A page inside of the mystery novel "The Matilda Hunter Murder" tells readers to stop and guess who the murderer is. Readers at the time were encouraged to send in their guess as to "who done it."

Mystery Writers Read by the Hoovers: Part IV

By Thomas F. Schwartz Lawrence Saunders (a pseudonym for the married couple John Burton Davis and Clare Ogden Davis, not the Lawrence Saunders of The Anderson Tapes) and Harry Stephen Keeler are relatively unknown today but were rather well-known mystery writers in their day. The Columnist Murder (1931) was dedicated to Walter Winchell, the infamous gossip … Continue reading Mystery Writers Read by the Hoovers: Part IV

The medal is gold and attached to a blue and green ribbon with a gold bar pin and came with a small matching chevron bar adorned with a gold star. The medal depicts the American Legion logo, which is a five-pointed star on blue enamel, surrounded by a wheat motif with the initials US in the center. The bar pin is inscribed with the text DISTINGUISHED SERVICE. On the back of the medal is an inscription, HERBERT CLARK HOOVER / POSTHUMOUSLY / 1965.

Much Ado About Medals Act V: Denouement

By Kyle Perkins Herbert Hoover died at the age of 90 on October 20, 1964. More than half of those 90 years were spent leading public service efforts. His humanitarian endeavors had such a lasting global impact, they earned the former President recognition from organizations even after his death. This brings us to my final … Continue reading Much Ado About Medals Act V: Denouement

A group sits inside the President's cabin at Camp Rapidan. Lou Henry Hoover is seen on the left with guests.

Mystery Writers Read by the Hoovers: Part III

A group sits inside the President's cabin at Camp Rapidan. Lou Henry Hoover is seen on the left knitting. By Thomas F. Schwartz Many of the leading mystery writers of the era were English and tended to place murder settings in country manors. Class status, a pronounced feature of British society up to and beyond World … Continue reading Mystery Writers Read by the Hoovers: Part III

Mystery Writers Read by the Hoovers: Part II

August 20, 1932: President Hoover, Lou Henry Hoover and Weegie relaxing at Rapidan Camp. By Thomas F. Schwartz How do we know what mystery writers were read by the Hoovers and available for visitors to Camp Rapidan? There are two boxes of 3x5” cards with the names of the author, title, and location of the … Continue reading Mystery Writers Read by the Hoovers: Part II

Lou Henry Hoover and Herbert Hoover sitting and reading at Camp Rapidan. (31-1930-70)

Mystery Writers Read by the Hoovers: Part I

Lou Henry Hoover and Herbert Hoover sitting and reading at Camp Rapidan. (31-1930-70) By Thomas F. Schwartz A previous blog post described the friendship the Hoover’s shared with mystery writer Mary Roberts Rinehart. A review of the books they owned and provided for guests at Camp Rapidan shows a number of leading mystery writers that … Continue reading Mystery Writers Read by the Hoovers: Part I

The front of Herbert Hoover's Boys Clubs of America Professional Association Distinguished Achievement Award. The front depicts the Boys’ Clubs logo at the time, a shield with a torch. The inscription on the band surrounding torch reads: BOYS CLUBS / PROFESSIONAL ASSN. There is an inscription around upper edge of medal: BOYS CLUBS PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION, and an inscription under shield: DISTINGUISHED / ACHIEVEMENT / AWARD.

Much Ado About Medals Act IV: The Aftermath and Our Most Valuable Natural Resource

The front of Herbert Hoover's Boys Clubs of America Professional Association Distinguished Achievement Award.The back of Herbert Hoover's Boys Clubs of America Professional Association Distinguished Achievement Award. The back of the medal was personalized for the former President with: PRESENTED TO / HONORARY / HERBERT HOOVER / FOR TWENTY FIVE YEARS / OF HUMANITARIAN SERVICE … Continue reading Much Ado About Medals Act IV: The Aftermath and Our Most Valuable Natural Resource

President Hoover smoking and reading on the deck of the U.S.S. Arizona on his trip to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands on March 27, 1931. (31-1931-12)

Travel, Reading, and Herbert Hoover

By Thomas F. Schwartz Miss Jennie Gray is immortalized by Herbert Hoover as introducing him to the wonders of reading.  As he recalled: “She took me to the small library in town [Salem, Oregon] and borrowed for me a copy of Ivanhoe. That opening of the door to a great imaginative world led me promptly … Continue reading Travel, Reading, and Herbert Hoover

H. R. Gross, Iowa’s Congressional Curmudgeon

Representative H. R. Gross speaking at the dedication of the Waterloo, Iowa municipal airport, June 10, 1951. by Spencer Howard One of the seldom used collections at the Hoover Library is the papers of Harold R. Gross, who represented northern Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives for 13 terms from 1949 … Continue reading H. R. Gross, Iowa’s Congressional Curmudgeon

The front of the Inaugural Medal given to Herbert Hoover, dated March 4, 1929. (65.7.11)

Much Ado About Medals Act III: The Secretary, The Flood, and The Chief

The front of the Inaugural Medal given to Herbert Hoover, dated March 4, 1929. The back of Herbert Hoover's Inauguration Medal. In March 1921, after having served for four years as United States Food Administrator and Commissioner for Belgian Relief, Mr. Hoover was appointed as Secretary of Commerce by President Warren G. Harding. Beloved for … Continue reading Much Ado About Medals Act III: The Secretary, The Flood, and The Chief