Jack Hervat was born in Austria in 1888. By 1917, he lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and worked as a shoemaker. He was naturalized in 1919. In 1923, when he was thirty-five, he traveled from Milwaukee to California with a companion (possibly named John), stopping in Yellowstone along the way. His visit happened to coincide with a visit to the Park by First Lady Florence (Kling) and President Warren G. Harding—and Hervat crossed paths with the Hardings in the Old Faithful area just long enough for Jack to snap a few photographs of his President.
The Presidential trip was the first visit of a sitting President to the Park since Theodore Roosevelt visited in 1903; it was also the first visit since the creation of the National Park Service in 1916. The stop was part of his much longer western trip, known as the “The Voyage of Understanding,” designed for him to speak across the country, make a long desired visit to Alaska, unofficially campaign for the 1924 election, and recover from a winter bout of influenza. In addition to Yellowstone, the President also made stops at Zion and McKinley (now Denali) National Parks. Sadly, the President became ill following his return from Alaska, and he died on August 2, 1923, in San Francisco, California.
"June 30, [1923], Token picture of President and Mrs. [Harding]." YELL68410-PP31, Jack Hervat Photo Album (MSC 173), Yellowstone National Park Archives.
In addition to several images of the Hardings in their touring car, the album includes activities such as the men fishing, watching wildlife, and viewing geysers. Numerous landscapes, animals, and thermal features are also depicted. In addition, there are images of the automobile trip before and after the stop in Yellowstone, including views of Wisconsin, North Dakota, Montana, and California. The entire album may be viewed online at the Montana Memory Project: https://mtmemory.org/digital/collection/p16013coll93/search/searchterm/hervat
"July 3, Jack fishing on Yellowstone Lake (trout on hook)" YELL68410-PP31, Jack Hervat Photo Album (MSC 173), Yellowstone National Park Archives.
Jack Hervat moved to California and was married to Francee Hervat by 1930. His wife passed away in 1972. Jack lived to be 102 and passed away in 1990.