Truman Library -

Edward D. McKim Papers

Dates: 1940-1963.

Served under Captain Harry S. Truman in Battery D, 1918-1919.
Senior Administrative Assistant to the President, 1945.
Administrative Assistant to the Federal Loan Administrator, 1945.
Member of the Board of Directors of the Panama Canal Company, 1951-1953.

The papers of Edward D. McKim are composed mainly of correspondence between Harry S. Truman and McKim. These letters relate both to the public and personal life of the President, dealing with issues regarding President Truman's family, his political actions and policies, and his travel plans. Other pieces from McKim's scrapbooks are included in the collection such as newspaper clippings, invitations, photographs, menus, and inaugural event instructions.

[Administrative Information | Biographical Sketch | Collection Description | Series Descriptions | Folder Title List]

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Size: Less than one-half of one linear foot (approximately 200 pages).
Access: Open.
Copyright: In his letter of donation of March 8, 1965, Mr. McKim gave researchers permission to cite or quote from this collection. Copyright interest in McKim's writings in this collection is retained by his heirs. Documents created by U.S. government employees in the course of their official duties are in the public domain.
Processed by: Erwin J. Mueller (1966).
Updated by: Stephanie Perkins (2004) as part of the Truman Library Internship Program.
Supervising Archivists: Randy Sowell and Amy Williams.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

1895 (October 20) Born in Evansville, Indiana

1915-1917 Attended Rockhurst College

1917 Joined the 2nd Missouri Field Artillery of the Missouri National Guard

1918-1919 Served under Captain Harry S. Truman in Battery D

1919-1921 Worked as a salesman for Foamite Firefoam Co.

1921 (January 8) Married Mary Virginia Clifford

1921-1925 Worked at Automatic Sprinkler Corporation of America

1926-1927 Worked in the insurance field in Louisville, Kentucky

1927-1935 Served as agency director of Mutual Benefit Health and Accident Association in Omaha, Nebraska

1935-1957 Served as Executive Vice President of Mutual Benefit Health and Accident Association

1945 Appointed Administrative Assistant to Federal Loan Administrator

1945 Served as Senior Administrative Assistant to President Harry S. Truman

1951-1953 Member of the Board of Directors of the Panama Canal Company

1961 Moved to Phoenix, Arizona

1969 (December 25) Died in Omaha, Nebraska

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

The Papers of Edward D. McKim are composed primarily of personal and business letters between Edward D. McKim and Harry S. Truman. While the collection's focus is the correspondence between the two men, other items from McKim's scrapbooks including newspaper clippings, menus, invitations, and photographs are also present. The papers are arranged in one series, a Subject File, and are filed alphabetically by folder title.

Due to their long-time friendship, Harry S. Truman and Edward D. McKim wrote many letters to each other about various subjects. Their letters often refer to family matters, as the two friends enjoyed keeping each other updated on their wives and children. Other letters involve travel plans for Truman arranged by McKim. Although some of the letters do deal with official business, such as the Panama Canal, election campaigns, and foreign relations, most of the letters are personal exchanges relating to family and day to day life.

The other part of this collection is material from the scrapbooks of McKim. His resignation from the Board of Directors of the Panama Canal Company created quite an uproar and he received many letters regarding his decision which are included in the collection. His friendship with the President allowed him to attend important events relating to the Truman administration. The papers include many of his invitations to events such as Truman's Inauguration dinner and the dedication of the Truman Library. McKim's records of these events such as the Inaugural parade order, the Inauguration breakfast menu, and Truman's itineraries for trips are included in the collection. The last major part of the scrapbook material is a collection of photographs relating to Truman and McKim. There are no descriptions included with the photographs, but there are various photos of Truman and his involvement in the military as well as his day to day life as the President of the United States.

For a few months early in the Truman administration, McKim served as Senior Administrative Assistant to the President and also as Administrative Assistant to the Federal Loan Administrator. McKim's brief period of government service is described in several newspaper articles from his scrapbooks.

Other material at the Truman Library relating to Edward McKim and Battery D include the papers of Harry S. Truman (President's Personal File 3487); the Papers of Edward P. Meisburger, Verne E. Chaney, John H. Thacher, Vic H. Housholder, and Lorain H. Cunningham; and the Library's oral history interviews with McKim, Meisburger, Cunningham, Eugene Donnelly, Frederick Bowman, and others.

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Container Nos. Series

1 SUBJECT FILE, 1940-1963

Personal and business letters, invitations, itineraries, newspaper clippings, press releases, pictures, cables, menus, program notes and orders. Arranged alphabetically.

FOLDER TITLE LIST

Box 1

Correspondence between Edward D. McKim and Harry S. Truman- February 1940- July 1948
Correspondence between Edward D. McKim and Harry S. Truman- October 1948- April 1963
Material from the scrapbooks of Edward D. McKim

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The Harry S. Truman Library and Museum is one of twelve Presidential Libraries administered by the National Archives and Records Administration.

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