Research

The Library

The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library contains the personal papers of Herbert Hoover, 31st President of the United States, and his wife, Lou Henry Hoover. The Library holds copies of selected records from the National Archives that document the activities of federal agencies closely associated with Hoover, and important national conferences he convened. The Library also holds 300 additional collections of personal papers from individuals who either worked with Herbert Hoover, or were associated with him through shared areas of interest or activity. In addition to Hoover's life and Presidency, topics covered include atomic energy, aviation, international relief work, journalism, agriculture economics, non-interventionism prior to World War II, conservative political thought in the mid-20th century, and Laura Ingalls Wilder.  

The Library holds audiovisual materials including still photographs, motion picture film and audio recordings.  An extensive book collection and microfilm collection are available for use in the Research Room.

The Museum

Museum staff are available to answer research questions. You may send a research question to our staff via email at hoover.library@nara.gov. Please provide as much detailed information as possible so that we may best address your inquiry.

The museum collections are accessible to researchers by appointment only, on location at the Hoover Museum in West Branch, Iowa. Email us for more information.

Planning a Research Visit

The Research Room is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. - noon and 12:30 - 4:15 p.m. except for Federal holidays.

Application To Use Materials:

Persons who wish to use the historical materials held in the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library are required to complete a Research Application Form, found at the link above. Researchers may submit the application ahead of time or upon arrival;  in either case, photo identification must be presented to complete the registration process. 

An appointment is strongly encouraged to use the Library's holdings. Prospective researchers are advised to email, write, or call the Library in advance of their visit so that the staff can offer guidance about the amount of materials on a given topic and can prepare in advance for the researcher's arrival.

Materials in the Library's historical collections are available on an equal basis to all researchers. Small portions of the papers are closed either in accordance with stipulations imposed by the donor or by government regulations such as the Presidential Libraries Act of 1955. Closed materials are periodically reviewed and opened for research. Categories of materials closed at present include papers containing information the disclosure of which would endanger national security or subject living persons to embarrassment or harassment. Withdrawn materials are clearly indicated in the files with Withdrawal Sheets (National Archives Form 1429, usually referred to as "pink sheets").  Researchers have the right to appeal the restriction of any document in the Library's holdings. The staff will describe these appeal rights upon request. 

Travel Grant Information
The purpose of the Herbert Hoover Travel Grant Award is to fund travel to the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library & Museum. Current graduate students, post-doctoral scholars, and independent researchers are eligible to apply. For more information, please visit the Hoover Presidential Foundation's website.