Joseph Hoover, born of Swiss-German heritage in Baltimore on December 29, 1830 was the most prolific Philadelphia chromolithographer of parlor prints during the late 19th century. Educated through the public school system of Baltimore and trained as an architectural wood turner, Hoover settled in Philadelphia in 1856. He opened a wood turning and framing establishment on the 1400 block of Hamilton Street, and about 1858, married his first wife Roseanna (b. ca. 1833).

Hoover continued in his wood turning business, including a partnership with R. B. Antrim at 1204 Noble Street (1861-1863), until 1865 when his business evolved into a picture framing factory and wholesale print depot at 108 South Eighth Street. From the mid 1860s, Hoover began to issue parlor prints, including presidential family portraits "dedicated to the people of the United States" for Lincoln (ca. 1865) and Grant (ca. 1866).

In the spring of 1868 the "chromo and print publisher" advertised his removal to 804 Market Street, from where he oversaw the work of Duval & Hunter and James Queen and issued his well-advertised and acclaimed "The Changed Cross" in 1870. Also around this time, Hoover relocated residences twice following his departure from his long-term address of 630 North Tenth Street before settling at 619 North Tenth Street, where he resided until 1903.

During the 1870s and 1880s, Hoover's business continued to grow (estimated worth of $30,000-$40,000) and he established printing plants at 450-452 North Thirteenth Street and 1302-1308 Buttonwood Street (ca. 1876) and operated depots at 804 Market Street (1869-1871); 1117 Chestnut Street (1872-1873); 1129 Chestnut Street (1873-1878) and 628 Arch Street (1880-1882). With this financial success also came professional acknowledgment and Hoover was one of only three chromolithographers to be honored at the Centennial Exhibition of 1876. In 1882, Hoover gave up his retail business following a large auction of his stock and focused on the wholesale branch of his business at his plant on Buttonwood Street.
Firmly established as a respected chromo printer, and often soliciting for agents, Hoover printed a variety of chromolithographs.

Influenced by the "tastes of the masses," genre and landscape views and commemorative prints, including "Heroes of the Colored Race" (1881) predominated, in addition to advertisements such as for "The Celebrated Blasius Pianos" (ca. 1885). By 1893, Hoover was noted as "probably the largest publisher of pictures" distributing internationally 600,000 to 700,000 prints a year with his son, trained lithographer Henry L. (b. ca. 1866) overseeing the practical operations.

Within two years of this acknowledgment, Joseph relocated his home to Elkins Park, Pa. after one year residency in Ashbourne and partnered with son Henry L. In 1904 son Joseph W. entered the business, which was reestablished as Jos. Hoover & Sons.
Hoover died of heart disease at his summer home in Atlantic City on August 7, 1913 with funeral services held at the city's Holy Spirit Catholic Church. At his death, he was survived by his second wife Evelina (married by 1880) and six children; four daughters and business associates Henry L. and Joseph W.
The firm Jos. Hoover & Sons remained in operation until around 1985, producing racy pin-up calendars from the 1930s to 1950s.