Lou Henry Hoover is seen resting her arm on a cannon during her time in China. This photo is dated from 1900. In a previous blog post, Lou Hoover provided corrections to an article by Ida Koverman about the Hoover marriage. Ida Koverman Lou’s letter to Koverman also corrected statements about her role in the … Continue reading “Mrs. Herbert Hoover”: The Boxer Rebellion (Part II)
Ida Koverman By Thomas F. Schwartz A previous blog post discussed the role of Ida R. Koverman with Herbert Hoover. During the 1928 presidential campaign, Koverman was on the editorial board of the Republican Women's Federation of California newspaper, The California Elephant. She occasionally wrote articles, including one in the February 1928 issue, “Mrs. Herbert … Continue reading “Mrs. Herbert Hoover”: An Article by Ida R. Koverman (Part I)
President elect Herbert Hoover and wife Lou on Florida trip, early 1929. By Thomas F. Schwartz On November 29, 1929, Lou sent a reply to a letter from her former Chinese language instructor, whose letter was delivered to her though one of his sons. Lou wrote: “I have thought of you and your family so … Continue reading Lou Writes to Chinese Language Tutor Ch’uan Yueh-Tung
A blue and white baby blanket knitted by Lou Henry Hoover. (75.4.2) A blue and white baby blanket knitted by Lou Henry Hoover. (75.4.2) By Thomas F. Schwartz Dr. Helen B. Pryor, a close friend and early biographer of Lou Henry Hoover, recalled: “Even though fond of the out-of-doors, Mrs. Hoover has many domestic traits, … Continue reading Yarns, Needles, Knitting, and Baby Blankets
Lynn Smith Sitting on a hillside in Burlingame, California is Hoover Elementary School. Originally founded in 1932, the neighborhood school closed its doors in 1979 due to declining enrollment. The school district sold the building to Buddhist monks. In 2010, the school district purchased the building back and after extensive renovations and the construction of … Continue reading Lou Henry Hoover Amphitheater
By Thomas F. Schwartz Individuals in the news often are asked about their views on a wide range of topics. Lou Henry Hoover was no exception. As someone who was already well-known for her translation of De Re Metallica, fund raising efforts for food relief, leadership in the Girl Scouts, and involvement with many other … Continue reading Lou Henry Hoover Responds to Questionnaire on Engineering for Women
By Thomas F. Schwartz, Director A genre of writing concerns the memoirs of domestic White House staff. Personal secretaries, head butlers, maids, and secret service who live round the clock with the President, First Lady, and First Family see and hear things that are typically not reported at the time but become known through “tell … Continue reading White House Staff Remember Lou
Extroverted by nature, Lou Hoover likely enjoyed the Latin American trip more than her husband Herbert. As the tour entered it final port of call in South America, Rio de Janeiro, Lou made time to visit with the Federacao des Bandeirantes, a Brazilian Girl Scout troop. Given Hoover’s deep and long involvement with the Girl … Continue reading Lou Hoover and the Bandeirantes of Brazil
Lou Henry Hoover, ca. 1932 By Thomas F. Schwartz Lou Henry Hoover liked to capture kernels of ideas on papers for further elaboration at some later date. Often, the ideas never were revisited and remain unpolished thoughts containing interesting potential. One of these describes the problem of human nature. Lou writes: “It is a … Continue reading On Human Nature: Lou Henry Hoover’s Musings
3/25/24 First Lady Grace Coolidge, honorary president of the Girl Scouts with Lou Henry Hoover, President of the Girl Scouts, at a re-dedication ceremony of the"Girl Scout Little House" in Washington DC. Lou Henry Hoover’s involvement with the Girl Scouts spanned decades. Juliette Gordon Low, the founder of Girl Scouts, recruited Lou Hoover in 1917 … Continue reading Lou Henry Hoover and Girl Scouts
