Register of the Lou Henry Hoover Miscellaneous Papers
Prepared by David Jacobs
Hoover Institution Archives
Stanford University
Stanford, California 94305-6010
Phone: (650) 723-3563
Fax: (650) 725-3445
Email: archives@hoover.stanford.edu
© 2003
Hoover Institution Archives. All rights reserved.
Register of the Lou Henry Hoover Miscellaneous Papers
Hoover Institution Archives
Stanford University
Stanford, California
Contact Information
- Hoover Institution Archives
- Stanford University
- Stanford, California 94305-6010
- Phone: (650) 723-3563
- Fax: (650) 725-3445
- Email: archives@hoover.stanford.edu
- Prepared by:
- David Jacobs
- Date Completed:
- 2003
- Encoded by:
- ByteManagers using OAC finding aid conversion service specifications
© 2004 Hoover Institution Archives. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Lou Henry Hoover miscellaneous papers,
Date (inclusive): 1820-1984
Collection number: XX656
Collector:
Hoover, Lou Henry, 1874-1944
Collection Size:
1 manuscript box, 7 oversize boxes, 1 envelope, memorabilia
(10 linear feet)
Repository:
Hoover Institution on War, Revolution, and Peace
Stanford, California 94305-6010
Abstract: Passport, 1913; war zone passes, 1918; sketch of Lou Henry Hoover, 1931; portfolio of reproductions of drawings of Spanish
missions in California, 1933; and sketches of the White House, Capitol Building, Washington Monument, and Mount Vernon.
Language:
English.
Administrative Information
Access
Collection is open for research.
The Hoover Institution Archives only allows access to
copies of audiovisual items. To listen to sound recordings or to view videos or films during your visit, please contact the Archives
at least two working days before your arrival. We will then advise you of the accessibility of the material you wish to
see or hear. Please note that not all audiovisual material is immediately accessible.
Publication Rights
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Archives.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Lou Henry Hoover miscellaneous papers, [Box no.], Hoover Institution Archives.
Acquisition Information
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Archives.
Accruals
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. To determine if this has occurred, find
the collection in Stanford University's online catalog at
http://searchworks.stanford.edu/ . Materials have been added to the collection if the number of boxes listed in the online catalog is larger than the number
of boxes listed in this finding aid.
Biographical Note
| 1874 |
Born, Iowa |
| 1894 |
Enters Stanford University, where she meets her future husband, Herbert Hoover, also a Stanford student in the Geology Department |
| 1899 |
Marries Herbert Hoover |
| 1900-1918 |
Travels extensively with her husband in his career as an engineer, living in China, Siberia, and London, among other places.
Accompanies Herbert Hoover on some trips associated with relief activities during and after World War I, and is active herself
in charitable work
|
| 1919 |
Supervises construction of home on Stanford campus |
| 1921-1929 |
Lives in Washington, D.C., where her husband is Secretary of Commerce. Is active in the Girl Scout movement |
| 1929-1933 |
First Lady of the United States |
| 1944 |
Dies |
Scope and Content Note
The Lou Henry Hoover collection in the Hoover Institution Archives preserves selected items associated with the life of First
Lady Lou Henry Hoover, the wife of Herbert Hoover, 31st president of the United States.
Lou Henry Hoover met her future husband when they were both students at Stanford University, and the collection contains artifacts
relating to her time at Stanford, including her senior yearbook. The Hoovers would later return to the Stanford campus, building
a home there, and there are photographs and art work in the collection depicting the Lou Henry Hoover House, as the Hoover
residence would later be named.
Herbert Hoover's career as a mining engineer took him to many different countries, and he and Lou Henry Hoover lived abroad
for more than a decade prior to World War I. The collection contains a set of souvenir spoons purchased by Lou Henry Hoover
on her foreign travels.
It was while living in London in 1914, at the outbreak of hostilities, that Lou Henry Hoover and her husband became involved
in helping Americans leave war-torn Europe. Herbert Hoover went on to head the Commission for Relief in Belgium from 1915-1919,
and his wife assisted him in this activity. There are examples of needlepoint lace in the collection that were given to the
Hoovers in recognition of their efforts on behalf of Belgium.
The Hoovers spent the 1920s in Washington, D.C., where Herbert Hoover served first as Secretary of Commerce and then as President.
Lou Henry Hoover took a keen interest in the architecture of the nation's capital, and there is a significant collection of
historical prints of Washington scenes, especially of the White House, in the collection.
The remainder of the collection is comprised mainly of honorary degrees and other awards received by Lou Henry Hoover in the
course of a career in public service. Many other items associated with Lou Henry Hoover are on permanent display in the exhibit
cases of the Hoover Library, located in Hoover Tower on the campus of Stanford University. Additional materials pertaining
to her life and to the Lou Henry Hoover House can be found in the collections of the Green Library, Stanford University. The
largest collection of archival materials relating to Lou Henry Hoover is located in the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library,
West Branch, Iowa.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the repository's online public access catalog.
Subjects
Hoover, Herbert, 1874-1964.
Spanish missions of California--Pictorial works.
California--Pictorial works.
United States.
Washington (D.C.)--Pictorial works.
Genres and Forms of Material
Drawings.
Series Description
box 1
Biographical File, 1898-1984.
Scope and Content Note
Certificates, diplomas, and proclamations; clipping; invitation; nomination form; year book; and war zone passes, all arranged
alphabetically by physical form
box 1
Correspondence, 1915-1934.
Scope and Content Note
Letters, arranged alphabetically by name of correspondent
box 2-7
Oversize Materials, 1816-1963.
Scope and Content Note
Art works, ceremonial award case, clothing and handicrafts, diplomas, passport, photographs, printed matter, and silverware,
arranged alphabetically by physical form
box Art racks and map case
Miscellany, 1792.
Scope and Content Note
Three framed prints and one presentation folder for Belgian lace
Container List
Box 1
BIOGRAPHICAL FILE, 1898-1984
Certificates, diplomas, and proclamations.
Note
See also OVERSIZE MATERIALS
Box/Folder 1 : 1
Embossed cover of Lou Henry Hoover's Stanford diploma, undated
Box/Folder 1 : 2
Certificate given to Lou Henry Hoover on the occasion of her being awarded the Médaille de la Reine Elisabeth, Belgium, 1919 June 19
Box/Folder 1 : 3
Proclamation given to Lou Henry Hoover upon her being awarded the Croix de Chevalier de l'Ordre de Léopold, Belgium, 1919 September.
Scope and Content Note
Includes letter regarding this award, 1919
Box/Folder 1 : 4
Diploma issued upon award of honorary doctorate, Whittier College, Whittier, California, 1928 August 17
Box/Folder 1 : 5
Diploma given in award of honorary doctorate, Goucher College, Baltimore, Maryland, 1931 April 24
Box/Folder 1 : 7
Invitation for Stanford commencement exercises, 1898
Box/Folder 1 : 8
Nomination form, 1984.
Scope and Content Note
Photocopy of form submitted by James P. Delgado in nomination of the Lou Henry Hoover House for inclusion in the National
Register of Historic Places. Includes a floor plan of the house
Box/Folder 1 : 9
Year Book. Printed copy of
Stanford Quad, 1898
Box/Folder 1 : 10
War zone passes, 1918.
Scope and Content Note
Documents issued to Lou Henry Hoover by the U.S. government for entry into port areas in New York and New Jersey
CORRESPONDENCE, 1915-1934
Box 2
OVERSIZE MATERIALS, 1820-1963
Art works.
Note
See also MISCELLANY, below
Box/Folder 2 : 1
"The Ascent to the Capitol, Washington," engraving by Bartlett, London, undated
Box/Folder 2 : 2
"Capitol - Washington," tinted engraving published by Hermann J. Meyer, undated
Box/Folder 2 : 3
"Capitol of the U.S., Washington," engraving by W. Goodacre, undated
Box/Folder 2 : 4
Lithograph by C. Allen Sherman depicting the Washington Monument, undated
Box/Folder 2 : 5
"President's House," tinted print depicting lithograph by August Köllnac(?), undated
Box/Folder 2 : 6
"The President's House (1799)," reproduction of sketch, undated
Box/Folder 2 : 7
"President's House, North Front," lithograph, undated
Box/Folder 2 : 8
"The President's House, Washington," engraving, undated
Box/Folder 2 : 9
"Presidentens i de Fórente Staterna Residence i Washington," lithograph by C. Müller, undated
Box/Folder 2 : 10
"St. John's Church in the City of Washington, with the President's House as It Appeared in 1816, When the Church Was Built,"
copy of a water color by Benjamin Latrobe, undated
Box/Folder 2 : 11
"A Front View of the President's House, Washington," engraving, 1820 April
Box/Folder 2 : 12
"East Front of the Capitol," engraving of a drawing by C. Bullfinch, 1821
Box/Folder 2 : 13
"West Front of the Capitol," engraving of a drawing by C. Bullfinch, 1821
Box/Folder 2 : 14
"A Back View of the Capitol, Washington," engraving, 1827
Box/Folder 2 : 15
"United States Capitol," engraving of a drawing by C. Bullfinch," 1827
Box/Folder 2 : 16
"The President's House, Washington," print from copper plate, 1830
Box/Folder 2 : 17
"The Capitol, Washington, D.C.," lithograph by T. Doughty, 1832
Box/Folder 2 : 18
"The President's House, Washington," lithograph of a sketch by A. A. Hoftag, 1834
Box/Folder 2 : 19
"The Capitol," engraving, 1840
Box/Folder 2 : 20
"The Capitol," engraving, 1845
Box/Folder 2 : 21
"Das Capitol von Washington," engraving by Kraus, 1850
Box/Folder 2 : 22
"The New Capitol (Washington)," tinted engraving published by Hermann J. Meyer, 1851
Box/Folder 2 : 23
"View of Washington City," lithograph, 1860
Box/Folder 2 : 24
"The White House, Washington, D.C.," print, ca. 1930.
Scope and Content Note
Signed by Herbert and Lou Henry Hoover
Box/Folder 2 : 25
Three lithographs by J. C. Claghorn, ca. 1931.
Scope and Content Note
One depicting the Washington monument; one, Mt. Vernon; and one, the White House
Box/Folder 2 : 26
"From the South Portico of the White House," lithograph by J. C. Claghorn, 1931.
Scope and Content Note
Three prints, of which two are signed by Herbert and Lou Henry Hoover
Box/Folder 2 : 27
Pencil sketch of Lou Henry Hoover, 1931
Box/Folder 2 : 28
Painting depicting the Lou Henry Hoover Memorial YMCA, Palo Alto, California, 1960
Box/Folder 3 : 1
Ceremonial award case for the Croix de Chevalier de l'Ordre de Léopold, 1919
Box/Folder 3 : 2
Beaded gown worn by Lou Henry Hoover
Box/Folder 3 : 3
String of beads worn by Lou Henry Hoover
Box 4-5
Eight pieces of Belgian needlepoint lace presented to Lou Henry Hoover, undated
Scope and Content Note
Includes ornate presentation cover for lace
Diplomas issued in award of honorary degrees to Lou Henry Hoover
Box/Folder 6 : 1
Honorary doctorate, Swarthmore College, 1929
Box/Folder 6 : 2
Honorary doctorate, Elmira College, 1930 June 9
Box/Folder 6 : 3
Honorary doctorate, Wooster College, 1932 May 14
Box/Folder 6 : 4
Honorary master of art degree, Tufts University, 1932 June 15
Box/Folder 7 : 1
Passport, 1913.
Scope and Content Note
Diplomatic passport issued in London to Lou Henry Hoover for her trip to Russia, 1913 October 10
Box/Folder 7 : 2
One print depicting the exterior of the White House, undated
Box/Folder 7 : 3
One print depicting Lou Henry Hoover, undated
Box/Folder 7 : 4
Six prints depicting the exterior and interior of the Lou Henry Hoover House, undated
Box/Folder 7 : 5
One print depicting the White House, undated
Box/Folder 7 : 6
One print depicting Lou Henry Hoover, 1928
Box/Folder 7 : 7
One print depicting the exterior of Lou Henry Hoover School, Whittier, California, 1955
Printed matter, 1933-1963
Box/Folder 7 : 8
The Romance of El Camino Real, 1933.
Scope and Content Note
Book of illustrations of California missions, encased in a leather book cover embossed with the title and Lou Henry Hoover's
name. Includes presentation certificate
Box/Folder 7 : 9
Journal of the American Institute of Architects, 1963 January.
Scope and Content Note
Printed copy of serial issue containing illustrations of Washington, D.C.
Box/Folder 7 : 10
Silverware. Twelve souvenir spoons collected by Lou Henry Hoover during her travels abroad, 1900-1910.
Scope and Content Note
Includes invitation, note, and postcard, all relating to Jessie S. Jones, aunt of Lou Henry Hoover, establishing the provenance
of the spoons
art-racks Art racks
One framed Chinese print on fabric, undated
One framed print, "Plan of the City of Washington," 1792
One framed photograph depicting Lou Henry Hoover, undated
container Map case
One ornate presentation folder for Belgian lace, undated
Box: 8
Incremental materials
Scope and Content Note
This addition to the collection has not yet been described. Please let the Hoover Institution Archives know if you would like
to see this material described.
