Ferdy W. Freytag Letters
Scope and Content
This collection consists mainly of letters sent from Ferdy W. Freytag, a military airplane mechanic stationed in the Panama Canal Zone between 1924 and 1926, to his love, Beryl Burton, a college student and teacher residing in Redfield, New York. While the content of the letters mostly regards love and other personal matters, interesting details regarding the lives of military men stationed in the Canal Zone during the 1920s is also included. Stemming from Freytag's position as an airplane mechanic, many of the experiences mentioned in his letters involve machinery and transportation, such as planes and submarines. Freytag also reveals some details about the living conditions of American military men stationed in the Canal Zone and moving within the military ranks, as well as the weather and seasonal changes in Panama.
Additionally, this collection includes a couple letters from other people, a lottery ticket (likely from Panama), and two U.S. temporary passes into Panama. The majority of the letters are handwritten.
Dates
- Creation: 1924-1926
Creator
Access
This collection is open for research.
Biographical/Historical Note
Ferdy (Ferdinand) W. Freytag (1902-1957) enlisted for the Army Air Service sometime between 1924 and 1925, and was stationed in France Field, Panama Canal Zone, 25th Bombardment Squadron. While he worked as an airplane mechanic, his lover, Beryl Burton (1903-1985), was a college student and teacher residing in Redfield, New York. The couple later married.
Sources consulted for biographical information include the National Archives 1940 Census Data and Find a Grave.
Extent
0.42 Linear feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This collection consists mainly of letters sent from Ferdy W. Freytag, a military airplane mechanic stationed in the Panama Canal Zone between 1924 and 1926, to his love, Beryl Burton, a college student and teacher residing in Redfield, New York. While the content of the letters mostly regards love and other personal matters, interesting details regarding the lives of military men stationed in the Canal Zone during the 1920s is also included.
Arrangement
The letters from Freytag to Burton are arranged chronologically, followed by the small group of other items and letters, which are also arranged chronologically within that group.
Physical Location
University of Florida Smathers Library Building
Acquisition Information
This document was purchased in 2012.
Subject
- Panama Canal Company. (Organization)
- Title
- A Guide to the Ferdy W. Freytag Letters
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid created by Kalthoum Elfasi
- Date
- December 2015
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Prepared Using Dacs
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Description is written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida Repository
George A. Smathers Libraries
PO Box 117005
Gainesville Florida 32611-7005 United States of America
352-273-2755
special@uflib.ufl.edu