Hoover Presidential Foundation

Third Thursday - From Belgian Babies to UNICEF...
2023-09-21 18:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar Style Program
Sept. 21, 2023
6 to 7 p.m.

From Belgian Babies to UNICEF: The First World War, Children, and the Right to Food
The Belgian feeding programs developed under Herbert Hoover’s leadership during World War I made an indelible impression not only in postwar Belgium, but in the United States and in international aid organizations in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The Commission for Relief in Belgium and its successor programs created an argument both for the right to food and for the importance of children’s health and welfare that has persevered. This short talk will examine the innovations of the CRB and its impact even in our contemporary world.

Register HERE for this free program!
About the Speaker: Tammy M. Proctor is Distinguished Professor of History at Utah State University. Proctor earned her PhD in history from Rutgers University in 1995 and is a specialist in modern European and gender history with a special emphasis on the history of youth, gender, and conflict. Best known for her books, Female Intelligence: Women and Espionage in the First World War (2003) and Civilians in a World at War, 1914-1918 (2010), she is also an expert in the history of international Girl Scouting as well as Boy Scout and Girl Guide history in Britain. More recently, she has published World War I: A Short History (2017) as well as Gender and the Great War (with Susan Grayzel) and An English Governess in the Great War: The Secret Brussels Diary of Mary Thorp (with Sophie de Schaepdriver). Her book, Saving Europe, on the history of US relief in Europe during and after the First World War is forthcoming in 2024 from Oxford University Press.

Third Thursday - Spotlight on the Famous Flour Sacks
2023-08-17 18:00 - 19:00 | Webinar Style Program
August 17, 2023
6 to 7 p.m.

“Spotlight on the Famous Flour Sacks”

This is the 3rd of 3 summertime ‘Best Of ‘ programs. It originally aired in December of 2022 and had one of the highest registrations of all 3rd Thursday programs.
The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum’s entire collection of decorated Belgian Relief flour sacks from World War I was subjected to a close examination in June 2022. Annelien van Kempen, visiting researcher from The Netherlands, and Marcus Eckhardt, Hoover Presidential Museum curator, studied every detail and counted 360 items in this unique survey of war-time American and Canadian flour sacks, decorated by Belgian schoolgirls, women and artists, mainly in 1915.
They will present what they discovered in their fascinating two-week search in this episode. They share their insights in both the great variety and similarity in sacks, school-projects, flour residues in dresses, patriotic patterns in the embroidery and needlework and delicate lace edges.
They’ll reveal the identity of Belgian schoolgirls who painted and embroidered the sacks. Special attention will be given to paintings of emerging -now famous- Belgian artists and exquisite embroideries, including the “Rooster on the Oak Branch” flour sack from Antwerp that was presented in a manifestation of gratitude to Mr. Herbert Hoover in August 1916. Since June, new WWI decorated flour sacks have come into the museum’s collection, showing there are many more waiting to be discovered!

Hoover Forum: Hoover, WWII and the Postwar
2023-08-05 14:00 - 17:00 | Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, 210 Parkside Dr, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
Join us as three scholars examine and share their research around Hoover, World War II and the Postwar – Saturday afternoon during Hoover’s Hometown Days at the Hoover Presidential Library and Museum in the Figge Auditorium.
This event is free to attend. The panel discussion will take place at 2 p.m. and is expected to last until 5 p.m. The panel includes Justus Doenecke, Kevin Y. Kim and Sean McMeekin. The moderator is Bertrand M. Patenaude.
Bertrand M. Patenaude is a lecturer in history and international relations at Stanford university and a research fellow at the Hoover Institution. Author of many books on the Russian Revolution and the Soviet Union, his prize-winning study, The Big Show in Bololand: The American Relief Expedition to Soviet Russia in the Famine of 1921 has inspired two exhibitions that he guest-curated. Patenaude’s most recent study was a centennial history of the Hoover Institution.
Justus Doenecke is an Emeritus Professor History from the New College of Florida where he served from 1969-2005. Previously, he served on the faculty of Colgate University and Ohio Wesleyan University. Doenecke taught specialized courses on World War I and II as well as the Cold War. Author or editor of a dozen books and numerous journal articles, Doenecke is best known for his writings on the Manchurian Crisis 1931-1933 and non-interventionists in the 1930s and 1940s. He has received the Arthur S. Link Prize for Documentary Editing by the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations for his book on the America First Committee and the Herbert Hoover Book Award in 2000 for his study on American anti-interventionism at the outset of World War II.
Kevin Y. Kim is an Assistant Professor of History at the University of California at Los Angeles. He specializes in Korea and Northeast Asia as well as teaching US politics and diplomacy, the global Cold War and decolonization, dissent, and the history of capitalism. Author of numerous academic articles and popular journal pieces, Kim is seeking publication for his study, Worlds Unseen: Henry Wallace, Herbert Hoover, and the Making of Cold War America. He has received fellowships from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, the John W. Kluge Center, the Charles Warren Center for studies in American History, and the Hoover Institution’s Glenn Campbell and Rita Ricardo-Campbell Fellowship.
Sean McMeekin is the Francis Flourney Professor of European History and Culture at Bard University. Author of numerous books on Russia, Germany and World War I, his most recent study, Stalin’s War: A New History of World War II places Joseph Stalin and his war aims, rather than Adolf Hitler, as the central focus. His writings have been recognized with honors such as the Arthur Goodzeit Book Prize, the Norman B. Tomlinson Jr. Book Prize, and the Barbara Jelavich Book Prize.

Life Celebration at Hoover's Hometown Days
2023-08-05 12:30 - 13:30 | IA
Join us at 12:30 on the lawn at the C.E. Smith House on Downey Trace, across from Hoover’s Birthplace Cottage for a Life Celebration featuring former governor of Iowa and ambassador to China, Terry Branstad.
Amb. Branstad will speak about Herbert Hoover’s dealings with China, his humanitarian efforts, and how the museum renovation will reflect these stories. This event is part of the Hoover’s Hometown Days celebration and there is no charge to attend.

Foundation Member Picnic Registration
2023-08-05 11:30 - 12:30 | Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, 110 Parkside Drive, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
The Hoover Presidential Foundation is pleased to invite our members to the annual Hoover’s Hometown Days Foundation picnic!
Once again, we’ll gather on the lawn at the C.E. Smith House on Downey Trace, across from the Hoover Birthplace Cottage.
Meal service begins at 11:30 a.m. and will be followed by the Life Celebration presentation at 12:30.
As a member of the Foundation there is no fee for you to attend! We just ask that you visit us online or call to RSVP by Monday, July 31. Your guests are invited as well and covered with a membership guest pass included with some membership levels.
If you need additional passes, they are available online for $10 each as you complete your RSVP. Just CLICK HERE to access the form.
Non-members may attend the picnic for $10 each.
THANK YOU and we look forward to seeing you at the picnic!

Third Thursday - The Lafayette Escadrille
2023-07-20 18:00 - 19:00 | Webinar Style Program
July 20, 2023
6 to 7 p.m. Zoom Webinar
Speaker: Darroch Greer

This month, our summer ‘Best Of’ series continues with a popular episode from August of 2021, ‘The Lafayette Escadrille,’ with Darroch Greer.
A century ago 38 Americans from every walk of life volunteered to fly in the First World War. It was their own idea—to fight in the skies to aid our oldest ally, France, long before the United States entered the war. They were willing to pay the ultimate price. They helped move their reluctant nation to ultimately join the Allies and enter the fight. They were the Lafayette Escadrille. We’ll hear from the film’s director, Darroch Greer along with Paul Glenshaw.
Please watch this 20-minute version of ‘The Lafayette Escadrille’ in preparation for the Third Thursday program. WATCH THE PREVIEW
Our presenters also invite you to join them in a toast to the escadrille pilots as they prepare a ‘Lafayette Cocktail’ (half champagne/half cognac) at the open of their program.
Advance registration is required for this FREE virtual event.
About the Speaker: Darroch Greer is a documentary filmmaker and historical researcher. He’s written and produced documentaries on the Civil War, Native America, and popular culture for Discovery, the History Channel, PBS and VH1.

Third Thursday - Lou Henry Hoover's White House Years
2023-06-15 18:00 - 19:00 | Webinar Style Program
June 15, 2023
6 to 7 p.m. Zoom Webinar
This is the first of a 3-month ‘Encore Presentation’ series of 3rd Thursday programs. This program originally aired in May of 2022.
When Lou Henry Hoover moved into the White House on March 4, 1929, she looked forward to using her influence to strengthen the areas that were near and dear to her heart: women’s opportunities; the arts; and private philanthropy. The onset of what we now call the Great Depression challenged Lou’s plans, but she saw new opportunities for serving the nation and remained undaunted.
Lou continued to blaze a trail of achievements that have often been forgotten. She was the first president’s wife to address the nation by radio. She continued the work of updating the White House to accurately reflect its history and documented that work. Lou’s private philanthropy led to the building of a school for children in a remote area of rural Virginia, and she sought out and supported local artisans for a number of special projects.
Annette Dunlap, author of a recently released biography of Lou Henry Hoover, will share stories from Lou’s White House years in a Third Thursday presentation on June 15, 2023.
Advance registration is required for this FREE virtual event.
About the Speaker- Annette Dunlap:
Annette Dunlap has been a North Carolina-based freelance writer for over 30 years. She has written for a variety of publications, including op-eds for the Fayetteville Observer, the Charlotte Observer and The Pilot, in Moore County. She was a freelance reporter for the Asheboro Courier-Tribune, and has been a contributor to inspirational magazines, business publications, and White House History. Annette is the author of Frank: The Story of Frances Folsom Cleveland, America’s Youngest First Lady; The Gambler’s Daughter; and Charles Gates Dawes: A Life. Her biography of Lou Henry Hoover, A Woman of Adventure: The Life and Times of First Lady Lou Henry Hoover, was released by the University of Nebraska Press on June 1 last year.
Annette has appeared on C-SPAN’s first ladies’ series to discuss Frances Cleveland and Lou Henry Hoover, and was a panelist at the Harding Symposium’s “Modern First Ladies” program in 2015. Her research on Frances Folsom Cleveland inspired the development of the program, “First Ladies and the Politics of Fashion,” which has been broadcast on C-SPAN.
Annette holds a B.A. from the University of Arizona and an M.B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis. She and her husband of 41 years live in North Carolina. They have four children and six grandchildren. She enjoys sewing, knitting, embroidery, and travel.

Third Thursday - Hoover and Criminal Justice Reform
2023-05-18 18:00 - 19:00 | Webinar Style Program
May 18, 2023
6 p.m.

“Hoover and Criminal Justice Reform” Professor James Calder, University of Texas at Austin, presents “Hoover and Criminal Justice Reform”
About the Speaker: Dr. Calder has been a faculty member at UTSA since 1979, teaching and publishing first as a member of the Department of Criminal Justice until 2006, then to present in the Department of Political Science and Geography.
In recent years, his teaching in Political Science has included topics in global affairs, homeland security, the intelligence community and world affairs, federal justice policymaking, and politics in film. His articles and books have focused mainly on security matters, political leaders, and crime control policies, including studies of American presidents and their roles in directing federal actions against organized crime.

Third Thursday - An Audio-Visual Potpourri
2023-04-20 18:00 - 19:00 | Webinar Style Program
April 20, 2023
6 p.m.

“An Audio-Visual Potpourri”

“An Audio-Visual Potpourri” will showcase a variety of favorite still images in our collection and share some Hoover home movies, newsreel films, and point out a few unusual items in the Hoover archives.
About the speaker: Lynn Smith is the audio-visual archivist at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum.

Exquisite Miniatures VIP Exhibit Preview Reception
2023-04-13 17:00 - 19:00 | Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, 210 Parkside Dr, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
Wes and Rachelle Siegrist are an American husband and wife team who mesmerize viewers with miniature paintings so exquisitely crafted that they are often mistaken for tiny photographs. Their tiny treasures, as collectors often refer to them, typically measure less than 9 square inches and appear even more detailed when viewed under magnification! A hallmark of their work is their ability to convey the feeling of a larger canvass or the essence of the natural world in miniature.
This is a free event for Foundation members. Future-member guests may attend for $10 or with a membership gift pass. (Must present pass at check-in).
Advance registration required. REGISTER HERE.

Women's History Month Program - Part 2
2023-03-19 13:00 - 13:30 | Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, 110 Parkside Drive, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
March is women’s history month and the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site is celebrating two important women in Herbert Hoover’s life. Join a park ranger for part two of a program about the role that one of these women played in shaping the 31st president. The second program will be march 19, featuring Hoover’s wife and confidante, Lou Henry Hoover. The program begins at 1 pm at the Visitor Center and are free to attend.

Women's History Month Program
2023-03-18 13:00 - 13:30 | Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, 110 Parkside Drive, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
March is women’s history month and the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site is celebrating two important women in Herbert Hoover’s life. Join a park ranger for a 30 minute program on Saturday, March 18, about the role that one of these women played in shaping the 31st president: Hulda Hoover, his mother. The second program will be march 19, featuring Hoover’s wife and confidante, Lou Henry Hoover. The programs begin at 1 pm each day at the Visitor Center and are free to attend.

Third Thursday - Herbert and Lou Hoover: the Geologists and Miners in the White House
2023-03-16 18:00 - 19:00 | Webinar Style Program
March 16, 2023
6 p.m.

“Herbert and Lou Hoover: the Geologists and Miners in the White House”

Herbert and Lou Hoover were prolific mining engineers with a global impact. This program will explore the early lives of the Hoovers that led them to mining, their careers as miners, and an explanation of what made Hoover a remarkable mining engineer. Join us to learn about the National Mining Hall of Fame’s 11th and 60th inductees- Herbert and Lou Hoover.
About the Speaker: Elizabeth Dinschel is the director of the National Mining Hall of Fame in Colorado. She was previously the education archivist at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum and has vast knowledge on both subjects.

Third Thursday - Lincoln and Hoover
2023-02-16 18:00 - 19:00 | Webinar Style Program
Feb. 16, 2023
6 p.m.

“Lincoln and Hoover: Comparisons and Contrasts”

In celebration of both Abraham Lincoln’s birthday and Presidents Day, this talk will examine the lives of Abraham Lincoln and Herbert Hoover highlighting the profound influence that the Sixteenth President had upon the thinking of the Thirty-First President. Both suffered loss in their childhood, were voracious readers, and self-made individuals. Lincoln articulated the political philosophy of Herbert Hoover with the “open field” and “fair chance” in life or more generally known as the “right to rise.”
This philosophy argued that government should not pose barriers for individual achievement. Every American should be allowed to reach the level of attainment that their individual talents and initiative might realize. Lincoln was also a firm believer in party building and the importance of party in achieving viable public policy. He also knew that harnessing public opinion was necessary for the success of any policy initiative. Hoover, having not been elected to public office other than the Presidency, was less adept at the importance of political organization in driving successful public policies. Hoover’s admiration of Lincoln was life-long and expressed itself in some unusual ways.
About the Speaker: Dr. Thomas Schwartz is the director of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum. Prior to coming to the Hoover Presidential Library, Schwartz was director of the Lincoln Library and will share his vast knowledge of both presidents.

Temporary Exhibit- 1968: A Folsom Redemption
2023-01-28 09:00 - 2023-03-19 17:00 | Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, 210 Parkside Dr, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
January 28 through March 19 in the Quarton gallery of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Museum
Created in 2018 to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of a landmark event, 1968: A Folsom Redemption is a collection of photographs and memories of two journalists lucky enough to be among a handful of witnesses to the historic Johnny Cash concerts at Folsom Prison. This candid and personal exhibition covers a critical juncture in the career of Johnny Cash, one of the twentieth century’s most beloved performers.
In January 1968, Johnny Cash was at a crossroads. His music career , in a slow decline in several years, was in need of a smash hit. He had recently straightened out his personal life, and leadership changes at record label meant he was finally able to convince them of the merits of a live recording in a prison setting. Cash had been performing for inmates as far back as 1957, when he received a stream of requests from prisoners who identified with the man who sang “Folsom Prison Blues.” This connection developed with prisoners during these concerts had made him increasingly sympathetic to those he would later call “the downtrodden.”
Working as freelance journalists, photographer Dan Poush and writer Gene Beley met with Cash and his family the day before the concerts began, at the invitation of Reverend Floyd Gressett, a friend of Cash’s who ministered to inmates and helped set up the show at Folsom State Prison with Recreation Director Lloyd Kelley. After practicing the set with the Tennessee Three at Hotel El Rancho the night before, on January 13, 1968, Cash, along with opening acts Carl Perkins and the Statler Brothers, performed two separate shows in the dining hall at Folsom. Notable for capturing Cash’s ability to connect with his audience, the recordings crackled with the excitement of an adoring crowd. The resulting album, At Folsom Prison, was released four months later to critical and popular acclaim.
Beley’s first-person account of those days, and his knowledge of storylines at work behind the scenes, make this a fascinating exploration of the little-known aspects of a well-known event in popular culture. 1968: A Folsom Redemption takes the viewer right into the heart of this pivotal moment in the life and career of one of the twentieth century’s most important and cherished musical personalities.
For the first time ever, this travelling road show collection of thirty-one photos features a wide rand of intimate photos with friends and family to a backstage meeting with country music legend Merle Haggard with the Man in Black. This exhibition highlights Cash’s golden era from January 1968 Folsom prison album recording to a March1, 1969 concert in Anaheim, California when he was getting ready to launch his network television show. 1968: A Folsom Redemption is organized by ExhibitsUSA, a program of Mid-America Arts Alliance.

1968: A Folsom Redemption VIP Exhibit Preview Reception
2023-01-26 17:00 - 19:00 | Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, 210 Parkside Dr, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
1968: A Folsom redemption, opens to the public on Saturday, Jan. 28 at the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum – but Foundation members get to see it first! Join us Thursday, Jan. 26 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Hoover Presidential Library and Museum (210 Parkside Dr.) for light appetizers, wine and other goodies! A brief presentation starts at 6 p.m.
Created in 2018 to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of a landmark event, 1968: A Folsom Redemption is a collection of photographs and memories of two journalists lucky enough to be among a handful of witnesses to the historic Johnny Cash concerts at Folsom Prison. This candid and personal exhibition covers a critical juncture in the career of Johnny Cash, one of the twentieth century’s most beloved performers.
This is a free event for Foundation members. Future-member guests may attend for $10 or with a membership gift pass. (Must present pass at check-in).
Advance registration required. REGISTER HERE.

Third Thursday - Iowa and the Great Depression
2023-01-19 18:00 - 19:00 | Webinar Style Program
Jan 19, 2023
6 p.m.

“Iowa and the Great Depression”

Sometimes called “the worst hard time,” the Great Depression touched every American community and citizen. This talk focuses on how Iowans experienced the 1930s. The presentation will discuss the ways that Iowans survived hard times, and how some residents turned to radical action in response to the ordeal.
The role of government programs, such as the Works Progress Administration the Civilian Conservation Corps, Rural Electric Association, and the Agricultural Adjustment Act, in combatting the Depression in Iowa will also be evaluated. Other aspects of Iowa’s cultural life during this period, such as the flowering of the regionalist school of art, will also be highlighted.
About the Speaker: Park Ranger Peter Hoehnle is a National Park Service guide at the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and holds a doctorate in history. He enjoys doing historical research and has been widely published on American communal societies, including volumes on Amana and the Shakers.

Third Thursday - Spotlight on the Famous Flour Sacks 2
2022-12-15 12:00 - 13:00 | Webinar Style Program
Dec. 15, 2022
Noon to 1 p.m. LIVE
6 to 7 p.m. Replay
“Spotlight on the Famous Flour Sacks”

Please note the new program time. As this program will include a live presentation from The Netherlands, we’ve adjusted the program to Noon, Central Time. We will replay the recorded program at 6 p.m. that evening for our regular evening audience.
Use the same registration link for either presentation.
The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum’s entire collection of decorated Belgian Relief flour sacks from World War I was subjected to a close examination in June 2022. Annelien van Kempen, visiting researcher from The Netherlands, and Marcus Eckhardt, Hoover Presidential Museum curator, studied every detail and counted 360 items in this unique survey of war-time American and Canadian flour sacks, decorated by Belgian schoolgirls, women and artists, mainly in 1915.
They will present what they discovered in their fascinating two-week search in this episode. They share their insights in both the great variety and similarity in sacks, school-projects, flour residues in dresses, patriotic patterns in the embroidery and needlework and delicate lace edges.
They’ll reveal the identity of Belgian schoolgirls who painted and embroidered the sacks. Special attention will be given to paintings of emerging -now famous- Belgian artists and exquisite embroideries, including the “Rooster on the Oak Branch” flour sack from Antwerp that was presented in a manifestation of gratitude to Mr. Herbert Hoover in August 1916. Since June, new WWI decorated flour sacks have come into the museum’s collection, showing there are many more waiting to be discovered!

Festival of Trees Exhibit
2022-12-02 09:00 - 2022-12-30 16:00 | Hoover Presidential Foundation, 127 W Main St, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
Festival of Trees opens to the public on Friday, Dec. 2 – during Christmas Past through Dec. 30.
Free for all to enjoy Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. CLOSED SUNDAYS.
View Christmas trees decorated with a Winter Wonderland theme along with other assorted Holiday Decor.

Festival of Trees VIP Exhibit Preview Reception
2022-12-01 17:00 - 19:00 | Hoover Presidential Foundation, 127 W Main St, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
Festival of Trees opens to the public on Friday, Dec. 2 – during Christmas Past, but Foundation members get to see it first! Join us Thursday, Dec. 1 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Hoover Presidential Foundation (127 W. Main St.) for holiday treats, wine and cider! A brief presentation starts at 6 p.m.
View Christmas trees decorated with a Winter Wonderland theme along with other assorted Holiday Decor. This is a free event for Foundation members. Future-member guests may attend for $10 or with a membership gift pass. (Must present pass at check-in).
Advance registration required. REGISTER HERE.

Third Thursday - Herbert Hoover and Christmas
2022-11-17 18:00 - 19:00 | Webinar Style Program
Nov. 17, 2022
6 to 7 p.m. Zoom Webinar
“Herbert Hoover and Christmas.”

Christmas was very important to Herbert Hoover, and he celebrated the holiday many ways during his long life. Join us for a ranger talk about Hoover and Christmas, from the simple holiday celebrations of his Quaker youth to his globetrotting years as a mining engineer in many lands, to his years in the White House and a memorable Christmas Eve fire in 1929. In the last 20 years of his life, Hoover celebrated Christmas with elaborate decorations, gatherings, and gift giving from his suite in the Waldorf Towers. Based on the recollections of family and friends, and Hoover’s own writings, this talk will open a window into the private life of a president and his family, as they celebrated a favorite holiday.
About the Speaker: Park Ranger Peter Hoehnle is a National Park Service guide at the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and holds a doctorate in history. He enjoys doing historical research and has been widely published on American communal societies, including volumes on Amana and the Shakers.

Third Thursday - A Hoover Homecoming Photo Album, Aug. 1928
2022-10-20 18:00 - 19:00 | Webinar Style Program
October 20, 2022
6 to 7 p.m. Zoom Webinar
“A Hoover Homecoming Photo Album, August 1928.”

This presentation highlights the “homecoming” visit that Mr. and Mrs. Hoover and their two sons made to Iowa during the summer of 1928 after his nomination as the Republican nominee for the presidency. Although there was no official album, Juhl has arranged these seldom seen photographs to represent what could have been a family album.
About the Speaker: Paul Juhl, of Iowa City, has been writing about Iowa history for the past twenty years. Originally from Webster City, Juhl holds degrees from the University of Iowa in history, and the University of Northern Iowa in College Student Personnel Services. He is also an expert on photography in the late nineteenth century and often includes many images from all times periods in his books.
Prior to retirement, Juhl served several Iowa high schools, and also a school in Switzerland, as the school counselor and teacher.
The topics for his spiral bound books are diverse and include Grant Wood, Pulitzer Prize recipient, MacKinlay Kantor, Herbert Hoover and Abraham Lincoln’s grandchildren.

Celebration Banquet
2022-10-07 17:30 - 21:00 | DoubleTree by Hilton, 350 1st ave NE, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52401, United States
Guest names for each seat are required by September 23.
The main event begins with the presentation of the first Hoover Presidential Foundation Great Humanitarian Award to President Bush and his wife Laura. The award was created to recognize individuals who have demonstrated or provided meritorious and altruistic support to those in need. It is offered in the spirit of Herbert Hoover’s efforts to save millions of western Europeans from starvation dating back to 1914.

It is our honor to recognize the relief and humanitarian efforts George and Laura Bush propagated throughout the world through the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR), in addition to Laura’s health care initiatives for women, including breast cancer screening advocacy. Together, their efforts to continue the humanitarian work begun at the White House, support for women’s health, serving more than 13.3 million people with lifesaving antiretroviral treatment tell an amazing story. Laura Bush is not expected to attend.
Margaret Hoover, host of the PBS series, Firing Line with Margaret Hoover, and one of Herbert Hoover’s great granddaughters, will lead an armchair discussion with President Bush immediately following. Guests will then enjoy a delicious meal followed by a short presentation highlighting Foundation programs and the Timeless Values | Modern Experience campaign for the renovation of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and museum.
Business dress/cocktail attire requested.

Third Thursday - The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder
2022-09-15 18:00 - 19:00 | Webinar Style Program
Sept. 15, 2022
6 to 7 p.m. Zoom Webinar
How the Hard Winter of 1880-81 Became The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder.
This illustrated talk begins with an overview of the Hard Winter of 1880-81 as found in the newspaper record, followed by an exploration of some of Wilder’s struggles to convert her family’s experiences into her nearly perfect novel, “The Long Winter.”
About the Speaker: Cindy Wilson is passionate about history and enchanted by the prairie landscape. Her award-winning book, “The Beautiful Snow: The Ingalls Family, the Railroads, and the Hard Winter of 1880-81” can be purchased through her website TheBeautifulSnow.com or at various online and museum retailers.

Third Thursday - Unraveling Yarns About the First Ladies
2022-08-18 18:00 - 19:00 | Webinar Style Program
Aug. 18, 2022
6 to 7 p.m. Zoom Webinar
Lou Henry Hoover and 17 other first ladies who, at one point in their lives knitted, crocheted, embroidered, quilted, cross-stitched, or sewed, are the focus of a new book, “Ladies, First: Common Threads,” by Debra Scala Giokas.
Debra will discuss the research and stories that went into that work.
Register for free HERE.
About the Speaker: Debra Scala Giokas is a professional member of the Crochet Guild of America. She earned her B.A. in English from Stony Brook University and began a career in marketing communications where she writes every day. She has been working in that field ever since.
Debra enjoys learning and writing about women in American History. She taught a marketing course at a local college as an Adjunct Assistant Professor for 6 years, and still mentors students at her alma mater.
Originally from Astoria, Queens, New York, Debra lives on Long Island with her husband George and their dog, Zoe Ana, a Maltese.

Foundation Member Picnic RSVP
2022-08-06 11:30 - 12:30 | Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, 110 Parkside Drive, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
The Hoover Presidential Foundation is pleased to invite our members to the annual Hoover’s Hometown Days Foundation picnic!
Once again, we’ll gather on the lawn at the Smith House on Downey Trace, across from the Hoover Birthplace Cottage.
Meal service begins at 11:30 a.m. and will be followed by the Life Celebration presentation at 12:30.
As a member of the Foundation there is no fee for you to attend! We just ask that you visit us online or call to RSVP by Monday, Aug. 1. Your guests are invited as well and covered with a membership guest pass included with some membership levels.
If you need additional passes, they are available online for $10 each as you complete your RSVP. Just CLICK HERE to access the form.
THANK YOU and we look forward to seeing you at the picnic!

Summer Concert Series: Iowa Military Veterans Band
2022-08-06 11:30 - 12:30 | Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, 110 Parkside Drive, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
The Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and the Hoover Presidential Library are pleased to host the annual “Summer Concert Series on the Green”. These concerts celebrate the composers and musical styles of America. People can pack a picnic, bring a chair to enjoy the music, and explore historic downtown West Branch during these special days. The concerts will take place on the West Branch Village Green and are FREE of charge.
Saturday, August 6 – Hoover Hometown Days: Iowa Military Veterans Band (11:30am – 12:30pm)
The Iowa Military Veterans Band was originally conceived to perform one concert for the dedication of the Iowa World War II Memorial at the Iowa State Capitol, but the audience at that November 10, 1996, concert encouraged the band to continue. The band membership today is over 100 men and women — all U. S. military veterans. The band promotes the music of John Philip Sousa, Karl King, Meredith Willson, George M. Cohan, Irving Berlin and other great American composers.

Hoover's Hometown Days
2022-08-05 16:00 - 2022-08-06 22:00 | Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, 110 Parkside Drive, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
Hoover’s Hometown Days is a two-day celebration in West Branch honoring Herbert Hoover. Enjoy a parade, Hoover-Ball games, music, food, and fun activities for the whole family, many free of charge! Visit HooverDays.org for schedules and complete information.

Summer Concert Series: Brass Tower
2022-07-28 18:00 - 19:00 | Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, 110 Parkside Drive, West Branch, IA, 52358, United States
The Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and the Hoover Presidential Library are pleased to host the annual “Summer Concert Series on the Green”. These concerts celebrate the composers and musical styles of America. People can pack a picnic, bring a chair to enjoy the music, and explore historic downtown West Branch during these special days. The concerts will take place on the West Branch Village Green and are FREE of charge.
Thursday, July 28 – Brass Tower (6:00 – 7:00pm)
Brass Tower is a traditionally composed brass quintet specializing in not-so-traditional music. They focus on playing a mix of funky, brassy arrangements of popular tunes and eclectic contemporary music ranging from electronic to jazz.

Third Thursday - A Behind the Scenes Look at the Hoover Library Renovation
2022-07-21 18:00 - 19:00 | Webinar Style Program
July 21, 2022
6 to 7 p.m. Zoom Webinar
Hoover Presidential Foundation president & CEO Jerry Fleagle and Matt Solari, VP & creative director for BRC Imagination Arts, a premiere builder of exhibit spaces, look at the possibilities that lie ahead for the new exhibit renovation.
Advance registration is required for this FREE virtual event and is AVAILABLE HERE.
About the Speaker: AMatt Solari is the vice president and creative director for BRC Imaginatins Arts of Burbank, California. For 40 years, BRC has stood on the front lines, helping their clients build more meaningful, enduring relationships with audiences around the globe. Their unique body of work has earned over 400 awards for some of the most respected and acclaimed brand and cultural destinations in the world.
