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 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, records stand as a challenge to those who would was the second of three children born to Jesse food to millions of hungry people in more than destroy the freedom in America and who would and Hulda Hoover. The family were Quakers, 33 nations. 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, a for more than 7 years under two Presidents. In 1946, President Harry S. Truman asked him blacksmith, died from pneumonia in 1880, at the Under Hoover the activities of the Commerce to study food supplies and make recommen­ age of 34. His wife died from typhoid fever 3 Department were expanded, particularly in the dations for averting a post-World War II fam­ years later and the orphaned Hoover children field of foreign trade and communications. ine—a task that took him to 39 countries. In went to live with relatives, Herbert going with When President refused to seek 1947, Hoover was appointed head of a com­ an uncle, Allan Hoover, on the uncle's farm just renomination in 1927, Hoover became the Re­ mission to investigate and make recommen­ northeast of West Branch. publican Party's leading candidate. He was dations for improving the organization of the •ft U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1969—392-711/30 nominated overwhelmingly and subsequently Executive Branch of the Federal Government. REVISED 1969 At age 11, Herbert journeyed to Newberg, Ore., defeated his Democratic rival. New York Gov. Congress enacted into law many of the com­ to live with another uncle. Dr. H. John Mint- Alfred E. Smith, by the largest popular and mission's recommendations. horn. At 17 he entered the engineering school electoral vote that any President had received of the newly opened , where President Dwight D. Eisenhower created up to that time. he showed a marked aptitude for mathematics. a second commission in 1953, and Hoover again He graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in served as chairman. After 8 years, and the work geology in May 1895. After working several Hoover's administration had many notable of the commission ended. Hoover finally retired months in the California gold mines, he became accomplishments, including the signing of the from public life on June 30, 1955. He died on a mining engineer in Colorado and then served , the inauguration of the October 20, 1964, and was buried on a hillside on the staff of a leading mining engineer in nonintervention policy in Latin America, re­ overlooking his birthplace in West Branch. A San Francisco. forms of the criminal procedure for Federal few days after his burial on October 25, the courts, bankruptcy legislation, creation of the body of Mrs. Hoover (who had died in California In 1897 Hoover joined the international British Federal Power Commission, new banking laws, in 1944) was reinterred here. firm of Bewick, Moreing and Company as chief regulation of stock speculation and securities of mining operations in western Australia. A promotion, expansion of the improvement of ADMINISTRATION year later, he accepted a position with the Chi­ waterways, and the conservation of oil and nese Engineering and Mining Company, which other natural resources. The Reconstruction Herbert Hoover National Historic Site is admin­ sent him to Peking in March 1899. (Before Finance Corporation was created, as were home istered by the National Park Service, U.S. De­ going to China, he married Lou Henry, whom he loan banks and a new agricultural credit sys­ partment of the Interior. A superintendent, had met at Stanford.) The Boxer Rebellion broke tem to help farmers. Hoover was influential in whose address is Box B, West Branch, IA 52358, out shortly after the Hoovers' arrival in China, the convening of a world economic conference is in immediate charge. and it was during this conflict that Hoover re­ to reduce trade barriers and stabilize world As the Nation's principal conservation agency, ceived his first taste of war and relief experi­ currency. the Department of the Interior has basic respon­ ence, doing humanitarian work among the ref­ sibilities for water, fish, wildlife, mineral, land, ugees. Late in 1901 —after the rebellion ended — On October 29.1929, the stock market crashed, park, and recreational resources. Indian and Ter­ he returned to the United States as a junior triggering an economic depression that did not ritorial affairs are other major concerns of partner with Bewick, Moreing and Company, fully end until World War II. Hoover hoped to America's "Department of Natural Resources." whose world-wide interests kept him constantly relieve the distress by a policy of indirect Gov­ The Department works to assure the wisest on the move. "I circled the globe five times" ernment assistance to the masses of unem­ choice in managing all our resources so each U. S. Department of the Interior while working for them, he later wrote. He was ployed. But despite these efforts, his popularity will make its full contribution to a better United National Park Service with the firm 7 years. evaporated. Though renominated on the first States—now and in the future. Birthplace Cottage. Built by Jesse Clark Hoover Quaker Meetinghouse. During his years in West Herbert Hoover Presidential Library. The li­ about 1870, the little two-room birthplace cot­ Branch, Herbert Hoover attended meetings here brary faces Downey Street and houses the large THE SITE tage, now restored and refurnished, stands on with his parents. In fact, his mother often spoke collection of papers accumulated by Hoover its original site not far from Wapsinonoc Creek's before the congregation that worshipped in the during his many years of public service. It also Herbert Hoover's birthplace was designated a west branch,from which the town drew its name. building. Neglected for many years, the meeting­ holds his collection of books and objects asso­ National Historic Site on August 12, 1965. It The Hoovers lived in the house until 1879, when house was purchased by the people of West ciated with his long, distinguished career. Many is located on Downey Street in West Branch, Jesse Hoover sold both it and the blacksmith Branch in 1964 and presented to the Herbert items are on display in exhibit areas. A 180-seat less than 1 mile north of Int. 80. shop and moved his family into a larger dwelling Hoover Birthplace Foundation. In 1964-65, after auditorium occupies one wing of the building. farther south on Downey Street. When the birth­ being moved to its present location on the east The library was built by the Herbert Hoover At the site are the restored birthplace cabin, place cottage was restored to its 1870 appear­ side of Downey Street opposite the Presidential Birthplace Foundation. The buildings and a replica of Jesse Hoover's blacksmith shop, ance in 1939, as much of the original furniture Library and southeast of the birthplace cottage, grounds, offered to the Federal Government the graves of President and Mrs. Hoover, the belonging to Jesse and Hulda Hoover as it was the meetinghouse was restored to its near or­ as a gift by the Foundation, were accepted on Quaker meetinghouse, the Presidential Library, possible to secure was acquired for the house. iginal appearance. August 10, 1964. and the statue of Isis, the Egyptian goddess of plenty, given to Hoover in the 1 920 s by school children in appreciation for his World War I relief work.

Several buildings in West Branch, near the site, have been restored to their original appearance.

The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library is ad­ ministered by the General Services Adminis­ tration, National Archives and Records Service. An admission fee is charged.

Graves of President and Mrs. Hoover. On a hill­ side about Vt mile southwest of the birthplace cabin are the graves of President and Mrs. Hoover. Landscaping provides a circular setting for the flat, white marble gravestones, with a view down the valley to the birthplace.

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.

Sketches by William J. Wagner