Harry S. Truman Presidential Library

The Harry S. Truman Library, the first Presidential Library to be created under the provisions of the 1955 Presidential Libraries Act, was established to preserve the papers, books, and other historical materials relating to former President Harry S. Truman (1984-1972) and to make them available to the people in a place suitable for exhibit and research. The core of the Library's research holdings and the principal reason for its existence is its collection of the papers of Harry S. Truman. These papers consist principally of the White House files for the Truman administration (1945-1953). They also include papers that document Mr. Truman's life and careers as farmer, soldier, businessman, local politician, U.S. Senator, Vice President and former President. In addition, the Library has in its custody more than 450 manuscript collections of individuals who were associated with Mr. Truman at some point during his career in an official or personal capacity. The Library also has a small quantity of Truman-related Federal records among its holdings. The largest segment consists of the records of Presidential commissions and committees appointed by President Truman during his administration.