Harry S. Truman, Part 2

Truman sculpture at entrance to the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library.

Harry Truman, born in Lamar, Missouri, did not begin his life in Independence until he was six years old and starting to school. Rather his very early life was spent with his family on his grandmother ‘s farm, but he was always to consider Independence where he grew up as his home. There, Martha, his mother, encouraged his love of reading and music, so it was no surprise when young Harry became quite accomplished at the piano and, for a while, dreamed of becoming a concert pianist. He also dreamed of going to college after he graduated from high school in 1901. But neither dream came true. Harry’s father lost the money that would have made college possible for his son in a failed investment. Instead of going to college, Harry went to work as a bank clerk in Kansas City, working there until 1906 when his father asked him to help his grandmother and his family on the 600-acre Grandview farm. Harry never made it to college but there on the farm, he learned instead to value hard work, persistence, and honesty.

Besides beginning a prolonged courtship with Bess Wallace in 1910, Harry went through a series of learning experiences. In 1914, his father died, and Harry had to take over management of the farm. In 1917, he was a U.S. Army Captain commanding troops during World War I in France, taking a ragtag company and with strict discipline and swift attention to any insubordination made it a fine unit that lost no men in battle. On June 28, 1919, he married Bess Wallace, moved into her house to help her take care of her aging mother, and began a men’s clothing store. The store did not make it. By 1922, Harry Truman found himself in politics on a local level. He became a judge for the eastern district of Jackson County. The rest is history. He became admired for his integrity and went on to become a U.S. Senator, moving to Washington DC in 1935. By January 1945, he was Vice President and was the 33rd President by April of that year.

The Harry S. Truman Presidential Library in Harry and Bess’s beloved Independence, Missouri, provides a wealth of information and insights into Truman’s life, philosophies, decisions, and the impact of his actions on the United States and the world. Additionally it is a beautifully curated collection of memorabilia, significant artifacts of the times, and important documents. The library grounds near Harry’s office is also the final resting place of Harry, Bess, their only child Margaret, and Margaret’s husband.

Downtown Independence in 2023.

Harry S. Truman Presidential Library entrance view and non-entrance view.

President Truman, Bess Truman, and Margaret Truman.

Harry Truman’s office inside the Presidential Library.

Truman quotation on Library wall.

A beautiful mural depicting the Westward Movement.

Depiction of the Oval Office in the White House during Truman Presidency.

A favorite Truman quote on Library wall.

One of my favorite Truman quotes, Library wall.

Captain Truman during WWI.

Truman had poor eyesight. He memorized the eye chart so he wouldn’t fail his army health exam. The excerpt from a letter to Bess as he left for war is particularly poignant.

Graves of the the President and First Lady.

Graves of only child Margaret and husband Elbert Clifton Daniel, Jr. They gave the Trumans four grandchildren.

Research at the Library.

Harry Truman will always have friends.