Guide to the Herman George Feydt Papers, 1917-1922
MS 405
A collection in the
Special Collections & Archives Department,
Nimitz Library
United States Naval Academy
589 McNair Road
Annapolis, MD 21402-5029
Prepared by: Liz Coelho
May 2010
Descriptive Summary
Special Collections & Archives Department
Nimitz Library
United States Naval Academy
Biographical Sketch
A member of the U.S. Naval Reserve Force, Herman George Feydt was mobilized on June 27, 1917. He served as a Boatswain’s Mate aboard the subchaser Nahma and acted as the ship’s mail clerk, though he may not have been fully authorized to do so. In January of 1918 Feydt requested examination for nomination to the Ensigns Reserve Force, which would have required an 18-month training course at the U.S. Naval Academy. Though he received the commanding officer’s strong recommendation and passed the Board of Medical Examiners review, he did not receive approval to attend the training.
From July 1919 through March 1920 Feydt served as mail clerk for Lafayette Radio Station, Croux d’ Hins, France.
Feydt owned an automobile business in Waterbury, Connecticut and was active in civic and business organizations in Waterbury and Bridgeport, including the Rotary Club and the American Legion.
Scope and Content Note
The Herman George Feydt Papers, comprising 2.5 linear inches of documents, primarily spans Feydt’s life from 1917 through 1922, a period in which he served aboard the Nahma and in France. It details his unsuccessful efforts to join the Ensigns Reserve Force, his activity as a mail clerk both on the Nahma and at Lafayette Radio Station in France, and his participation in civic organizations and home front morale efforts. These include Liberty Bond appeals, the Red Cross, the Rotary Club, the American Legion and the Masons.
Series Descriptions
The Feydt Papers are organized into ten series based on duty station and document type. OFFICIAL ORDERS consists of mobilization orders. USS NAHMA consists of an article on the Nahma, copies of the poem "The Ballad of the Nahma", a bridge watchstander’s instruction letter, documents concerning mail clerk authorization, and documents pertaining to Feydt’s nomination to the Ensigns Reserve Force. LAFAYETTE RADIO STATION contains documents pertaining to the transfer of government property and the purchase of stamps. AWARDS contains documents on Feydt’s service awards. HOME FRONT AND MORALE contains Liberty Bond Drive appeals, newspaper clippings on the Red Cross and a bawdy poem about the composition of German munitions. CIVILIAN AFFILIATIONS contains copies of “The Legionnaire” and letters regarding membership in various civic and fraternal organizations. CORRESPONDENCE contains a letter of introduction written on Feydt’s behalf, a personal letter from the president of the Waterbury, Connecticut Rotary Club and several letters from girlfriends. FINANCIAL contains banking statements. SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN is comprised of an article on a German wireless station at Nauen, and PHOTOGRAPHS includes pictures of radio towers in France and informal pictures of family and friends.