First ladies

Figurine of Bess Truman in a woven gray satin dress with a silver swirling feather design which she wore at the Presidential Reception at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., on January 20, 1949. (See also 2009-1718.) From: Truman Home.

Bess Truman, wife of the President, and Col. Mary Hallaren (right), WAC Director, smile as Rep. Edith Nourse Rogers (R-Mass) (center) cuts the fifth birthday cake of the Women's Army Corps. Members of the corps (rear), who requested that Rep. Rogers cut the cake, look on at the anniversary party in Washington, D.C. From: Truman Home.

Head-and-shoulder portraits of the first ladies of the United States on silver medallions in an album entitled" The First Ladies of the United States" (see 2009-1721 for cover) presented by the Franklin Mint to Bess Truman on behalf of the White House Historical Association. (See also photo 72-3544.) From: Truman Home.

Front view of the dress worn by Bess Wallace Truman, First Lady of the White House, at the Presidential Reception at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., on the evening of January 20, 1949. The material is a specially woven gray satin with a swirling feather design in silver lame, which was created by Ducharne of Paris. From: Truman Home

Bess Truman, (3rd from left) lunches with the crew of the U.S.S. Missouri in the crew's mess hall along with all members of President Truman's party who sat at designated places at several tables. The President was enroute from Brazil after attending a conference. From: Truman Home.

President Harry S. Truman appears before Master Sgt. A. Waclawski, Royal Prosecutor of the Royal High Court of the Raging Main, to participate in a ceremony for those who have not previously crossed the equator to become a "Shellback." Margaret Truman in sun glasses stands next to Bess Truman in the background on the left. The President is aboard the U.S.S. Missouri, returning from Brazil. (See also 66-1299.) From: Truman Home.

President Harry S. Truman (with binoculars), daughter Margaret, and Bess Truman stand on the deck of the U.S.S. Missouri, witnessing the firing of five salvos from turret one of the ship's main battery during the return trip from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Norfolk, Virginia. (See also 69-325 and 92-2.) From: Truman Home.

French President Vincent Auriol (carrying wreath, right side, mostly obscured), carrying a wreath to the grave of former President Franklin D. Roosevelt at Roosevelt's Hyde Park home during Auriol's visit to the United States. Also present are former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt (left, with other woman walking behind Auriol) and Secretary of the Interior Oscar Chapman (group walking behind Mrs. Roosevelt, right). All others are unidentified.

French President Vincent Auriol (foreground) placing a wreath upon the grave of former President Franklin D. Roosevelt at Hyde Park, New York, as Eleanor Roosevelt and other dignitaries look on. In the group standing behind Mrs. Roosevelt are French Ambassador Henri Bonnet (left) and Secretary of the Interior Oscar Chapman (right). All others are unidentified.

French President Vincent Auriol (foreground) placing a wreath upon the grave of former President Franklin D. Roosevelt at Hyde Park, New York, as Eleanor Roosevelt and other dignitaries look on. In the group standing behind Mrs. Roosevelt are French Ambassador Henri Bonnet (left) and Secretary of the Interior Oscar Chapman (right). All others are unidentified.