Truman Presidential Library & Museum Independence, Missouri Dana Carter, Emporia State University

About the Library and Museum First Presidential Library to be created under the 1955 Presidential Libraries Act Dedicated July 6, Contains stack areas for the storage of manuscripts, books, and audiovisual materials, a research room, staff offices, an auditorium, conference and seminar rooms and museum exhibit and storage areas.

Purpose “Through its public programs unit, the Library attempts to reach a diversity of people and organizations by sponsoring conferences and research seminars, by conducting special tours of the Library's museum for school classes and educational groups, and through a wide range of other activities.” -Truman Presidential Library website

Public Programming The Library and Museum primarily hold – White House files for the Truman administration. – Papers that document Mr. Truman's life and careers as farmer, soldier, businessman, local politician, U.S. Senator, Vice President, President and former President. – More than 500 transcribed oral history interviews. – The Library has about 28,000 objects in its museum collection, only a small portion of which are on display in the museum at any one time. More than 13,000 researchers have visited the Library's research facilities since 1959.

On-Site Exhibits School House to White House: The Education of the Presidents – Documents, photographs and films reveal fascinating details about children that would grow up to be presidents. Truman 125: A Life in Photographs – An exhibit of the most important chapters of Truman’s life, from his humble beginnings, to his courtship of Bess Wallace, his unexpected rise to the presidency, and his return to Independence, Missouri.

Digital/Online Exhibits Nineteen Online exhibits – WWII Posters – Truman’s Presidency – Korean War – NATO at Fifty – Presidential Elections – Love letters from Truman to Bess – 1948: Year of Turmoil and Triumph – The Truman Chryslers – Executive Order 9981— establishing equality of treatment and opportunity in the Armed Services. – Truman 125: A Life in Photographs

What Makes it Stand Out Extensive online exhibits make the museum accessible to those who cannot travel. – Range from simple to complex exhibits including photographs and digital effects. – Includes past and current exhibits Use of videos, especially Truman 125. – Videos pertain to the information in that particular section of the exhibit Children’s exhibits – Interactive exhibits involve young learners.

Use of Space Two floors of exhibits – Upstairs has reproduction of Truman’s Oval office – The Truman 125 exhibit is on the lower level. – School House to White House is also on the lower level Dividers – Each exhibit uses room partitions to move guests along the exhibit in the way the designers intended.

Limitations Space – While the total floor space of the library and museum is about 100,000 square feet, should new materials or artifacts be donated, especially large items, the museum would potentially need to add on for more display space. – The institution sits on a large campus, however, that would provide more than adequate space for future expansions if necessary.

Architecture In 1968 and 1980 additions to the building were completed at a cost of $310,000 and $2,800,000, respectively. The present Library building, is a one-story structure with full basement, is roughly circular in configuration.

Architecture The building also surrounds a central, landscaped courtyard. President and Mrs. Truman are buried in the courtyard, as are their only child, Margaret Truman Daniel, and her husband, Clifton Daniel.

Analysis Full of diverse and interesting exhibits and research materials, the Truman Presidential Library and Museum is on track to draw many visitors in the coming years, with its interesting and innovative exhibits, exciting new technologies, and enduring message.