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Papers of Harry S. Truman Staff Member and Office Files Rose A. Conway Files

Date Span: 1849-1953 Bulk Date Span: 1945-1947

Administrative Assistant in the President's Office (personal secretary to the President), 1945-1953

The Rose A. Conway Files document her work from 1945-1953 as President Truman's personal secretary. The Conway Files are part of the Staff Member and Office Files of the Harry S. Truman Papers, which were donated to the U.S. government after the completion of the Truman Presidency. The contents include Bureau of Budget reports, Central Intelligence Agency documents, Committee of European Economic Co-operation reports, Department of State news digests and bulletins, Congressional Record digests, executive orders, press comment summaries, radio comment and newspaper editorial summaries, Office of Strategic Services records, and President Truman’s speeches and appointment schedules. The files include charts, graphs, newspaper clippings, press releases, reports, printed material, memoranda, correspondence, and handwritten notes.

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

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Size: 9 linear feet, 7 linear inches. (ca. 17,600 pages).
Access: Open.
Copyright: Harry S. Truman donated his copyright interest in writings in these files to the United States government. Documents created by U. S. government officials in the course of their official duties are likewise in the public domain. Copyright interest in any other writings in these files is assumed to remain with the authors of the documents, or their heirs.
Processed by:Tammy Kelly and David Clark (2002); David Clark (2008).

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

c. 1900   Born in Emporia, Kansas
1911 (June 13)   Graduated from St. Thomas' School, Kansas City, Kansas
1915   Graduated from Mt. St. Scholastica Academy, Atchison, Kansas
1935   Worked under J. Vivian Truman as a secretary with the Federal Housing Administration in Kansas City, Missouri
1945   Started work as Vice-President Truman's Secretary
1945 (April 12)   Continued work as President Truman's Secretary
1949 (June)   Award honorary Doctor of Law Degree from Mt. St. Scholastica
1953   Moved to Kansas City to continue work as former President Truman's Secretary
1975   Retired from work at the Harry S. Truman Library
1977   Made honorary member of Battery D, 129th Field Artillery
1980 (March 17)   Died in Kansas City, Missouri
[ Top | Administrative Information | Biographical Sketch | Collection Description | Series Descriptions | Folder Title List ]
COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

The Rose A. Conway Files document some of her work as Administrative Assistant in the President's Office (personal secretary to the President), 1945-1953. Rose A. Conway continued as Harry S. Truman's personal secretary until his death in 1972. As the President's personal secretary, Conway's chief role was to type his speeches and handle his personal correspondence. Conway's files include information pertaining to domestic and foreign affairs, press and radio commentaries, press releases, and reports, all of which were maintained for use by the President.

The Conway Files are a part of the Staff Member and Office Files of the Harry S. Truman Papers. This material was shipped to Kansas City as part of Mr. Truman’s presidential papers. Truman subsequently donated his papers to the United States government. The collection is arranged in three series: a Subject File, a Speech File, and an Appointments File. Most of the material in the collection dates from the first years of Truman's Presidency, 1945-1947.

The Subject File includes records from the Bureau of the Budget used by the President as background material for speeches and press releases related to the budget. Also included are Committee of European Economic Co-operation reports on food, agriculture, fuel, power, transportation, iron, steel, manpower and timber. Conway also kept Congressional Record digests that list speeches and statements placed in the Congressional Record by members of Congress.

Also contained within the Subject File are Department of State Foreign Press Summaries, News Digests, Radio Bulletins, and Wireless Bulletins. The Foreign Press Summaries briefly describe the press coverage of major events in selected foreign newspapers. The News Digests summarize foreign relations issues as dealt with in the U.S. and international press regarding topics such as the United Nations, the occupation of Germany and Korea, unrest in Iran, the Foreign Ministers Conference, violence in Palestine, the Paris Peace Conference, the French and Yugoslavian elections, the Chinese Civil War, Jews in Palestine, the Nuremberg trials, atomic controls, aid to Turkey and Greece, and economic recovery for Japan and Germany.

The Radio Bulletins, which were prepared for the Foreign Service, contain summaries of U.S. and foreign news and editorial commentary in U.S. newspapers pertaining to topics such as the United Nations, the recognition of Albania, the occupation and denazification of Germany, reparations, the visit of Winston Churchill to the U.S., atomic energy, the execution of war criminals, the Greek elections, the atom bomb tests, agricultural production, and State Department press conferences.

The Wireless Bulletins consist mostly of summaries of U.S. domestic news and editorials regarding foreign issues including the United Nations, the Foreign Ministers Conference, the Export-Import Bank, atomic energy, prisoners of war, economic stabilization, world trade, the repatriation of Japanese, Chinese and Koreans, the World Health Organization, relief to Europe, Chinese communists, the Nuremberg trials, the Polish elections, the British withdrawal from India, and the appointment of George Marshall as Secretary of State.

The Office of Strategic Services records include reports and correspondence pertaining to World War II; the surrender of Germany and Japan; intelligence gathered relating to European and Asian countries; recommendations for post-war uses for the Office of Strategic Services; and the potential establishment of a centralized intelligence agency. The reports include Colonel Richard J. Park's report to the President on the activities of the Office of Strategic Services and the Office of Strategic Services report entitled "The Plight of the Homeland in the German-American Community Press".

Almost a third of the collection consists of summaries of press and radio comments and newspaper editorials, initially prepared by the Office of War Information. The press comment summaries are digests of editorials and columns from selected newspapers regarding the U.S., British and Soviet roles in World War II, the atomic bomb, veterans’ affairs, labor disputes, the surrender of Germany, war crimes, rationing, the economy, the military, immigration, the House Committee on Un-American Activities, and the United Nations. The radio comment summaries are digests of opinion commentaries from selected radio announcers such Edward R. Murrow, Martin Agronsky, Gabriel Heatter, Earl Goodwin, John W. Vandercook, and H. V. Kaltenborn. The press and radio comment summaries date from May to August 1945.

A subsequent series of summaries of radio comment and newspaper editorials were compiled by the Domestic Branch of the Office of War Information from September 1945 until December 1945, after which the summaries were issued by the Division of Press Intelligence of the Government Information Service. In January 1947, the Office of Government Reports, Division of Press Intelligence, Executive Office of the President began issuing the summaries. The summaries contain information pertaining to Mr. Truman as President, the occupation of Japan, the draft, war crimes, the Pearl Harbor investigation, the atomic bomb, China, reconversion, colonies and territories, labor, Palestine, Philippines, relations with the Soviets, housing, the United Nations, immigration, the Office of Price Administration, price controls, un-American activities, war profits, Latin American issues, world trade, Iran, Poland, U.S.-Canadian relations, the Moscow Conference, the World Bank, Korea, aid to Greece and Turkey, and communism. The radio comment and newspaper editorial summaries date from September 1945 to July 1947.

Other materials contained in the Subject File include Presidential executive orders; Clark Clifford's report entitled "American Relations with the Soviet Union" from September 1946; statements and messages by the President; weekly farm editorial digests; White House press releases relating to resignations of government officials; a copy of the 1849 edition of The Asmonean, which was the first U.S. Jewish-American newspaper, correspondence including form letters, and trip itineraries and documents related to trips taken by President Truman.

The Speech File consists of speeches given by President Truman from 1945-1951. The Appointments File contains President Truman’s daily appointments from 1945-1953. The series also contains tentative appointments from 1945-1953 with handwritten annotations by President Truman.

Related collections at the Truman Library include the Rose A. Conway Papers, the President’s Secretary’s Files and the Matthew J. Connelly Files.

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SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Container Nos.   Series
1-17   SUBJECT FILE, 1849-1953 (Bulk Date Span, 1945-1947)
Correspondence, reports, charts, graphs, newspaper clippings, press releases, reports, printed material, memoranda, and handwritten notes pertaining to budgets, the military, civil defense, migration and settlement, European countries' economies, Congressional speeches, Presidential speeches and executive orders, foreign relations, and domestic activities. Arranged alphabetically by subject.
18-19   SPEECH FILE, 1945-1951
Transcripts of President Truman’s speeches. Arranged chronologically.
20-22   APPOINTMENTS FILE, 1945-1953
President Truman’s appointments and tentative appointments. Arranged chronologically.
[ Top | Administrative Information | Biographical Sketch | Collection Description | Series Descriptions | Folder Title List ]

FOLDER TITLE LIST

Box 1

SUBJECT FILE, 1849-1953 (Bulk Date Span, 1945-1947)

  • Appendix to the Congressional Record of August 15, 1947
  • The Asmonean of October 26, 1849, Volume 1, No. 1
  • Budget, Bureau of – I [1 of 2]
  • Budget, Bureau of – I [2 of 2]
  • Budget, Bureau of – II [1 of 2]
  • Budget, Bureau of – II [2 of 2]
  • Carter, John Franklin – "M" Project
  • Carter, John Franklin – Technical Series Reports

Box 2

  • Central Intelligence Agency and Central Intelligence Group – Reports [transferred to the President’s Secretary’s Files]
  • Committee of European Economic Co-operation – Declarations Made by the Governments on the Subject of Internal Financial and Economic Reform
  • Committee of European Economic Co-operation – Report of the Food and Agriculture Committee [1 of 2]
  • Committee of European Economic Co-operation – Report of the Food and Agriculture Committee [2 of 2]
  • Committee of European Economic Co-operation – Report of the Fuel and Power Committee
  • Committee of European Economic Co-operation – Report of the Inland Transport Committee
  • Committee of European Economic Co-operation – Report of the Iron and Steel Committee
  • Committee of European Economic Co-operation – Report of the Manpower Committee
  • Committee of European Economic Co-operation – Report of the Maritime Transport Committee
  • Committee of European Economic Co-operation – Report of the Mixed Sub-Committee on Coke
  • Committee of European Economic Co-operation – Report of the Timber Working Party
  • Congressional Record Digests – May 23-December 15, 1945 [1 of 2]

Box 3

  • Congressional Record Digests – May 23-December 15, 1945 [2 of 2]
  • Congressional Record Digests – December 17, 1945-March 29, 1946 [1 of 2]
  • Congressional Record Digests – December 17, 1945-March 29, 1946 [2 of 2]
  • Congressional Record Digests – April 1-June 29, 1946 [1 of 2]
  • Congressional Record Digests – April 1-June 29, 1946 [2 of 2]
  • Congressional Record Digests – July 1, 1946-May 24, 1947 [1 of 2]
  • Congressional Record Digests – July 1, 1946-May 24, 1947 [2 of 2]
  • Correspondence [2008 accretion]
  • Daily Absentee Report for Period September 10-September 21, 1945

Box 4

  • Department of State-Foreign Press Summaries – March 20, 1946-April 16, 1947
  • Department of State – News Digests – March 1-April 18, 1946 [1 of 2]
  • Department of State – News Digests – March 1-April 18, 1946 [2 of 2]
  • Department of State – News Digests – April 19-June 5, 1946 [1 of 2] li>Department of State – News Digests – April 19-June 5, 1946 [2 of 2]
  • Department of State – News Digests – June 7-October 9, 1946 [1 of 2]
  • Department of State – News Digests – June 7-October 9, 1946 [2 of 2]

Box 5

  • Department of State – News Digests – October 10-December 30, 1946 [1 of 2]
  • Department of State – News Digests – October 10-December 30, 1946 [2 of 2]
  • Department of State – News Digests – January 2-March 4, 1947 [1 of 2]
  • Department of State – News Digests – January 2-March 4, 1947 [2 of 2]

Box 6

  • Department of State – News Digests – March 5-May 28, 1947 [1 of 2]
  • Department of State – News Digests – March 5-May 28, 1947 21 of 2]
  • Department of State – Radio Bulletins – October 12-November 13, 1945
  • Department of State – Radio Bulletins – November 14-December 19, 1945
  • Department of State – Radio Bulletins – December 20, 1945-January 30, 1946

Box 7

  • Department of State – Radio Bulletins – January 31-March 9, 1946
  • Department of State – Radio Bulletins – March 11-April 13, 1946
  • Department of State – Wireless Bulletins – April 4-27, 1946
  • Department of State – Wireless Bulletins – April 29-May 31, 1946
  • Department of State – Wireless Bulletins – June 1-July 15, 1946 [1 of 2]

Box 8

  • Department of State – Wireless Bulletins – June 1-July 15, 1946 [2 of 2]
  • Department of State – Wireless Bulletins – July 16-September 24, 1946 [1 of 2]
  • Department of State – Wireless Bulletins – July 16-September 24, 1946 [2 of 2]
  • Department of State – Wireless Bulletins – September 25-November 18, 1946 [1 of 2]
  • Department of State – Wireless Bulletins – September 25-November 18, 1946 [2 of 2]
  • Department of State – Wireless Bulletins – November 19, 1946-January 31, 1947 [1 of 2]

Box 9

  • Department of State – Wireless Bulletins – November 19, 1946-January 31, 1947 [2 of 2]
  • Department of State – Wireless Bulletins – February 4-March 7, 1947
  • Executive Orders – 1945
  • Executive Orders – 1946
  • Letter, Radle Herndon to Rose Conway, December 18, 1952
  • Office of Strategic Services – Donovan, William J.
  • Office of Strategic Services – Donovan – Chronological File – April-May, 1945
  • Office of Strategic Services – Donovan – Chronological File – June-August 1945

Box 10

  • Office of Strategic Services – Donovan – Chronological File – September 1945
  • Office of Strategic Services – Donovan – Intelligence Services
  • Office of Strategic Services – Donovan – Secret
  • Office of Strategic Services – Donovan – War Information Reports
  • Press Comment on Big Three Conference at Potsdam – July 19-August 14, 1945
  • Press Comment on National and International Affairs – May 7-May 21, 1945
  • Press Comment on National and International Affairs – May 22-June 5, 1945

Box 11

  • Press Comment on National and International Affairs – June 6-23, 1945
  • Press Comment on National and International Affairs – June 25-July 18, 1945
  • Press Comment on United Nations Conference on International Organization at San Francisco – May 11-June 29, 1945
  • Radio Comment on Big Three Conference at Potsdam – July 18-August 17, 1945
  • Radio Comment on National and International Affairs – May 31-July 17, 1945
  • Report by Clark Clifford – American Relations with the Soviet Union

Box 12

  • Statements and Messages by the President, White House Press Releases, and Proclamations – 1945
  • Statements and Messages by the President, White House Press Releases, and Proclamations – 1946
  • Summaries of Radio Comment and Newspaper Editorials – September 1945
  • Summaries of Radio Comment and Newspaper Editorials – October 1945
  • Summaries of Radio Comment and Newspaper Editorials – November 1945
  • Summaries of Radio Comment and Newspaper Editorials – December 1945

Box 13

  • Summaries of Radio Comment and Newspaper Editorials – January 1946
  • Summaries of Radio Comment and Newspaper Editorials –February 1946
  • Summaries of Radio Comment and Newspaper Editorials – March 1946
  • Summaries of Radio Comment and Newspaper Editorials – April 1946
  • Summaries of Radio Comment and Newspaper Editorials – May 1946

Box 14

  • Summaries of Radio Comment and Newspaper Editorials – June 1946
  • Summaries of Radio Comment and Newspaper Editorials – July 1946
  • Summaries of Radio Comment and Newspaper Editorials – August 1946
  • Summaries of Radio Comment and Newspaper Editorials – September 1946
  • Summaries of Radio Comment and Newspaper Editorials – October 1946

Box 15

  • Summaries of Radio Comment and Newspaper Editorials – November 1946
  • Summaries of Radio Comment and Newspaper Editorials – December 1946
  • Summaries of Radio Comment and Newspaper Editorials – January 1947
  • Summaries of Radio Comment and Newspaper Editorials – February 1947

Box 16

  • Summaries of Radio Comment and Newspaper Editorials – March 1947
  • Summaries of Radio Comment and Newspaper Editorials – April 1947
  • Summaries of Radio Comment and Newspaper Editorials – May 1947
  • Summaries of Radio Comment and Newspaper Editorials – June 1947
  • Summaries of Radio Comment and Newspaper Editorials – July 1947

Box 17

  • Trip Data [2008 accretion]
  • Trip Itinerary Data [2008 accretion] [1 of 2]
  • Trip Itinerary Data [2008 accretion] [2 of 2]
  • Weekly Farm Paper Editorial Digests – October 1945-July 1946
  • Weekly Farm Paper Editorial Digests – August 1946-July 1947
  • White House Press Releases of Correspondence Relative to Resignations of Government Officials – 1945
  • White House Press Releases of Correspondence Relative to Resignations of Government Officials – 1946

SPEECH FILE, 1945-1951 [2008 accretion]

Box 18

  • 1945
  • 1946
  • 1947
  • 1948 [1 of 3]
  • 1948 [2 of 3]
  • 1948 [3 of 3]

Box 19

  • 1949 [1 of 2]
  • 1949 [2 of 2]
  • 1950 [1 of 4]
  • 1950 [2 of 4]
  • 1950 [3 of 4]
  • 1950 [4 of 4]
  • 1951 [1 of 2]
  • 1951 [2 of 2]

APPOINTMENTS FILE, 1945-1953 [2008 accretion]

Box 20

  • Appointments, 1945 [1 of 2]
  • Appointments, 1945 [2 of 2]
  • Appointments, 1946 [1 of 4]
  • Appointments, 1946 [2 of 4]
  • Appointments, 1946 [3 of 4]
  • Appointments, 1946 [4 of 4]
  • Tentative Appointments, 1946
  • Appointments, 1947 [1 of 3]
  • Appointments, 1947 [2 of 3]
  • Appointments, 1947 [3 of 3]
  • Tentative Appointments, 1947

Box 21

  • Appointments, 1948 [1 of 2]
  • Appointments, 1948 [2 of 2]
  • Tentative Appointments, 1948
  • Appointments, 1949 [1 of 2]
  • Appointments, 1949 [2 of 2]
  • Tentative Appointments, 1949
  • Appointments, 1950 [1 of 2]
  • Appointments, 1950 [2 of 2]
  • Tentative Appointments, 1950

Box 22

  • Appointments, 1951 [1 of 2]
  • Appointments, 1951 [2 of 2]
  • Tentative Appointments, 1951
  • Appointments, 1952 [1 of 2]
  • Appointments, 1952 [1 of 2]
  • Tentative Appointments, 1952
  • Appointments, 1953
  • Tentative Appointments, 1953
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The creation of this online resource was made possible in part by funding from the William T. Kemper Foundation - Commerce Bank, Trustee.