TRUMAN, HARRY

A remarkable Harry Truman archive featuring an inscribed beam from the White House, inscribed photographs, and letters. An archive of letters, inscribed photographs, and an inscribed White House beam from Harry Truman, with a few from Bess & Margaret Truman, to James Van Sant (1931-2023), son of Truman's close friend and confidant from Missouri, the CEO of General Steel Industries of St. Louis, Thomas Van Sant (1892-1957).

Present is:

Inscribed Wooden Beam from the White House. A long, heavy beam with one end inscribed "Wood from the White House/Harry Truman/Washington/Jan. 20 1949." The inscription protected under lucite added at an early date. Accompanied by a letter from Harry Truman's secretary Harry Vaughan dated 4 October 1951 forwarding the wood beam to Thomas Van Sant. The date of the beam is discussed below. The beam is approximately 65 x 9 x 3 inches with irregular edges, knots and nailholes. It weighs about 25 pounds.

Three inscribed portrait photographs of Harry Truman. Two are black and white head and shoulders portraits of Truman inscribed below the image to a young James Van Sant, one reading "Good luck and a long life to James Van Sant...", the other "Best wishes to James Van Sant/the son of a great father/who is my friend." The largest is in color, overall 14 x 11, and is inscribed "Best wishes to the Trinity College Democratic Club and Jim Van Sant...", this most certainly inscribed in 1951 when Truman was president (see related letter), not examined out of frames; An example of Truman’s 1949 inaugural medal, in frame, 2 inches round; And two presidential-era Truman pens.

Fifteen typed letters signed by Harry Truman (five are from 1949-1953; ten are from 1955-1969). The earliest is a typed letter signed dated January 31, 1942 on Truman's senate stationery and four others are on White House stationery, written and signed as President. There are 10 post-presidency typed letters signed written on Truman's Independence, Missouri stationery written between 1955-1969 (additionally present are two notes from Truman's secretary). All of the White House and personal stationery envelopes are present. Two notes are from Bess Truman and about 13 are from Margaret Truman. Finally, is a group of letters and notes from various political personalities such as Adlai Stevenson; Hubert Humphrey (as Vice President); etc.

A fine archive offering letters from Harry Truman and a very rare and unique object: a wooden cross beam from the White House, removed during the 1949 Truman Renovation, and inscribed by the President. Following years of neglect during the Great Depression and World War II, not to mention harried repairs and renovations going as far back as the fire that destroyed the White House in 1814, by the time the leg of Margaret Truman's piano went through a rotted floor it became clear that the White House needed a full renovation. Not wanting the idea of a "rotting" White House to affect his re-election campaign, the renovation was begun at the outset of Truman's second term, and this beam was signed on January 20th, 1949, the day of Truman's second inauguration. The beam likely dates from even earlier than the 1902 White House renovation when some earlier elements were reused. The present beam has evidence of an earlier date: there are holes from wrought iron square nails and the rough edge has a deep aged patina that may be 18th or 19th century. While an extensive souvenir program sent bricks, nails, and other relics from the Truman Renovation around the country, this is the largest and most unique Truman-signed White House fragment we have seen.

While the letters here are largely cordial, they do reflect the high regard in which the Van Sant family was held to the Trumans. Several letters are written as President and clearly the beam was presented in Truman's second term. But shortly after his second term, in July of 1955, Truman writes "I have no intention of running for office - President, Vice President, Senator or anything else. I have had all the public offices that I can stand and that I think I am entitled to. Someone else should have a chance at them." As the years pass, the Van Sants are invited to visit the Trumans in Independence and the letters between Margaret Truman and James Van Sant continue for decades after the death of Harry Truman.