Elivera Carlson Doud

Elivera Carlson Doud was a woman closely associated with Herbert Hoover, the 31st President of the United States, as his personal secretary. Her life and career are intricately linked with the Hoover Administration and the Republican Party. As a key figure in the White House during the Great Depression, Elivera Carlson Doud worked alongside notable figures such as Charles Curtis, Andrew Mellon, and Henry Stimson. Her contributions to the Hoover Presidential Library and her interactions with First Lady Lou Henry Hoover are also noteworthy.

● Early Life and Education

Elivera Carlson Doud's early life and education are not well-documented, but it is known that she developed strong secretarial skills, which would later become essential in her career. She likely attended schools in the United States, possibly in Iowa or California, where she would have been exposed to the Progressive Movement and the Women's Suffrage Movement. Her education would have been influenced by prominent educators of the time, such as John Dewey and Jane Addams. As she grew older, Elivera Carlson Doud became interested in politics and public service, inspired by figures like Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson.

● Career

Elivera Carlson Doud's career as a secretary began when she joined the staff of Herbert Hoover during his tenure as Secretary of Commerce under Calvin Coolidge. She worked closely with Hoover on various projects, including the Mississippi River Flood Control and the Federal Radio Commission. As Hoover's personal secretary, Elivera Carlson Doud played a crucial role in managing his schedule, correspondence, and interactions with other prominent figures, such as Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle, and Mahatma Gandhi. Her work also brought her into contact with notable Supreme Court justices, including William Howard Taft and Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr..

● Personal Life

Elivera Carlson Doud's personal life remains somewhat of a mystery, but it is known that she was deeply devoted to her work and her employer, Herbert Hoover. She likely maintained a close relationship with the Hoover family, including Lou Henry Hoover and their sons, Herbert Hoover Jr. and Allan Hoover. Elivera Carlson Doud's interactions with other notable figures, such as Eleanor Roosevelt and Frances Perkins, would have been influenced by her position as a woman in a male-dominated field. Her personal interests and hobbies are not well-documented, but she may have been involved in organizations like the Red Cross or the Girl Scouts of the USA.

● Later Life and Legacy

In her later life, Elivera Carlson Doud continued to work with Herbert Hoover on various projects, including the Hoover Commission and the National Archives. Her contributions to the Hoover Presidential Library and her role in preserving the Hoover papers are a testament to her dedication to her work. Elivera Carlson Doud's legacy is closely tied to that of Herbert Hoover and the Hoover Administration, and her work has been recognized by institutions such as the Library of Congress and the National Park Service. As a pioneering woman in the field of public administration, Elivera Carlson Doud's life and career serve as an inspiration to women like Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sandra Day O'Connor, and Hillary Clinton.

Category:American secretaries