Part 1 - early years - The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum

I cannot say that I knew much about Hoover before we visited this site yesterday, but I was very favorably impressed with what I learned about him and also with the composition of the museum.

Hoover's father died when Herbert was 6, and he was orphaned at 11.

According to the video we saw, there wasn't an issue with any family members "having" to take the children; rather it was a debate on who would "have the privilege" of raising one of the children.

Even though Herbert Hoover had only lived the first 11 years of his life in West Branch, this was "home" for him. (Lou Henry Hoover was his wife.)

One of his quotes - wonderful!

One of the 4 buildings that are open on the grounds - a one-room schoolhouse.

Inside the schoolhouse.

 Here is a good summation of what we learned:

A summation

This was from his mother's items - documented as "Sewing aid - Adjustable metal pattern maker, c.1885-1900" The shapes reminded me of paper patterns I used to make clothes, but I don't think I've ever seen metal ones.

 Hoover attended Stanford in Palo Alto, California. He met Miss Lou Henry, a banker's daughter born in Waterloo, Iowa, in geology class. He graduated with a degree in geology.

"Lou's dance card, signed by Bert, from a college social event, 1895. Lou loved dancing but gave it up in later years to please Bert, who was anything by comfortable on the dance floor. But, as an undergraduate, he evidently suffered through a two-step with Lou."

"Applying for an engineering position in Australia, young Hoover grew a beard and donned top hat and tweed suit to look older."

 

"...We had made up our minds not to like him very well as he was going to take Lou so far away, but after he had been here a few days... I think we all liked him about as much as Lou did..."

Both of the Hoovers took language lessons, although Herbert noted that "Lou keeps me open ot insult because the people always address her in Chinese and me in English."

"An article about Hoover and his salary appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, 1902. While twenty-eight-year-old Hoover was drawing $33,000 a year, many professionals were making considerably less: the president of Stanford University made $10,000; the governor of California was paid $6,000; and college professors received $3,000 to $4,000 annually."