hollingworth was born on may 26, 1880 in de witt, nebraska. hollingworth graduated from high school at age 16, but lacking both the necessary two years of college preparatory work and the funds for university hollingworth applied for a teaching certificate instead of pursuing a university education. after teaching for two years hollingworth enrolled in preparatory school. as a result of these educational delays hollingworth was 23 when he finally enrolled as a freshman at the university of nebraska.