Hoover Presidential Foundation

Third Thursday - "An Evening with the Presidents"
2020-08-20 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
6 to 7 p.m. Zoom Webinar
Featuring Dr. Larry Cook
Dr. Laurence Cook will present “An Evening with the Presidents” featuring rare and interesting memorabilia pertaining to each President along with little-known facts and stories about each man and highlighting the friendship between Dr. Cook and President Carter. The Presidents covered in this presentation are: James Buchanan, Benjamin Harrison, Grover Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, and Jimmy Carter. The presentation also includes a question and answer portion for the audience.
Advance registration is required for this FREE webinar. REGISTER HERE.

For Students in 7 to 12th Grade - The Little Rock 9 & Interview with Dr. Terrence Roberts
2020-08-11 09:00 - 10:00 | Webinar Style Program
Presented by the Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, this is a one hour, free, interactive webinar for students grades 6-12. Join us for a session that will look at Brown v. Board of Education, presidential powers, civil rights, and more as well as a discussion with Dr. Terrence Roberts, one of the Little Rock Nine students.
REGISTER YOUR STUDENT HERE.
Upcoming distance learning events include:

American Women and the Vote
Constitutional Amendments
The Potsdam Conference & the Atomic Bomb

To learn more about these exciting FREE programs, CLICK HERE!

Teacher Professional Development: What Makes a Winning Presidential Campaign?
2020-07-21 09:00 - 10:30 | Webinar Style Program
Offered through the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum, this free webinar is part of the Presidential Primary Source Project.
The event takes place July 21 through the 23rd, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. each day.
LEARN MORE HERE.

Third Thursday with Dr. Terrence Roberts
2020-07-16 13:00 - 14:00
6 to 7 p.m. Zoom Webinar
Featuring Dr. Terrence Roberts
Terrence James Roberts was one of the Little Rock Nine, a group of African-American students who, in 1957, were the first black students ever to attend classes at Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. In 1999, he and the other people of the Little Rock Nine were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by President Bill Clinton. On September 4, 1957, Roberts and eight other African American students (known as the Little Rock Nine) made an unsuccessful attempt to enter Little Rock Central High School. Despite the presence of the National Guard, an angry mob of about 400 surrounded the school.
Dr. Robert’s is a very dynamic speaker and his message will provide a timely perspective in relation to current events.
Advance registration required

Third Thursday -"Lives, Fortunes, and Sacred Honor: Declaring Independence"
2020-06-18 13:00 - 14:00
6 to 7 p.m. Zoom Webinar
Presented by Garrett Cloer, Chief of Interpretation and Cultural Resources, Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
Each year, people across the country celebrate their nation’s independence on July 4 even though Congress actually voted for it on July 2! Join us for a look at the real story of the creation of the United States as Herbert Hoover National Historic Site Park Ranger Garrett Cloer discusses the critical months leading to the independence vote, the Declaration of Independence, and its impacts and afterlife.
Advance registration required

Third Thursday - "Truman & Hoover: WWII Food Relief" Online Event
2020-05-21 13:00 - 14:00 | Webinar Style Program
Truman & Hoover: WWII Food Relief
Join us for a live online discussion with the Truman Presidential Library director Kurt Graham and Hoover Presidential Library director Thomas Schwartz, along with Truman supervisory archivist Sam Rushay and Hoover supervisory archivist Craig Wright, as they discuss the relationship between the presidents in providing food relief following World War II.
Registration is required to join the online feed and is free for all to attend. REGISTER HERE. Participants will be able to ask questions of the speakers during the program.

Third Thursday -“Travels with Dad: Lou’s 1921 Cross Country Trip”
2020-04-16 13:00 - 14:00
6 p.m. broadcast on Facebook
Presented by: Craig Wright, Archivist, Hoover Presidential Library and Museum

In September 1921, Lou Henry Hoover began a cross-country trip with her father Charles. Driving a 1919 Cadillac, the trip would take 34 days to wind its way over nearly 4,000 miles as they traveled from San Francisco to Washington, DC with brief stops in Iowa at Boone, Le Grand, Waterloo, Iowa City and West Branch. Supervisory archivist Craig Wright will offer highlights and colorful anecdotes from the trip.
A video feed of Craig’s presentation will appear at 6 p.m. on the Foundation’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/HooverPresFoundation/
We hope to resume normal scheduling next month. Watch our Facebook page and e-newsletters for details.

First Lady Lou 4
2020-03-30 14:00 - 16:00
First Lady Lou

Special Performance Highlights Life of First Lady Lou Henry Hoover
This March, we celebrate the 146th anniversary of the birth of Waterloo, Iowa native Lou Henry Hoover, also known as Mrs. Herbert Hoover.
The Hoover Presidential Library and Museum and Hoover Presidential Foundation will mark these momentous occasions with a series of free public performances throughout Iowa.
The performances celebrate and share the life of Lou Henry Hoover, a remarkable pioneer of her time. Celebrating her during Women’s History Month and on the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage seems like an especially appropriate context to educate and celebrate her many groundbreaking accomplishments. Not only did Mrs. Hoover excel in her role as First Lady, but the Waterloo, Iowa native became the first woman to earn a geology degree from Stanford University. Before becoming First Lady, she led a very active and public life, leading and working in many new movements and organizations, including the early years of the Girl Scouts and helping with food relief efforts during China’s Boxer Rebellion and World War I.
The show features Jane Fellows, an actress who has performed the one-woman show, First Lady Lou at numerous venues around the United States. Throughout the show, ‘Lou’ takes the audience on the remarkable journey of her life. Set in a New York City hotel room, Act I takes place in 1914, the day before Lou sails to London to join Herbert. Act II takes place in 1944 at the end of her life. Throughout the play the audience experiences history through the eyes of a smart, compassionate and visionary woman.
“Learning about Lou Henry Hoover was an eye-opening experience for me,” Leslie Hoover-Lauble, great granddaughter of Lou Henry Hoover, said. “As a woman born in the late 1800’s, she was anything by typical of her times. She was a woman of many and surprising talents, with a high sense of integrity. I am a proud descendant of Lou Henry, and I thoroughly enjoy First Lady Lou as performed by Jane Fellows.”
Leslie was too young to meet her great-grandmother during her life but feels Jane Fellow’s depiction of Lou Henry gave her the opportunity to meet her after all.
Ms. Fellows first performed First Lady Lou in March 2014 as a commissioned piece by Colonial Dames of America in Oregon and the Hoover-Minthorn House Museum. “Being able to share this part of history through the lens of this extraordinary woman is at once humbling as well as a distinct honor,” Fellows said.
Lou Henry made great efforts to be inclusive while in and out of the White House. As First Lady, Lou Henry coordinated the social functions at the White House, including inviting the wives of the members of Congress to the White House for tea. Mrs. Hoover faced an unusually delicate situation – for the first time in 30 years, Congress included an African American member: Oscar Stanton DePriest, the son of former slaves, elected from Chicago. Rather than bow to political pressure, she invited Mrs. DePriest to an intimate tea at the White House with the wives of cabinet members. Her attendance as an invited guest at a White House social function accorded her social legitimacy, and by implication, equal standing with the white guests, something well ahead of her time. First Lady Lou will discuss issues of ethnicity, diversity and identity, giving audience members great insights into the history of these important issues.
First Lady Lou was written by Des Moines, Iowa playwright, Rebecca Christian. The Hoover Presidential Foundation has received a grant award from Humanities Iowa, a state-based affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and from Royal Neighbors of America in support of First Lady Lou.
Performance Locations, Dates and Times
All performances are offered at no charge with open seating.
Muscatine Community College Little Theatre, Strahan Hall
152 Colorado St., Muscatine, IA
March 24, 7 p.m.
Prairieview Theatre Arts Center
560 SE University Ave, Waukee, IA
March 26, 7 p.m.
Hoover Presidential Library and Musuem, Figge Auditorium
210 Parkside Dr., West Branch, IA
March 29, 2 p.m.
Hoover Middle School Theatre
630 Hillcrest Rd., Waterloo, IA
SOLD OUT- LOCAL STUDENTS ONLY

First Lady Lou 3
2020-03-29 14:00 - 16:00

First Lady Lou 2
2020-03-26 14:00 - 16:00

First Lady Lou
2020-03-24 14:00 - 16:00
First Lady Lou

Special Performance Highlights Life of First Lady Lou Henry Hoover
This March, we celebrate the 146th anniversary of the birth of Waterloo, Iowa native Lou Henry Hoover, also known as Mrs. Herbert Hoover.
The Hoover Presidential Library and Museum and Hoover Presidential Foundation will mark these momentous occasions with a series of free public performances throughout Iowa.
The performances celebrate and share the life of Lou Henry Hoover, a remarkable pioneer of her time. Celebrating her during Women’s History Month and on the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage seems like an especially appropriate context to educate and celebrate her many groundbreaking accomplishments. Not only did Mrs. Hoover excel in her role as First Lady, but the Waterloo, Iowa native became the first woman to earn a geology degree from Stanford University. Before becoming First Lady, she led a very active and public life, leading and working in many new movements and organizations, including the early years of the Girl Scouts and helping with food relief efforts during China’s Boxer Rebellion and World War I.
The show features Jane Fellows, an actress who has performed the one-woman show, First Lady Lou at numerous venues around the United States. Throughout the show, ‘Lou’ takes the audience on the remarkable journey of her life. Set in a New York City hotel room, Act I takes place in 1914, the day before Lou sails to London to join Herbert. Act II takes place in 1944 at the end of her life. Throughout the play the audience experiences history through the eyes of a smart, compassionate and visionary woman.
“Learning about Lou Henry Hoover was an eye-opening experience for me,” Leslie Hoover-Lauble, great granddaughter of Lou Henry Hoover, said. “As a woman born in the late 1800’s, she was anything by typical of her times. She was a woman of many and surprising talents, with a high sense of integrity. I am a proud descendant of Lou Henry, and I thoroughly enjoy First Lady Lou as performed by Jane Fellows.”
Leslie was too young to meet her great-grandmother during her life but feels Jane Fellow’s depiction of Lou Henry gave her the opportunity to meet her after all.
Ms. Fellows first performed First Lady Lou in March 2014 as a commissioned piece by Colonial Dames of America in Oregon and the Hoover-Minthorn House Museum. “Being able to share this part of history through the lens of this extraordinary woman is at once humbling as well as a distinct honor,” Fellows said.
Lou Henry made great efforts to be inclusive while in and out of the White House. As First Lady, Lou Henry coordinated the social functions at the White House, including inviting the wives of the members of Congress to the White House for tea. Mrs. Hoover faced an unusually delicate situation – for the first time in 30 years, Congress included an African American member: Oscar Stanton DePriest, the son of former slaves, elected from Chicago. Rather than bow to political pressure, she invited Mrs. DePriest to an intimate tea at the White House with the wives of cabinet members. Her attendance as an invited guest at a White House social function accorded her social legitimacy, and by implication, equal standing with the white guests, something well ahead of her time. First Lady Lou will discuss issues of ethnicity, diversity and identity, giving audience members great insights into the history of these important issues.
First Lady Lou was written by Des Moines, Iowa playwright, Rebecca Christian. The Hoover Presidential Foundation has received a grant award from Humanities Iowa, a state-based affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and from Royal Neighbors of America in support of First Lady Lou.
Performance Locations, Dates and Times
All performances are offered at no charge with open seating.
Muscatine Community College Little Theatre, Strahan Hall
152 Colorado St., Muscatine, IA
March 24, 7 p.m.
Prairieview Theatre Arts Center
560 SE University Ave, Waukee, IA
March 26, 7 p.m.
Hoover Presidential Library and Musuem, Figge Auditorium
210 Parkside Dr., West Branch, IA
March 29, 2 p.m.
Hoover Middle School Theatre
630 Hillcrest Rd., Waterloo, IASOLD OUT- LOCAL STUDENTS ONLY

Third Thursday -“Lou Gets the Vote!”
2020-03-19 12:30 - 14:00
5:30 – 7 p.m. in the Figge Auditorium

Presented by: Matthew Schaefer, Archivist, Hoover Presidential Library and Museum

Archivist Matt Schaefer talks about Lou Henry Hoover that the 19th Amendment that gave women throughout the country the right to vote. It explores Lou’s views on women’s suffrage and voting. On August 18, 2020, we will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the amendment’s ratification.
