Hackman, Larry J. Papers

Dates: 1966-2013

Director, Harry S. Truman Library, 1995-2000

The papers of Larry J. Hackman include correspondence, financial records, handwritten notes, printed materials, and other items concerning his activities as Director of the Harry S. Truman Library; his involvement in planning and raising funds for a major renovation of the Library's museum; and his continuing interest in Presidential Libraries.

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

ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Size: 6 linear feet, 2 linear inches (about 11,200 pages).
Access: Open, with the exception of a few documents that are closed for reasons of personal privacy in accordance with the donor's deed of gift.
Copyright: The donor gave his copyright interest in this collection, and in any other collection of papers at the Harry S. Truman Library, to the U.S. Government. Documents created by U.S. Government officials in the course of their duties are also in the public domain. The copyright interest in other documents in this collection presumably belongs to the creators of the documents, or their heirs.
Processed by: Randy Sowell (2017).

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

1942		Born Lawrence J. Hackman, Glasgow, Missouri
1964		B.A., University of Missouri
1965		M.A., University of Missouri
1966-1975		Senior Archivist, Director of Special Programs, and Director of the Oral History Program, John F. Kennedy Library
1971		M.P.A., John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
1975-1981		First Director of the Historical Records Program, National Historical Publications and Records Commission
1981-1995		Assistant Commissioner of Education, State Archivist of New York, and Executive Officer of the New York State Archives Partnership Trust
1995-2000		Director, Harry S. Truman Library (also served for most of this period as Secretary and, later, President of the Harry S. Truman Library Institute for National and International Affairs)

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

The papers of Larry J. Hackman contain correspondence, financial records, handwritten notes, printed materials, and other items concerning his activities as Director of the Harry S. Truman Library from 1995 to 2000; his involvement in planning and raising funds for a major renovation of the Library's museum that included the creation of new permanent exhibits; and his continuing interest in Presidential Libraries and their relations with the U.S. government, the general public, and the nonprofit organizations that support their activities. The collection is arranged in a single series, the Subject File.

Hackman became the third Director in the Truman Library's history in 1995. His papers include extensive correspondence (mostly printouts of e-mail messages, with some letters and memorandums) relating to his efforts to reform and restructure the Library and its nonprofit partner, the Harry S. Truman Library Institute for National and International Affairs. Much of this correspondence focuses on preparations for a fundraising program aimed at financing a long-planned renovation of the Truman Library. Plans for new museum exhibits, structural renovations, and the establishment of an educational program for the Library are documented in the correspondence and in related printed materials, financial records, and handwritten notes. The creation of the Library's White House Decision Center (WHDC), a role-playing exercise for visiting students featuring historical situations from the Truman Presidency, is the subject of a large body of material. Hackman's decision to retire as Library Director in 2000, his involvement in selecting his successor, and his efforts to ensure the preservation of the reforms he had initiated are also reflected in the papers. There is relatively little material in the collection predating Hackman's appointment as Truman Library Director in 1995, or pertaining to his previous career as an archivist, oral historian, and administrator.

The papers also contain information on Hackman's activities after he retired as Director, including his continuing interest and involvement in the Library's activities; his preparation of a "case study' on relations between the Library and its Institute ("A Presidential Library Partnership,' February, 2002); his involvement in organizing a conference of scholars and administrators at Princeton University in April, 2004, which resulted in a report on the public aspects of Presidential Libraries ("Presidential Libraries: A Background Paper on Their Museums and Their Public Programs,' December, 2004) ; and his writing and editing of a special issue of the journal Public Historian, dedicated to an examination of Presidential Libraries, which was published in 2006. The collection also includes materials relating to Hackman's presentations to various audiences during and after his tenure as Library Director.

The Truman Library also has the papers of Hackman's predecessors as Director of the Library, Philip C. Brooks and Benedict K. Zobrist. Other related resources at the Library include the online transcript of an oral history interview with Larry J. Hackman, the Records of the Harry S. Truman Library Institute, the Records of the Harry S. Truman Library, Inc., and the Records of the National Archives and Records Administration: Harry S. Truman Library (Record Group 64).

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Container Nos.		Series
1-14		SUBJECT FILE, 1966-2013 Correspondence, financial records, handwritten notes, printed materials, and other items mostly concerning the activities of Larry J. Hackman as Director of the Harry S. Truman Library and his involvement with the Presidential Library system. Arranged alphabetically by folder title, and thereunder chronologically.

FOLDER TITLE LIST

SUBJECT FILE, 1966-2013

Box 1

"A Learning Center at the Truman Library: A Discussion Outline"
"A Presidential Library Partnership" [1 of 2]
"A Presidential Library Partnership" [2 of 2]
"A Presidential Library Partnership': Interviews
"A Presidential Library Partnership': Research Materials
"A Vision for the Truman Library, 1996'
Advertising, Tourism, and Promotion Meeting, May 29, 1996
Assistant Director's Duties
Bidder's Briefing, August 3, 2000
Bi-State Cultural Tax, 2000-2001
Bridges, Ed
Budget: Building Renovation Project, 1999-2000

Box 2

Campaign Funding Document Breakdowns
Carlin, John
Chart, Matrix, and Report on Truman Library Resources
Chermayeff & Geismar/Metaform: Contract Issues, 1997
Chermayeff & Geismar/Metaform: Contract Issues, 1998
Chermayeff & Geismar/Metaform: Presidential Exhibits, 1997
Clippings
Cochrane, Lynn Scott: Dissertation, "The Presidential Library System" [1 of 2]
Cochrane, Lynn Scott: Dissertation, "The Presidential Library System" [2 of 2]
Combined Library and Institute Budget Overview
Congress and Presidential Libraries
Conversations and Advice: Pre-Truman Appointment, 1995

Box 3

Devine, Michael
Dewey, Thomas E.: Signature
Drafts and Ideas
George W. Bush Library [1 of 2]
George W. Bush Library [2 of 2]
Harry S. Truman Building: Dedication, 2000
Institute
Institute Board, Executive Committee, and Capital Campaign Committee Minutes, 1987-1994 [1 of 2]
Institute Board, Executive Committee, and Capital Campaign Committee Minutes, 1987-1994 [2 of 2]
Institute Corridor Photographs
Institute Legal and Fiscal Issues, 1996

Box 4

Institute Prospect Dinners, 1998
Institute Retreat, May, 1996
Institute Retreat, May, 1996: Follow-Up
Jost, Kenneth, ‘Presidential Libraries,' CQ Researcher, March 16, 2007
Kayle, Milton
Library and Institute Fact Sheet, 1997
Memorandum on Files, November 14, 2013
"Museums in Presidential Libraries," December, 2004
National Council on Public History: Meeting, Kansas City, April, 2005
Partnership Principles: Truman Library and Truman Library Institute
Pauley Foundation
Post-Retirement Assignments
Pre-Construction Meeting, March 30, 2000
Presentations
Presentations: Finance and Budget Graphs
Presentations: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, 2001
Presentations: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, 2004

Box 5

Presentations: Hoover Library Association, 2001
Presentations: Library Director's Meeting, February, 2001
Presentations: Library Director's Meeting, September, 2001
Presentations: Outlines
Presentations: Power Point Charts and Graphs
Presidential Galleries: Bid Process
"Presidential Libraries: A Background Paper on Their Museums and Their Public Programs, December 2004"
Presidential Libraries, Office of
"Presidential Museums and the Public"
Princeton Conference
Princeton Conference: Background Paper
Princeton Conference: Correspondence
Princeton Conference: Education Programs
Princeton Conference: Follow-Up Plans
Princeton Conference: Funding and Budget

Box 6

Princeton Conference: Hufbauer, Benjamin
Princeton Conference: Katz, Stanley [1 of 2]
Princeton Conference: Katz, Stanley [2 of 2]
Princeton Conference: NARA [National Archives and Records Administration]
Princeton Conference: Participants
Princeton Conference: Press Reports and Information on Presidential Libraries [1 of 2]

Box 7

Princeton Conference: Press Reports and Information on Presidential Libraries [2 of 2]
Princeton Conference: Strategic Plans
Princeton Conference: Summary Report
Public Historian: Exhibit Reviews
Public Historian: Galley Proofs
Public Historian: Introduction by Larry Hackman
Public Historian: Mailing
Public Historian: Radio Interview with Larry Hackman and Benjamin Hufbauer
Public Historian: Reviewer's Comments

Box 8

Public Historian: Special Issue
Public Historian: Warner Moss Outline
Public Historian Article: Cochrane, Lynn
Public Historian Article: Craig, Bruce
Public Historian Article: Fawcett, Sharon [1 of 2]
Public Historian Article: Fawcett, Sharon [2 of 2]

Box 9

Public Historian Article: Geselbracht, Ray
Public Historian Article: Hackman, Larry [1 of 2]
Public Historian Article: Hackman, Larry [2 of 2]
Public Historian Article: Hufbauer, Benjamin [1 of 2]
Public Historian Article: Hufbauer, Benjamin [2 of 2]

Box 10

Public Historian Article: Nelson, Anna
Public Historian Article: Parmet, Herbert
Public Historian Article: Potter, Lee Ann
Public Historian Article: Smith, Nancy and Gary Stern
Renovation: Issues and Developments, 1999-2001
Renovation Schedule, 2000
"Report on Alternative Models for Presidential Libraries," NARA, 2009
Resignation as Director and Transition
Resource Planning for the Truman Library and Institute

Box 11

Roosevelt Library
Schedule, 1995
State of the Library: Preliminary Assessment
Strategic Planning Meeting Notes and Informational Items
Strategic Planning, 1995-1996
StudioEIS
Ten Key Issues from the Focus Group
"The Truman Presidential Library in a Time of Change": A Report by Consultants Ed Bridges and Michael Fox
Truman Library: Educational Programs
Truman Library: Institute Agreement, 2010
Truman Library: Kansas City Star Article
Truman Library: Missouri State Government
Truman Library: Museum Visitor Comment Books, 2002
Truman Library: Pre-Arrival
Truman Library: State of Missouri Auditorium Event
WHDC [White House Decision Center]: Adult Curriculum Feasibility Study
WHDC: Adult Marketing Brochure
WHDC: Adult Pilot Groups
WHDC: Adult Version Feasibility

Box 12

WHDC: Article for American Association of Museums
WHDC: Civil Rights
WHDC: College Undergraduates
WHDC: Corporate Version
WHDC: Devine, Michael
WHDC: Draft Report, July, 2002
WHDC: Evaluation
WHDC: Greater Kansas City Convention and Visitors Bureau, May 22, 2002
WHDC: Hackman, Larry
WHDC: H & R Block

Box 13

WHDC: History and Development
WHDC: Honorary Fellows Pilot Groups, June, 2002
WHDC: Independence Chamber of Commerce
WHDC: Independence City Pilot Group, May 20, 2002
WHDC: Lyndon B. Johnson Library Panel
WHDC: Mailing Lists for Adult Groups
WHDC: Marketing
WHDC: Meeting on Fees and Group Issues, August 31, 2000
WHDC: NARA and Institute Operations
WHDC: Origins
WHDC: Pilot Schedules and Contacts

Box 14

WHDC: Report, July, 2002
WHDC: Spring Pilot, April, 2001 [1 of 2]
WHDC: Spring Pilot, April, 2001 [2 of 2]
WHDC: Student Version Development
WHDC: Teacher Focus Group
WHDC: Veterans Administration Pilot Group

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