Harl, Maple T. Papers

Member, Board of Directors, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 1945-1957; Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 1945-1953

The papers of Maple T. Harl primarily relate to his service in the military during World War I and his involvement with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) during the Truman administration. Many of the documents are letters involving Harl's military promotions and service in the FDIC. The collection also includes many invitations, certificates, and newspaper clippings and a small number of itineraries, financial records, and personal letters.

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

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ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Size: Less than one-half of one linear foot (approximately 400 pages).
Access: Open.
Copyright: Maybelle Harl donated to the U.S. government all literary property rights in all writings of the late Maple T. Harl in this collection, and in any other collection of papers in the custody of the U.S. government. Documents created by U.S. government employees in the course of their official duties are also in the public domain. Copyright interest in other documents is assumed to belong to the creators of those documents, or their heirs.
Processed by: C. Warren Ohrvall (1972).
Updated by: Stephanie Perkins (2004) as part of the Truman Library Internship Program.
Supervising Archivists: Randy Sowell and Amy Williams.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

1893 (Feb. 4)		Born in Marshall, MO
1914		Received his Bachelor of Arts Degree at William Jewell College
1916-1917		Attended University of Chicago Law School
1917		Enlisted as private in the U.S. Army
1918-1919		Served as an officer with the American Expeditionary Force
1919		Given an honorable discharge
1920 (July 12)		Married Maybelle Mayfield
1923-1925		Served as Vice President of Englewood (Colorado) State Bank
1937		Appointed national commander of the Disabled American Veterans of the World War
1939-1945		Served as Bank Commissioner of Colorado
1945		Appointed by President Truman as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
1952		Received honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from William Jewell College
1953		Resigned as Chairman of the FDIC; continued to serve as a regular member of the board
1957 (April 17)		Died in Washington D.C. at the Walter Reed Army Hospital

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COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

Most of the documents in the papers of Maple T. Harl relate to his time in the Army during World War I (1918-1819) and his service in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) during and after the Truman administration (1945-1957). The collection contains correspondence, newspaper clippings, financial records, certificates, and invitations. The papers are in one series and are arranged alphabetically.

The collection includes many records of Harl's military service. Included are his officer's identification card and certificates indicating promotions. Harl received many promotions and appointments during his service in World War I. Letters alerting him of these promotions and his responses of acceptance are also included. Before any appointment was made, letters of recommendation had to be received and evaluations had to be performed. Many of these evaluations and recommendation letters from peers are in the collection. There are also two transportation orders from September of 1918 ordering Harl to France for service in World War I.

The other focus of this collection is Harl's service in the FDIC. The collection includes his appointment affidavits and his oath of office for membership on the Board of Directors. Two letters of thanks from President Harry S. Truman to Harl regarding his contributions to the FDIC and the nation are also included in the collection.

Scattered throughout the collection are many invitations, certificates, newspaper clippings, and event programs. Harl was honored by his alma mater, William Jewell College, with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree, and was honored at the College's Achievement Day. Many newspaper clippings involving these academic honors are included, as well as a program from the Achievement Day ceremony and a copy of the commencement address which was made when he received his honorary degree. Also included are an invitation to a party held by President and Mrs. Roosevelt for disabled veterans, an invitation to the Inaugural dinner of President Harry S. Truman, an invitation to join the Army and Navy Club of America, and a greeting card from Harl to the members of the Kiwanis Club of Denver. Harl was a member of several fraternities and clubs and his certificates of service and initiation are an interesting part of the collection.

It should be noted that there are no documents pertaining to Harl's activities from 1919-1937. This is mainly due to the fact that the main focuses of this collection are his army years from 1918-1919 and his time with the FDIC from 1945-1957. He did not become prominent in the banking world until the late 1930s and this could explain the absence of documents from 1919 to 1937.

More information concerning Maple T. Harl and the FDIC can be found in the Harry S. Truman Papers in Official File 115 and President's Personal File 2745.

[ Top of the page | Administrative Information | Biographical Sketch | Collection Description | Series Descriptions | Folder Title List ]

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