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Manuscript Collections - William B. Anderson Papers

 

WILLIAM B. ANDERSON PAPERS, 1874-1977 (bulk 1947-1965)
7 linear feet (16 manuscript boxes)
Herbert Hoover Presidential Library

The William B. Anderson Papers document the activities of the president-emeritus of the Herbert Hoover Birthplace Foundation.  In this capacity, Anderson was instrumental in organizing the restoration of the birthplace and the establishment of the surrounding park, as well as the birthday celebrations for Herbert Hoover that were held in West Branch.  Anderson became a friend of Hoover and played a role in the decision to establish Hoover’s Presidential Library and Museum in West Branch. The William B. Anderson Papers were donated to the Hoover Presidential Library in 1978.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

January 20, 1896  Born, rural West Branch, Iowa
1902‑1914  Attended West Branch schools
1915 Attended Cedar Rapids Business College
1916 Opened Hardware & Furniture Store
1917‑1919 World War I, Philippines
October 14, 1920 Married Dorothy Bailey
1921 Attended Hobenshuh‑Carpenter College of Mortuary Science
1922 Added Funeral Home to Hardware & Furniture Store
1928 Attended Republican National Convention
1929  Member, Hoover Birthplace Committee
April 18, 1939 Vice‑President, Herbert Hoover Birthday Society
March, 1948 President, Herbert Hoover Birthday Society
1954‑1957 Vice Chairman, Herbert Hoover Foundation, Inc.
October 23, 1958 President, Herbert Hoover Birthplace Foundation
1964 President‑emeritus, Herbert Hoover Birthplace Foundation
October 5, 1974  Died

 

                    

                              

                              

                      

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note:  Served as Mayor of West Branch for 6 years, dates unknown. Served as Republican Cedar County Chairman for 8 years, dates unknown.

The William B. Anderson Papers are arranged in two series: Correspondence and Subject Files.  The Correspondence is in chronological order, and the Subject Files are in alphabetical order.  Frank Nye used these papers in writing his book, Doors of Opportunity: The Life and Legacy of Herbert Hoover.  Inclusive dates for the collection are 1874 to 1977, although the bulk of the collection dates from 1947-1965.

FOLDER LIST

CORRESPONDENCE

BOX CONTENTS
1

Correspondence, 1925-July 1948 (9 folders)

2

Correspondence, Aug 1948-1953 (11 folders)

3

Correspondence, Jan-Aug 19, 1954 (9 folders)

4

Correspondence, Aug 11, 1954-1956 (10 folders)

5

Correspondence, 1957-Oct 1958 (10 folders)

6

Correspondence, Nov 1958-Feb 1960 (10 folders)

7

Correspondence, Mar 1960-June 1961 (9 folders)

8

Correspondence, July 1961-July 9, 1962 (9 folders)

9

Correspondence, July 10-Aug 10, 1962 (7 folders)

10

Correspondence, Aug 8, 1962-Apr 1965 (9 folders)

11

Correspondence, May 1965-1974 and undated (11 folders)
                                               
SUBJECT FILES

12

Addresses and Speeches

A ‑ Z, 1928 ‑ 1966
Anderson, William B., 1930‑1973 (3 folders)
Anderson, William B. – Fragments, undated
Anderson, William B. – Speech Material, undated
Hoover, Herbert, 1925‑1962

Anderson, William B.

Oral History, Oct 5, 1966
Personal, 1928‑1974 and undated

Blueprints and Drawings, 1937‑1953

13

Blueprints and Drawings, 1954‑1965
Clippings, 1925-1953 (8 folders)

14

Clippings, 1954-1964 (7 folders)

15

Clippings, 1965‑1974
Deed and Abstracts of Title, 1848-1966 (2 folders)
Herbert Hoover Birthplace Foundation, 1954-1972 (2 folders)
Herbert Hoover Birthplace Society, 1939‑1960
Herbert Hoover Library Association, Inc., 1973
Memorabilia
Old Friends Cemetery, West Branch, Iowa
Photographs
Poems
Printed Material, 1874-1956 (2 folders)

16

Printed Material, 1957-1977 and undated (6 folders)

Citizens Foreign Aid Committee, 1963 ‑ 1965
Citizens Foreign Aid Committee, 1966 ‑ 1969
Greater Iowa Development Corporation, 1962‑1965
Weather Observations, August 10, 1874