I am choosing to write on the exhibit "Over Here, Over There" from the State Historical Society Museum. I can't lie, being a history major I was very much excited to come to the museum and had visited before as well. I really enjoy museums in general, I think they are some of the best learning tools available. The exhibit focuses on Iowans and their part in WWI. I want to focus specifically on Herbert Hoover, European Iowans and just a few things I learned.
Hoover played a significant role in distributing food and aiding nations affected by the First Worl
d War in Europe. Without trying to repeat this article, President Wilson recognized Hoover's dedication to others and made him the Wartime Food Administrator. Some people assume that because Hoover was the president during the depression he was not a successful person. But before he was president, during this time of Wartime Food Administrator, he was able to persuade the American public to conserve food so the excess food could be shipped to their European counterparts. I think this is a person Iowa can be proud of because I know many of us would or have tried to exude these qualities when helping others.
d War in Europe. Without trying to repeat this article, President Wilson recognized Hoover's dedication to others and made him the Wartime Food Administrator. Some people assume that because Hoover was the president during the depression he was not a successful person. But before he was president, during this time of Wartime Food Administrator, he was able to persuade the American public to conserve food so the excess food could be shipped to their European counterparts. I think this is a person Iowa can be proud of because I know many of us would or have tried to exude these qualities when helping others.In the ea
rly twentieth century, immigration from Europe was still very common and many Midwesterners (more likely from Western Europe or Scandinavia) had relatives still back in Europe. The exhibit had some great materials such as 'newsletter' type writing from the home country which showed how it was very difficult to decide who to support in the war. Were people supposed to support the U.S. and its allies (which could have been the homeland) or was it acceptable to follow Germany even though they were the enemy? A whole paper could probably be written on how German Iowans and a few other ethnic groups in Iowa were segregated and excluded from society. We are so far removed from WWI and the events of WWII tend to overshadow its predecessor but I think it was a difficult topic at the time of the war.
rly twentieth century, immigration from Europe was still very common and many Midwesterners (more likely from Western Europe or Scandinavia) had relatives still back in Europe. The exhibit had some great materials such as 'newsletter' type writing from the home country which showed how it was very difficult to decide who to support in the war. Were people supposed to support the U.S. and its allies (which could have been the homeland) or was it acceptable to follow Germany even though they were the enemy? A whole paper could probably be written on how German Iowans and a few other ethnic groups in Iowa were segregated and excluded from society. We are so far removed from WWI and the events of WWII tend to overshadow its predecessor but I think it was a difficult topic at the time of the war.I also met a man from the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum at Camp Dodge who just happened to be stopping through to trade some military machinery with the Historical Society. It was nice of him to explain a few of the posters and pieces of the collection. Interesting facts specifically about the Des Moines area:
There was a picture of Edward Fleur in the exhibit which is where Fleur Drive comes from and that also prompted the explanation of Merle Hay. I'm sure we've all heard of those streets but if you are curious about these soldiers' backgrounds or what they did in the war, Polk County helps explain in this brief article. I think changing the names of these streets reflects that Iowans are aware who is fighting for their freedom and they respect those who died in service to protect the country.
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