Susan Louise Dyer papers, 1874-1966

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Summary

Creators:
Dyer, Susan Louise, 1877-1966
Abstract:
The Susan Louise Dyer papers contain materials that reflect Dyer's personal ties to Herbert and Lou Henry Hoover, her association with Stanford University, and her service with the American Red Cross and the Girl Scouts of the United States. The papers largely consist of correspondence, clippings, diaries, photographs, and printed matter.
Extent:
8 manuscript boxes, 2 oversize boxes, 1 oversize folder, 10 envelopes, 1 phonotape, memorabilia (4.2 Linear Feet)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Susan Louise Dyer papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

The Susan Louise Dyer papers contain materials that reflect Dyer's personal ties to Herbert and Lou Henry Hoover, her association with Stanford University, and her service with the American Red Cross and the Girl Scouts of the United States. The papers largely consist of correspondence, clippings (arranged in an extensive subject file), diaries, photographs, and printed matter.

Dyer became friends with Lou Henry Hoover while both were students at Stanford University. While at Stanford, Dyer also met Herbert Hoover, and she remained close to both Hoovers during their lifetimes. The papers contain correspondence with Herbert and Lou Henry Hoover, as well as numerous clippings (in the Subject file series) about Herbert Hoover's political career and his many activities after leaving the presidency. Dyer's friendship with the Hoovers was the focus of an extensive oral history interview conducted with her in 1966; a transcript of this interview can be found in the Biographical file of the papers. Additionally, there are short entries in Dyer's diaries (also found in the Biographical file) that record her visits to the White House during the Hoover administration.

Dyer's work with the American Red Cross in France and Germany after World War I is described in detail in the many letters she wrote at the time to Louise P. Fullerton, copies of which can be found in the Correspondence series of the papers. This series also contains Dyer's correspondence with Ray Lyman Wilbur, president of Stanford University, as well as with officials of the Hoover Institution. This correspondence largely relates to Dyer's involvement with fundraising activities on behalf of the university and the Hoover Library. There are also a number of monographs and pamphlets published by Stanford University in the printed matter series of the papers.

The papers also contain Dyer's correspondence with officials of the Girl Scouts of the United States, an organization with which she was associated for many years.

Biographical / historical:
Date Event
1877
Born, Ottawa, Illinois
1899
Awarded bachelor's degree, Stanford University
1901
Awarded master's degree, Stanford University
1901-1918
Biology teacher, Alameda High School, Alameda, California
1918-1919
Served with American Red Cross in France and Germany
1925-1926
Head of Education Department, Girl Scouts of America, New York City
1932
Chairwoman, Women's Hoover for President Club, Palo Alto, California
1966
Died
Acquisition information:
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 1960.
Arrangement:

The collection is organized into 10 series: Biographical file; Correspondence; Writings; Subject file; Printed matter; Small memorabilia; Photographs; Photo file; Oversize materials; and Large memorabilia

Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Terms of access:

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Susan Louise Dyer papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563
hooverarchives@stanford.edu
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