Guide to Videotapes Collection in the Harry S. Truman Library

April 8, 2010 “Wild About Harry!” fund raising event sponsored by the Harry S. Truman Library Institute at the Muehlebach Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri. Guest speakers were Susan Eisenhower and James Baker III, who was the inaugural recipient of the Harry S. Truman Legacy of Leadership Award. DVD.

Korean War Veterans Appreciation Ceremony, featuring remarks by General David Petraeus. This event was held at the Community of Christ Auditorium in Independence, Missouri. It was sponsored by the Harry S. Truman Library Institute, VFW, and others. DVD.

Letters to Bess Truman. Interview of Sue Gentry, Elizabeth Safly, and Pat Dorsey conducted by George Curtis on February 11, 1998 at the Blue River Community College on the occasion of a program honoring First Lady Bess Wallace Truman. Includes comments by Ray Geselbracht. VHS and 2 DVDs

Comcast Newsmakers #65. Pete Grigsby is moderator interviewing the following at the Truman Presidential Library and Museum, ca. 2009. Toby Cook, Kansas City Royals; Clay Bauske (Truman Library museum curator); Tim Flook; Tim Flook; Jason Kander; Mike Sanders; Bill Stouffer; Brian Yates DVD

George Elsey narrates a series of still photos as he pays tribute to Ken Hechler, Ca. 2008. DVD

DVD of a home movie taken of the March 21, 1969 visit of President Richard Nixon with former President Truman at the Truman Home. This was donated by David Kell who was a St. Paul School of Theology student at the time. He identifies 3 other St. Paul students who are shown in the DVD, Mike Swingle, Tom Ingerson, and Jerry Daily. DVD

Japanese language program concerning Japanese living in Manchuria during WWII, the invasion by the Russians, and the notification of the fall of Japan. Discusses the Communist takeover of Manchuria. The repatriation of the Japanese citizens from Manchuria is covered in detail. This is a NHK Japan Broadcasting Corporation Special. There is a nice printed narrative summation of the program in the videotape donor file. DVD

VT2010-8 Interview of archivist Niel Johnson with Frances Schlichenmeir, June 24, 1997. Ms. Schlichenmeir worked as a secretary in former President Truman’s office at the Truman Library. VHS

MEMORIES OF CAPTAIN HARRY, talk given by Mrs. Edwyna F. Condon to the KU Retirees Club 5/11/95. VHS

Korean War Conference at Harry S. Truman Library to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Korean War, “New Documents and New Histories: Twenty-First Century Perspectives on the Korean War.” June 16-17, 2010. Speakers and panelists include Michael Devine (Director of the Harry S. Truman Library), James Person (Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars), Christopher Ferry and Clayton Laurie (C.I.A.), James I. Matray, William Stueck, Kathryn Weathersby, Hakjoon Kim, Bernd Schaefer, John K. Singlaub, James H. Willbanks, Tory R. Mullis, Conrad Crane, David Bercuson, Jiyul Kim. Original format is mini-dv. There are 19 mini-dv’s for the 2-day Conference. They are identified left camera, right camera. They are numbered VT2011-3-1 through 18. There are 19 duplicate dvd copies of the program, numbered separately from the minidv’s as VT2011-3-1 through VT2011-3-19. They are also identified as left camera and right camera.

November 11, 2009 Veteran’s Day Salute to Captain Harry and his Doughboys of Battery D. This event was held at the Harry S. Truman Library. Special guests include: Rep. Ike Skelton, Clifton Truman Daniel, historian Dennis Giangreco (discussing his new book), and descendants of members of Battery D. 2 original mini-dv’s, one marked “close-up.”

October 5, 2008 “PLAYING POLITICS” a Bennett Forum on the Presidency, held at Unity Temple on the Plaza, Kansas City. Panelists: Scott Simon, Ted Sorenson, Costas Panagoupolis, and Timothy Neftali. Topic: Media and the Presidency. 4 original mini-dv’s.

Dr. and Mrs. Wallace Graham 60th Anniversary Video. This video consists of still pictures of the Graham’s with background music. It was created by their family and was probably played in the background during the anniversary celebration. Dr. Graham was President Truman’s White House physician. VHS

From: Wallace Graham Papers. VT2012-1 through 13. Thirteen 2-inch reel to reel quad videotapes of Truman Library public announcements, March 13, 1978, prepared by James Watson at the Johnson Library (Southwest Television, Austin, Texas). They were sent to Steve Greene at NARA for preservation copying June 23, 2011. On March 19, 2012, the Library received a Betacam SP videotape, a Digital Betacam Videotape, and a VHS copy of the originals. They are under the number MP2012-1. Tapes consist of several public service announcements from 30 seconds to 10 seconds each. A narrator speaks as soft music (“Fur Elise”) plays. The narrator speaks while paintings of Harry S. Truman by Thomas Allen are shown, followed by an exterior view of the Library. Another segment shows a close-up of a piano, the White House Limousine, the Persian Rug, and the Philippine table, telling that these are among exhibits one can see at the Truman Library. Another segment shows views of the oval office replica and includes Mr. Truman’s voice describing it briefly. Another segment shows such exhibits as the Grecian vase, the Greek helmet, and the Menorah in the Garden Room exhibit area. Clips repeat.

March, 2011 TRUMAN SPEAKS ON THE CIVIL WAR (video prepared in-house by Reiner Weber for inclusion in the Truman Library exhibit “From Steamboat to Steam Engine: George Caleb Gingham’s Missouri, 1819-1879”). Original Screen Gems recordings and film clips of Harry S. Truman were edited with illustrations, to reflect Mr. Truman’s views of the Civil War and the frontier trails.

Thirteen 2-inch reel to reel quad videotapes of Truman Library public announcements, March 13, 1978, prepared by James Watson at the Johnson Library (Southwest Television, Austin, Texas). They were sent to Steve Greene at NARA for preservation copying June 23, 2011. On March 19, 2012, the Library received a Betacam SP videotape, a Digital Betacam Videotape, and a VHS copy of the originals. They are under the number MP2012-1. Tapes consist of several public service announcements from 30 seconds to 10 seconds each. A narrator speaks as soft music (“Fur Elise”) plays. The narrator speaks while paintings of Harry S. Truman by Thomas Allen are shown, followed by an exterior view of the Library. Another segment shows a close-up of a piano, the White House Limousine, the Persian Rug, and the Philippine table, telling that these are among exhibits one can see at the Truman Library. Another segment shows views of the oval office replica and includes Mr. Truman’s voice describing it briefly. Another segment shows such exhibits as the Grecian vase, the Greek helmet, and the Menorah in the Garden Room exhibit area. Clips repeat.

March, 2011 TRUMAN SPEAKS ON THE CIVIL WAR (video prepared in-house by Reiner Weber for inclusion in the Truman Library exhibit “From Steamboat to Steam Engine: George Caleb Gingham’s Missouri, 1819-1879”). Original Screen Gems recordings and film clips of Harry S. Truman were edited with illustrations, to reflect Mr. Truman’s views of the Civil War and the frontier trails.

DVD. “DAY OF INFAMY: WAR COMES TO AMERICA.” November 27, 1991. One inch master videotape of film clips edited for the exhibit of the same name at the Harry S. Truman Library. There is a VHS tape of same. The master tape will be considered historic material and separated from the rest of the video collection (the VHS tape will be with the collection).

“THE FACES OF WAR: IMAGES OF WORLD WAR II.” April 18, 1994. One inch master videotape on reel of film clips edited for the exhibit of the same name at the Harry S. Truman Library. The master tape will be considered historic material and separated from the rest of the video collection.

“World War II Tapes, Tape 1 of 5.” November 25, 1991. Betacam SP videotape evidently used in creating the master tape for the Truman Library exhibit “Day of Infamy: War Comes to America.”

“JUST FOR REMEMBRANCE” (U. S. Army Signal Corps); “NO ALTERNATIVE” (20th Century Fox for WAC); and “IT’S UP TO YOU” (Dept. of Agriculture). Ca. 1941. World War II films used in conjunction with a World War II exhibit at the Harry S. Truman Library. ¾-inch videotape.

“MEET THE PAST” with Crosby Kemper III: Harry S. Truman. A television series produced by the Kansas City Public Library and KCPT-TV, Channel 19, (local PBS station), in which Library Director Crosby Kemper III interviews a figure from the past who was prominent in Kansas City history. This program features an interview with “Harry S. Truman” as portrayed by Ray Starzmann. DVD.

“CHOSIN.” Documentary film about the Chosin Reservoir Campaign of the Korean War during which 15,000 soldiers and Marines battled for 78 miles and saved the lives of 98,000 refugees, as recounted by survivors. “Chosin” was produced by a crew of Iraq War veterans including producer/director Brian Iglesias and producer Anton Sattler. 2010 Veterans, Inc. Expeditionary Media. DVD. This video was presented at the Harry S. Truman Library in a public program.

“THANK YOU, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” From Republic of Korea. This video is a thank you (in a choice of Korean or English) from the Republic of Korea on the 60th anniversary of the Korean War. It is presented in the form of writing a thank you letter and features historic footage and photographs from the war. 2010. DVD.

4/23/11 “Wild About Harry” a fund raiser for the Truman Library at the Muehlebach Hotel in Kansas City, featuring speakers Phil Donahue and former Senator from Missouri Christopher “Kit” Bond. DVD.