Southeastern receives substantial military collection

In the closing weeks of the fall 2025 semester, Southeastern Louisiana University President William Wainwright accepted a sizable donation of more than 500 military antiques, which will be housed in a new exhibit space in Fayard Hall, room 223, beginning this spring.

The collection of antique uniforms, helmets, camp items, swords, and firearms was presented by Al Freyder III, a businessman from Franklinton, who has been a longtime friend of the Department of History and Political Science. Freyder spent more than 40 years building his collection, which spans centuries of the American military experience, from the War of Independence to Vietnam. The bulk of the collection focuses on WWI and WWII and includes an extensive selection of militaria from Great Britain, Germany, and the Soviet Union, as well as pieces from Finland, Italy, and Austria.

According to Joe Kattan, the CEO of appraiseitnow.com, the agency responsible for valuing the collection, the donation is notable.

“This is an enormous task,” Kattan said, “and it represents a significant gift to Southeastern.”

The gift has found a home in Fayard Hall thanks to Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Jeff Wright. It is currently being catalogued and managed by Associate Professor of Military History Samantha Cavell and Head of the Department of History and Political Science William Robison.

“Mr. Freyder’s generous gift will allow students, faculty, and visitors a hands-on experience with history,” said Cavell, who will present a lecture on Freyder’s Military Collection in March during the History and Political Science Spring Lecture Series.

“Al Freyder had already earned our gratitude by bringing in pieces from his collection each semester and discussing them with Dr. Cavell’s military history classes,” said Robison. “But his donation really goes above and beyond the call of duty. I am quite literally stunned by his generosity!”