Condon, Edward V. Papers

Member of Missouri National Guard, 1917-1953; Private, Battery D, 129th Field Artillery, World War I

The papers of Edward V. Condon consist of forty-six letters from Harry S. Truman to Edward V. Condon, two letters from Bess W. Truman to Condon, and other items dating mainly from the beginning of Truman’s presidency in 1945 to his death in 1972.

Size: Less than one linear foot (about 50 pages).
Access: Open.
Copyright: Edwyna Condon Gilbert donated to the U.S. government her copyright interest in all writings in this collection. Documents created by U.S. government employees in the course of their official duties are also in the public domain. Copyright interest in other documents presumably belongs to the creators of those documents, or their heirs.
Processed by: Elizabeth Carrington (2005) as part of the Truman Library Internship Program.
Supervising Archivists: Randy Sowell and David Clark.

The Edward V. Condon Papers are comprised almost wholly of personal correspondence written by Harry S. Truman to Edward V. Condon. Truman’s letters date from the beginning of his presidency in 1945 to 1972, the year of his death. In addition to Truman’s personal correspondence with Condon, the collection also includes letters from Bess W. Truman to Condon, envelopes, and other items dating from 1934 through 1974. The collection is comprised of one series, a Chronological File, arranged chronologically by folder title.

Edward Condon joined the Missouri National Guard on June 14, 1917, becoming a member of Battery D, 2nd Field Artillery. In August of 1917 Battery D reorganized and became Battery D, 129th Field Artillery. Captain Harry S. Truman assumed command of Battery D in France on July 11, 1918. Condon served in the National Guard or on active duty with the Army until his retirement in 1953. During his time in service he became close friends with Truman, first serving under him in France during World War I and later enjoying a strong personal relationship until Truman’s death in 1972.

As they were good friends, most of the forty-six Truman letters included in the collection are acknowledgments of birthday and holiday gifts sent to Truman each year. Condon loyally sent flowers or candy each year, and Truman graciously thanked him for keeping him in mind. Those letters that are not related to gifts deal with matters such as answering personal inquiries about the National Guard, setting up appointments, and responding to newspaper clippings and other information sent by Condon.

Also included in the collection are two letters from Bess W. Truman to Condon thanking him for his continued consideration of the Truman family, a copy of a picture which shows Harry S. Truman and Edward Condon walking at the head of a Kansas City parade, envelopes from letters sent by Truman, and a card introducing Truman as a Senatorial candidate in the 1934 election.

Condon’s letters to Truman and related information can be found in the Harry S. Truman Papers (in President’s Personal File 676 and in the Name File of the Post-Presidential Papers).