Lou Henry Hoover and Women’s Athletics

The Western Woman

Despite her birth and early girlhood in Iowa, Lou Henry (1874-1944) spent most of her growing-up years in California when it was still considered the “Wild West.”  

Her father, Charles Henry, was a middle class banker, and Lou was exposed to all the accoutrements of town life. A nice house, nice clothes, good education, good exposure to whatever the town had to offer in the way of culture.

Her father was also an ardent outdoorsman, and Lou was his companion on camping trips, fishing trips, riding any animal that would tolerate a passenger, climbing trees and fences, shooting a gun, building a fire, and any activities that fostered the love of the great outdoors.

She was also a tall woman – around 5’9” at maturity – and an excellent athlete. For…