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Administrative Information

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Container List

• Mixed Materials Small Collections Box 94 folder: 1 object: 1
  Diary
  1912
  Scope and Contents

  In the 1912 diary, Hermann enjoys a "Hard Times" party. A friend's wife dies of spinal meningitis. He hears both Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson deliver speeches. At a friend's house, Hermann listens to a Graphophone. In the summer, he attends Saengerfest and in the fall he goes to the ball park to watch the scoreboard returns come in from the World Series between the Giants and the Red Sox.

• Mixed Materials Small Collections Box 94 folder: 1 object: 2
  Diary
  1919
  Scope and Contents

  The 1919 diary begins with Hermannn in the vicinity of Coblenz, Germany, during World War I. In it, he describes his daily life, recreational activities, and work routine. The diary entries make special note of the many letters and cards he writes and receives, as well as his friendships with local families. Place names used in these entries include: Wallershein, St. Sabastian, Rhine River, Coblenz, Neunendorf, Ehrenbreitstein, Kaltenengers, Bubenheim, and Cologne.

  Hermann's military service is as a clerk and his typical work activities include composing billeting lists, filling out qualification cards, creating roster lists, handling payroll and dispensation, and responding to professional criticism from his superiors. In addition to this he must also complete typical military exercises including short arms inspection, drills, louse inspection, records inspection, and as they ready to depart Europe packing the records ahead of departure and composing sailing lists.

  Hermann makes special mention on the many recreational activities the men enjoy including listening to the regiment band, holiday parties, basketball, and baseball. He also reads the book, "God's Country and the Woman." There are many YMCA sponsored activities such as lectures and variety shows including circus performers, minstrel shows, and vaudeville. The YMCA also provides movies and Hermann attends "Manhattan Madness," "Mutt and Jeff," "Fatty Arbuckle," "The Dawnmaker," and a feature starring Mary Pickford. During this time Hermann tries and fails to successfully organize a Bible study class with the YMCA chaplain.

  The WWI entries conclude in June with the men traveling west by train eventually arriving in Saint-Nazaire where they will sail for the United States. Place names mentioned include: Joul, Dijon, Nevers, Savenay, Angers, Sable, Gastines, Nantes, and Saint-Nazaire. He notes he "saw quite a few U.S. soldiers with French wives." Also there was a spinal meningitis outbreak resulting in quarantine just days before they sail. The voyage itself was on the USS Artemis and takes twelve days to reach Hampton Roads. Hermann notes cheering and family reunions at Old Point Comfort before he departs Camp Stuart by train traveling through Richmond, Charlottesville, across the Blue Ridge to West Virginia, Cincinnati, and finally arriving at Chicago where he reports to Camp Grant. While at Camp Grant he is held up for several days due to a tonsil infection and missing paper work before he can go home to St. Paul.

  The remainder of the 1919 diary describes Hermann's readjustment to ordinary life in St. Paul including a few weeks' vacation after discharge. He regularly attends movies including "The Outlaw," and two Mary Pickford features, "Daddy Long Legs" and "The Hoodlum." He hears President Woodrow Wilson deliver a speech on the League of Nations and Versailles Treaty. He also maintains active correspondence with his friends in Germany. His church activities are dominated by construction work as his congregation prepares to move to a new building.

• Mixed Materials Small Collections Box 94 folder: 1 object: 3
  Diary
  1919
  Scope and Contents

  In March 1919, Hermann receives permission to take a furlough in Paris, which is described in his regular diary and also a supplemental diary. On March 16 he departs St. Sebastian by train for Paris with a layover in Joul, returning on March 21. While in Paris he takes the subway to Versailles and tours the palace and gardens. H he tours the Latin Quarter, the Museum of Luxemburg, the Pantheon, the University of Paris Law Library, the Tower of Clovis, tht Church of St. Genevieve, and Sarbourne Chapel. He goes on a cruise of the Seine River and sees Notre Dame, the Church of St. Gervais, the Tower of St. Germaine, the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, and Mount Marc. While on a bus tour he sees the Hotel DeVille, the Church of Gervais, Notre Dame, the Palace of Justine, Sainte-Chapelle, the Louvre, the Arc de Carrousel, the Eiffel tower, the Chamber of Deputies, the Pantheon de la Guerre, the Statue of Washington, the Palais de Glass, the Grand Palais, the Place de la Concorde, the Palace Royal, and the Church of Madeleine. He also takes in a show at the Casino de Paris.

• Mixed Materials Small Collections Box 94 folder: 2 object: 1
  Diary
  1920
  Scope and Contents

  In the 1920 diary, Hermann joins the Freemasons at Braden Lodge and quickly advances in rank there. There is the usual involvement in church activities; he volunteers to audit the church's finances in advance of their application for an equity mortgage, and becomes involved in the Forward Movement. In May there is a city election and he notes that all but one councilman were ousted. Hermann recounts having his wisdom teeth pulled. In September he attends the State Fair and participates in a veteran's reunion of "Company F." He hears a speech from then Senator Warren G. Harding and in December he describes playing records on a phonograph.

• Mixed Materials Small Collections Box 94 folder: 2 object: 2 id246941
  Diary
  1921
  Scope and Contents

  In January 1921, Hermann departs on an extended vacation to visit a friend in California. He travels by train through South Dakota and North Dakota, heading west through Montana and across the Cascades. He arrives in Seattle, Washington, and travels by train to Portland, Oregon, then on to Sacramento, California, and finally Los Angeles, California. In Los Angeles he meets his friend and they rent a car and drive to San Diego, California, and on to Tiajuana, Mexico. While California, he visits Hollywood, Venice, and Ocean Beach. He departs Los Angeles by train to Kansas City, Missouri, passing through Winslow, Arizona, Clovis, New Mexico, and Amarillo, Texas. From Kansas City he returns by train to St. Paul, Minnesota. In February he sees Theda Bara in "Cleopatra," and in May watches the Human Fly climb the Commerce Building downtown. Hermann is laid off from work and takes up a new temporary job. He hears the Dempsy-Carpentier fight on the radio and unsuccessfully tries to sell his duplex. In the fall he attends the dedication of the St. Paul municipal pipe organ. His church activities include successfully organizing a men's club. Hermann is briefly hospitalized for chronic gastritis before landing a permanent job at Marvel Battery Company.

• Mixed Materials Small Collections Box 94 folder: 3 object: 1 id246955
  Diary
  1922
  Scope and Contents

  In the 1922 diary, Hermann continues to show his dedication to Sunday school instruction by completing teacher training school. He listens to the radio and plays a lot of tennis. In September, his sister is hospitalized for nephritis and passes away; his family and friends come to St. Paul for the funeral. In November, Hermann notes his surprise that Senator Frank B. Kellog is defeated for re-election.

• Mixed Materials Small Collections Box 94 folder: 3 object: 2
  Address book
  1931
  Scope and Contents

  Contains addresses and birthdays for Hermann's friends and family.