Christmas

This is a photograph taken inside the huge GUM (Glavny Universalny Magazin) department store in Moscow, Russia of the New Year's Tree. Shoppers can be seen lining the railing to view the tree.

First Lady Bess Wallace Truman (seated, left) attends a Christmas Bag Party at the Central Union Mission where she presents gifts to five-year-olds Carl Eager, Jr. (foreground, center) and Jean Copeland (foreground, right). Others in the background are unidentified.

First Lady Bess Wallace Truman (seated, left) attends a Christmas Bag Party at the Central Union Mission where she presents gifts to five-year-olds Carl Eager, Jr. (foreground, center) and Jean Copeland (foreground, right).

President Harry S. Truman points to the poinsettia plant which the Society of American Florists gave to him as a Christmas gift. From left to right are: Robert H. Roland, Granville Gude, and President Truman.

On center stage, President Harry S. Truman delivers a speech to a large crowd on the South Grounds of the White House. The recently lit Christmas Tree is on the right, and the White House is in the background on the left. All others are unidentified. From the Scrapbooks of Matt Connelly, Volume 2.

White House workmen brush aside snow as they put the finishing touches on a stand on the south grounds of the White House where President Harry S. Truman will participate in a public tree lighting ceremony on Christmas Eve. All are unidentified.

White House workmen brush aside snow as they put the finishing touches on a stand in front of the White House where President Harry S. Truman will participate in a public tree lighting ceremony on Christmas Eve. All are unidentified.

Snow covers the home of President Harry S. Truman in Independence, Missouri, at Christmas. When the President and his family spend Christmas in Independence, they always have in a window facing the street a Christmas tree, sparkling with colored lights and decorations. Neighbors and members of church choirs often gather to sing carols to the nation's "first family" on Christmas night. This 18 room house was built by Mrs. Truman's grandfather in 1865 and has been occupied by the family since that time.

Merry Christmas is the greeting from President Harry S. Truman as he sets forth from his home in Independence, Missouri, to deliver Christmas gifts to members of his family who live nearby. Whether they are in Washington or Independence, Missouri, the President and his family celebrate Christmas by putting gifts under the Christmas tree and by singing Christmas carols around the piano. Independence is often blanketed by snow at Christmas. Similar to 59-1558 and 69-635.

Photo of Secretary of Defense Robert Lovett (right, in tuxedo) and General Henry H. Arnold standing in front of a fireplace decorated for Christmas.