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Herbert Hoover NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE Herbert Hoover NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE . IOWA Herbert Hoover, world-renowned engineer, With the outbreak of World War I, Hoover (who ballot at the 1932 Republican convention. humanitarian, and 31st President of the United was then living in England) headed the American Hoover lost the election to the Democratic States, was born in a simple, two-room cottage Relief Committee in London, which aided Amer­ nominee. Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt of New on this site in the village of West Branch, Iowa, icans stranded in Europe. Later he headed the York. After Roosevelt's inauguration. Hoover on August 10, 1874. Although he spent only Commission for the Relief of Belgium. In 1917 retired to his home in California. He devoted the first 10 years of his life here, these years he was appointed food administrator of the much of his time to the Hoover Institution on on the banks of the Wapsinonoc (an Indian United States to provide food for the allies in War, Revolution and Peace, once describing term meaning "sweet water") left an indelible the war and to control domestic production it succintly: impression upon this man whose life of public and distribution. This mission later merged Here are the documents which record the suf­ service took him to all parts of the world and into another when, after the Armistice in 1918, fering, the self-denial, the devotion, the heroic won for him distinction everywhere. His life he was appointed Director-General of the Re­ deeds of men. Surely from these records there at West Branch, Hoover recalled, was "filled lief and Reconstruction of Europe, which he can be help to mankind in its confusions and with adventure and great undertakings, with held until August 1919. Subsequently, Hoover perplexities, and its yearnings for peace. participation in good and comforting things." organized the volunteer American Relief Ad­ ministration, which continued relief until July The purpose of this institution is to preserve the 1923. His work during World War I brought American way of life and to promote peace. Its "Bertie," as he was then affectionately called, food to millions of hungry people in more than records stand as a challenge to those who would was the second of three children born to Jesse 33 nations. destroy the freedom in America and who would and Hulda Hoover. The family were Quakers, promote war. and the source of the principles that guided In 1921 President Warren G. Harding appointed Hoover's life —honesty, loyalty, hard work, Hoover Secretary of Commerce, a post he held But Hoover's public service was not finished. cooperation, and generosity. Jesse Hoover, for more than 7 years under two Presidents. In 1946. President Harry S. Truman asked him a blacksmith, died from typhoid fever in 1890, Under Hoover the activities of the Commerce to study food supplies and make recommen­ at the age of 34. His wife died of the same dis­ Department were expanded, particularly in the dations for averting a post-World War II fam­ ease 3 years later and the orphaned Hoover field of foreign trade and communications. ine—a task that took him to 39 countries. In children went to live with relatives, Herbert When President Calvin Coolidge refused to seek 1947, Hoover was appointed head of a com­ going with an uncle, Allen Hoover, on the uncle's renomination in 1927, Hoover became the Re­ mission to investigate and make recommen­ farm just northeast of West Branch. publican Party's leading candidate. He was dations for improving the organization of the •ft U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1968 347 046/8 At age 11, Herbert journeyed to Newberg, Ore., nominated overwhelmingly and subsequently Executive Branch of the Federal Government. to live with another uncle. Dr. H. John Mint- defeated his Democratic rival. New York Gov. Congress enacted into law many of the com­ horn. At 1 7 he entered the engineering school Alfred E. Smith, by the largest popular and mission's recommendations. electoral vote that any President had received of the newly opened Stanford University, where President Dwight D. Eisenhower created ADMINISTRATION up to that time. he showed a marked aptitude for mathematics. a second commission in 1953, and Hoover again Herbert Hoover National Historic Site is admin­ He graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in served as chairman. After 8 years, and the work istered by the National Park Service, U.S. De­ Hoover's administration had many notable geology in May 1895. After working several of the commission ended. Hoover finally retired partment of the Interior. A superintendent, accomplishments, including the signing of the months in the California gold mines, he became from public life on June 30, 1955. He died on whose address is Box B, West Branch, Iowa London Naval Treaty, the inauguration of the a mining engineer in Colorado and then served October 20, 1964, and was buried on a hillside 52358, is in immediate charge. nonintervention policy in Latin America, re­ on the staff of a leading mining engineer in overlooking his birthplace in West Branch. A San Francisco. forms of the criminal procedure for Federal The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library is ad­ courts, bankruptcy legislation, creation of the few days after his burial on October 25, the ministered by the General Services Adminis­ In 1897 Hoover joined the international British Federal Power Commission, new banking laws, body of Mrs. Hoover (who had died in California tration, National Archives and Records Service. firm of Bewick, Moreing and Company as chief regulation of stock speculation and securities in 1944) was reinterred here. An admission fee is charged. of mining operations in western Australia. A promotion, expansion of the improvement of THE SITE year later, he accepted a position with the Chi­ waterways, and the conservation of oil and Herbert Hoover's birthplace was designated a nese Engineering and Mining Company, which other natural resources. The Reconstruction National Historic Site on August 12, 1965. It sent him to Peking in March 1899. (Before Finance Corporation was created, as were home THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR-the is located on Downey Street in West Branch, going to China, he married Lou Henry, whom he loan banks and a new agricultural credit sys­ Nation's principal natural resource agency —has less than 1 mile north of Int. 80. a special obligation to assure that our expend­ had met at Stanford.) The Boxer Rebellion broke tem to help farmers. Hoover was influential in able resources are conserved, that renewable out shortly after the Hoovers' arrival in China, the convening of a world economic conference and it was during this conflict that Hoover re­ to reduce trade barriers and stabilize world At the site are the restored birthplace cabin, resources are managed to produce optimum a replica of Jesse Hoover's blacksmith shop, benefits, and that all resources contribute to ceived his first taste of war and relief experi­ currency. ence, doing humanitarian work among the ref­ the graves of President and Mrs. Hoover, the the progress and prosperity of the United States, Quaker meetinghouse, the Presidential Library, now and in the future. ugees. Late in 1901 —after the rebellion ended — On October 29, 1929, the stock market crashed, he returned to the United States as a junior triggering an economic depression that did not and the statue of Isis, the Egyptian goddess partner with Bewick, Moreing and Company, fully end until World War II. Hoover hoped to of plenty, given to Hoover in the 1 920's by whose world-wide interests kept him constantly relieve the distress by a policy of indirect Gov­ school children in appreciation for his World on the move. "I circled the globe five times" ernment assistance to the masses of unem­ War I relief work. U. S. Department of the Interior while working for them, he later wrote. He was ployed. But despite these efforts, his popularity Several buildings in West Branch, near the site, National Park Service with the firm 7 years. evaporated. Though renominated on the first have been restored to their original appearance. Birthplace Cottage. Originally built by Jesse Quaker Meetinghouse. Herbert Hoover's Herbert Hoover Presidential Library. The li­ Clark Hoover about 1870, the birthplace cot­ mother often spoke before the congregation brary faces Downey Street and houses the large tage, now completely restored and refurnished, that worshipped in this building. Hoover, as a collection of papers accumulated by Hoover stands on its original site not far from Wapsi- child, attended meetings here with his parents. during his many years of public service. It also nonoc Creek's west branch, from which the It was purchased by the people of West Branch holds his collection of books and objects asso­ town drew its name. in 1964 and given to the Herbert Hoover Birth­ ciated with his long, distinguished career. Many place Foundation. In 1964-1965 the meeting­ items are on display in exhibit areas. A 1 80 seat auditorium occupies one wing of the building. house, after being moved to its present site on The library was built by the Herbert Hoover the east side of Downey Street opposite the Birthplace Foundation. The buildings and Presidential Library, was restored to its near grounds, offered to the Government as a gift, original appearance. were accepted on August 10, 1964. Blacksmith Shop. Near the birthplace cottage is a well-executed replica of Jesse Hoover's blacksmith shop. It houses an extensive col­ lection of contemporary tools and other objects. Graves of President and Mrs. Hoover. On a hill­ side about y4 mile southwest of the birthplace cabin are the graves of President and Mrs.
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