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Records of the National Archives and Records Administration: Records of the Harry S. Truman Library: Director's Reading File (Record Group 64)

Dates: 1957-2000

These records consist of letters written by the director of the Truman Library and by other staff members, along with interoffice memoranda and reports on Library activities. The records are arranged chronologically.

[Administrative Information | Agency History Note | Collection Description | Series Descriptions | Folder Title List]

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Size: 32 linear feet, 10 linear inches (approximately 60,000 pages).
Access: Open.
Copyright: Documents prepared by United States Government employees in the course of their official duties are in the public domain.
Processed by: Dennis E. Bilger (2003); Sharie Simon, David Clark and Randy Sowell (2010); Doug McClellan and David Clark (2013); David Clark (2014).


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AGENCY HISTORY NOTE

The Records of the Harry S. Truman Library are included among the Records of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Record Group 64. From the time of the Library's establishment in 1957 until 1985, the Library was part of NARA's predecessor agency, the National Archives and Records Service (NARS), which in turn was part of the General Services Administration. NARA was established as an independent agency in 1985.

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COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

The Director's Reading File contains copies of letters from Philip C. Brooks, Benedict K. Zobrist and Larry Hackman, the first three directors of the Harry S. Truman Library. Also included are copies of letters from other Library officials, interoffice memoranda, and reports on Library activities.

The records in this series provide detailed information about the early history of the Truman Library, which was founded in 1957 as the second presidential library in the National Archives system, and the first to be created under the provisions of the Presidential Libraries Act of 1955. Former President Truman maintained a working office at the Library and was there on an almost daily basis from 1957 to 1966. Still an active and controversial public figure throughout this period, he was also keenly interested in the Library's research and educational activities.

The correspondence, memoranda, and reports in this series document personnel and procedural matters at the Truman Library; contacts with the National Archives and with other presidential libraries; relations with Mr. Truman and his personal staff; the dedication and opening of the Library; the creation of museum exhibits; the processing and opening for research of Truman's papers and other archival materials; the progress of the Library's oral history program; the solicitation and acquisition of manuscripts, books, and artifacts; the accommodation of visiting researchers; comments of museum visitors, construction and renovation projects at the Library; responses to requests for information; conferences of Truman scholars; and contacts with Margaret Truman Daniel and other members of the family after Mr. Truman's death in 1972.

In addition to Brooks, Zobrist and Hackman, other authors of documents in this series include Milton F. Perry, Philip D. Lagerquist, J. R. Fuchs and George Curtis. Perry was the first curator of the Library's museum. Lagerquist and Fuchs were the Library's first two archivists, and were involved in processing manuscript collections and assisting researchers.

More information relating to this subject can be found at the Truman Library in the papers of Philip C. Brooks and Benedict K. Zobrist, in the Library's oral history interview with Philip D. Lagerquist, and in other Library records that are available for research.

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SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Container Nos.

 

Series

1-75

  DIRECTOR'S READING FILE, 1957-2000
Correspondence, memoranda, and reports written by the director of the Truman Library and by other staff members. Arranged chronologically.
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FOLDER TITLE LIST

DIRECTOR'S READING FILE, 1957-2000

Box 1

  • March 1957
  • April-June 1957
  • July-August 1957
  • September 1957
  • October 1957
  • November-December 1957
  • January-February 1957
  • March 1958
  • April 1958

Box 2

  • May 1958
  • June 1958
  • July 1958
  • August-September 1958
  • October 1958
  • November-December 1958
  • January 1959
  • February 1959
  • March 1959
  • April 1959
  • May 1959

Box 3

  • June 1959
  • July 1959
  • August 1959
  • September 1959
  • October 1959
  • November 1959
  • December 1959
  • January 1960
  • February 1960 [1 of 2]

Box 4

  • February 1960 [2 of 2]
  • March 1960
  • Conference of Scholars, March 25-26, 1960 [on research opportunities at the Truman Library] [1 of 2]
  • Conference of Scholars, March 25-26, 1960 [on research opportunities at the Truman Library] [2 of 2]
  • April 1960
  • May 1960
  • June 1960
  • July 1960

Box 5

  • August 1960
  • September 1960
  • October 1960
  • November 1960
  • December 1960
  • January 1961
  • February 1961
  • March 1961

Box 6

  • April 1961 [1 of 2]
  • April 1961 [2 of 2]
  • May 1961 [1 of 2]
  • May 1961 [2 of 2]
  • June 1961 [1 of 2]
  • June 1961 [2 of 2]
  • July 1961
  • August 1961 [1 of 2]
  • August 1961 [2 of 2]

Box 7

  • September 1961
  • October 1961
  • November 1961
  • December 1961 [1 of 2]
  • December 1961 [2 of 2]
  • January 1962
  • February 1962
  • March 1962 [1 of 2]
  • March 1962 [2 of 2]

Box 8

  • April 1962 [1 of 2]
  • April 1962 [2 of 2]
  • May 1962 [1 of 2]
  • May 1962 [2 of 2]
  • June 1962
  • July 1962 [1 of 2]
  • July 1962 [2 of 2]
  • August 1962
  • September 1962

Box 9

  • October 1962 [1 of 2]
  • October 1962 [2 of 2]
  • November 1962 [1 of 2]
  • November 1962 [2 of 2]
  • December 1962
  • January 1963 [1 of 2]
  • January 1963 [2 of 2]
  • February 1963
  • March 1963

Box 10

  • April 1963
  • May 1963
  • June 1963
  • July 1963
  • August 1963
  • September 1963
  • October 1963 [1 of 2]
  • October 1963 [2 of 2]

Box 11

  • November 1963 [1 of 2]
  • November 1963 [2 of 2]
  • December 1963
  • January 1964
  • February 1964 [1 of 2]
  • February 1964 [2 of 2]
  • March 1964 [1 of 2]
  • March 1964 [2 of 2]
  • April 1964 [1 of 2]

Box 12

  • April 1964 [2 of 2]
  • May 1964
  • June 1964
  • July 1964
  • August 1964 [1 of 2]
  • August 1964 [2 of 2]
  • September 1964 [1 of 2]
  • September 1964 [2 of 2]

Box 13

  • October 1964 [1 of 2]
  • October 1964 [2 of 2]
  • November 1964 [1 of 2]
  • November 1964 [2 of 2]
  • December 1964
  • January 1965
  • February 1965 [1 of 2]
  • February 1965 [2 of 2]

Box 14

  • March 1965 [1 of 2]
  • March 1965 [2 of 2]
  • April 1965 [1 of 2]
  • April 1965 [2 of 2]
  • May 1965 [1 of 2]
  • May 1965 [2 of 2]
  • June 1965 [1 of 2]
  • June 1965 [2 of 2]
  • July 1965

Box 15

  • August 1965 [1 of 2]
  • August 1965 [2 of 2]
  • September 1965 [1 of 2]
  • September 1965 [2 of 2]
  • October 1965 [1 of 2]
  • October 1965 [2 of 2]
  • November 1965 [1 of 2]
  • November 1965 [2 of 2]
  • December 1965 [1 of 2]
  • December 1965 [2 of 2]
  • January 1966 [1 of 2]
  • January 1966 [2 of 2]

Box 16

  • February 1966 [1 of 2]
  • February 1966 [2 of 2]
  • March 1966 [1 of 2]
  • March 1966 [2 of 2]
  • April 1966 [1 of 2]
  • April 1966 [2 of 2]
  • May 1966
  • June 1966
  • July 1966
  • August 1966

Box 17

  • September 1966
  • October 1966
  • November 1966
  • December 1966
  • January 1967
  • February 1967
  • March 1967 [1 of 2]
  • March 1967 [2 of 2]

Box 18

  • April 1967 [1 of 2]
  • April 1967 [2 of 2]
  • May 1967 [1 of 2]
  • May 1967 [2 of 2]
  • June 1967
  • July 1967
  • August 1967
  • September 1967
  • October 1967 [1 of 2]
  • October 1967 [2 of 2]

Box 19

  • November 1967
  • December 1967
  • January 1968
  • February 1968
  • March 1968 [1 of 2]
  • March 1968 [2 of 2]
  • April 1968
  • May 1968
  • June 1968

Box 20

  • July 1968
  • August 1968
  • September 1968
  • October 1968 [1 of 2]
  • October 1968 [2 of 2]
  • November 1968
  • December 1968
  • January 1969
  • February 1969

Box 21

  • March 1969 [1 of 2]
  • March 1969 [2 of 2]
  • April 1969 [1 of 2]
  • April 1969 [2 of 2]
  • May 1969
  • June 1969 [1 of 2]
  • June 1969 [2 of 2]
  • July 1969 [1 of 2]
  • July 1969 [2 of 2]
  • August 1969 [1 of 2]

Box 22

  • August 1969 [2 of 2]
  • September 1969 [1 of 2]
  • September 1969 [2 of 2]
  • October 1969 [1 of 2]
  • October 1969 [2 of 2]
  • November 1969
  • December 1969 [1 of 2]
  • December 1969 [2 of 2]
  • January 1970

Box 23

  • February 1970
  • March 1970 [1 of 2]
  • March 1970 [2 of 2]
  • April 1970 [1 of 2]
  • April 1970 [2 of 2]
  • May 1970 [1 of 2]
  • May 1970 [2 of 2]
  • June 1970 [1 of 2]
  • June 1970 [2 of 2]

Box 24

  • July 1970 [1 of 2]
  • July 1970 [2 of 2]
  • August 1970 [1 of 2]
  • August 1970 [2 of 2]
  • September 1970 [1 of 2]
  • September 1970 [2 of 2]
  • October 1970 [1 of 2]
  • October 1970 [2 of 2]
  • November 1970 [1 of 2]
  • November 1970 [2 of 2]

Box 25

  • December 1970 [1 of 2]
  • December 1970 [2 of 2]
  • January 1971
  • February 1971 [1 of 2]
  • February 1971 [2 of 2]
  • March 1971 [1 of 2]
  • March 1971 [2 of 2]
  • April 1971 [1 of 2]
  • April 1971 [2 of 2]

Box 26

  • May 1971 [1 of 2]
  • May 1971 [2 of 2]
  • June 1971
  • July 1971 [1 of 2]
  • July 1971 [2 of 2]
  • August 1971
  • September 1971
  • October 1971
  • November 1971
  • December 1971

Box 27

  • January 1972
  • February 1972
  • March 1972
  • April 1972
  • May 1972
  • June 1972
  • July 1972

Box 28

  • August 1972
  • September 1972
  • October 1972
  • November 1972
  • December 1972
  • January 1973

Box 29

  • February 1973 [1 of 2]
  • February 1973 [2 of 2]
  • March 1973
  • April 1973
  • May 1973
  • June 1973

Box 30

  • July 1973
  • August 1973
  • September 1973
  • October 1973
  • November 1973
  • December 1973
  • January 1974
  • February 1974

Box 31

  • March 1974
  • April 1974
  • May 1974
  • June 1974
  • July 1974
  • August 1974

Box 32

  • September 1974
  • October 1974
  • November 1974
  • December 1974
  • January 1975
  • February 1975
  • March 1975

Box 33

  • April 1975
  • May 1975
  • June 1975
  • July 1975
  • August 1975

Box 34

  • September 1975
  • October 1975
  • November 1975
  • December 1975
  • January 1976
  • February 1976

Box 35

  • March 1976
  • April 1976
  • May 1976
  • June 1976
  • July 1976

Box 36

  • August 1976 [1 of 2]
  • August 1976 [2 of 2]
  • September 1976
  • October 1976
  • November 1976
  • December 1976
  • January 1977

Box 37

  • February 1977
  • March 1977
  • April 1977
  • May 1977
  • June 1977

Box 38

  • July 1977
  • August 1977
  • September 1977
  • October 1977
  • November 1977
  • December 1977
  • January 1978

Box 39

  • February 1978
  • March 1978
  • April 1978
  • May 1978
  • June 1978
  • July 1978
  • August 1978

Box 40

  • September 1978
  • October 1978
  • November 1978
  • December 1978
  • January 1979
  • February 1979
  • March 1979

Box 41

  • April 1979
  • May 1979
  • June 1979
  • July 1979
  • August 1979
  • September 1979

Box 42

  • October 1979
  • November 1979
  • December 1979
  • January 1980
  • February 1980
  • March 1980
  • April 1980

Box 43

  • May 1980
  • June 1980
  • July 1980
  • August 1980
  • September 1980
  • October 1980
  • November 1980

Box 44

  • December 1980
  • January 1981
  • February 1981
  • March 1981
  • April 1981
  • May 1981

Box 45

  • June 1981
  • July 1981
  • August 1981
  • September 1981
  • October 1981
  • November 1981
  • December 1981

Box 46

  • January 1982
  • February 1982
  • March 1982
  • April 1982
  • May 1982
  • June 1982

Box 47

  • July 1982
  • August 1982
  • September 1982
  • October 1982
  • November 1982
  • December 1982

Box 48

  • January 1983
  • February 1983
  • March 1983
  • April 1983
  • May 1983
  • June 1983

Box 49

  • July 1983
  • August 1983
  • September 1983
  • October 1983
  • November 1983
  • December 1983
  • January 1984

Box 50

  • February 1984
  • March 1984
  • April 1984
  • May 1984
  • June 1984
  • July 1984

Box 51

  • August 1984
  • September 1984
  • October 1984
  • November 1984
  • December 1984
  • January 1985 [1 of 2]
  • January 1985 [2 of 2]

Box 52

  • February 1985
  • March 1985
  • April 1985
  • May 1985
  • June 1985
  • July 1985

Box 53

  • August 1985
  • September 1985
  • October 1985
  • November 1985
  • December 1985
  • January 1986

Box 54

  • February 1986
  • March 1986
  • April 1986
  • May 1986
  • June 1986
  • July 1986

Box 55

  • August 1986
  • September 1986
  • October 1986
  • November 1986
  • December 1986
  • January 1987
  • February 1987

Box 56

  • March 1987
  • April 1987
  • May 1987
  • June 1987
  • July 1987

Box 57

  • August 1987
  • September 1987
  • October 1987
  • November 1987
  • December 1987
  • January 1988

Box 58

  • February 1988
  • March 1988
  • April 1988
  • May 1988
  • June 1988
  • July 1988

Box 59

  • August 1988
  • September 1988
  • October 1988
  • November 1988
  • December 1988
  • January 1989
  • February 1989

Box 60

  • March 1989
  • April 1989 [1 of 2]
  • April 1989 [2 of 2]
  • May 1989
  • June 1989

Box 61

  • July 1989
  • August 1989
  • September 1989
  • October 1989
  • November 1989
  • December 1989
  • January 1990

Box 62

  • February 1990
  • March 1990
  • April 1990
  • May 1990
  • June 1990
  • July 1990
  • August 1990

Box 63

  • September 1990
  • October 1990
  • November 1990
  • December 1990
  • January 1991
  • February 1991
  • March 1991
  • April 1991
  • May 1991

Box 64

  • July 1991
  • August 1991
  • September 1991
  • October 1991
  • November 1991

Box 65

  • December 1991
  • January 1992
  • February 1992
  • March 1992
  • April 1992
  • May 1992
  • June 1992

Box 66

  • July 1992
  • August 1992
  • September 1992
  • October 1992
  • November 1992
  • December 1992

Box 67

  • January 1993
  • February 1993
  • March 1993
  • April 1993
  • May 1993
  • June 1993
  • July 1993

Box 68

  • August 1993
  • September 1993
  • October 1993
  • November 1993
  • December 1993
  • January 1993
  • February 1994
  • March 1994
  • April 1994
  • May 1994
  • June 1994
  • July 1994

Box 69

  • August 1994
  • September 1994
  • October 1994
  • November 1994
  • December 1994
  • January 1995
  • February 1995
  • March 1995
  • April 1995
  • May 1995
  • June 1995
  • July 1995

Box 70

  • August 1995
  • September 1995
  • October 1995
  • November 1995
  • December 1995
  • January 1996
  • February 1996
  • March 1996
  • April 1996
  • May 1996
  • June 1996

Box 71

  • July 1996
  • August 1996
  • September 1996
  • October 1996
  • November 1996
  • December 1996
  • January 1997

Box 72

  • February 1997
  • March 1997
  • April 1997
  • May 1997
  • June 1997
  • July 1997

Box 73

  • August 1997
  • September 1997
  • October 1997
  • November 1997
  • December 1997
  • January 1998
  • February 1998
  • March 1998
  • April 1998

Box 74

  • May 1998
  • June 1998
  • July 1998
  • August 1998
  • September 1998
  • October 1998
  • November 1998
  • December 1998
  • January 1999
  • February 1999
  • March 1999
  • April 1999
  • May 1999
  • June 1999
  • July 1999

Box 75

  • August 1999
  • September 1999
  • October 1999
  • November 1999
  • December 1999
  • January 2000
  • February 2000
  • March 2000
  • April 2000
  • May 2000
  • June 2000
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