by the Wide Awakes, a youth organization formed in early 1860 with the support of the Republican Party. The shoulder straps on the cape are unusual and not believed to be associated with the Wide Awakes; they could be a customization by the soldier. His uniform consists of a tailor-made coat, dark trousers, and canvas gaiters. He holds a Foot Officer’s sword with an etched blade and no scabbard. Hanging from his waist belt may be a bayonet scabbard.
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