Branton, Mary Shaw Papers

Friend of Margaret Truman Daniel

The papers of Mary Shaw Branton consist of correspondence, memorabilia, invitations, newspaper clippings, photographs, printed material, scrapbooks, and other items mostly pertaining to Branton's friendship with Margaret Truman Daniel and the Truman family. The collection documents Harry S. Truman's Inauguration, post-presidency, death, and funeral; the dedication and re-dedication of the Harry S. Truman Library; Margaret Truman Daniel's music career, marriage, children, and grandchildren; the death of Bess Truman; and commemorative events and ceremonies honoring the memory and legacy of Harry S. Truman.

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

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ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Size: 2.1 linear feet (about 4,200 pages).
Access: Open
Copyright: Mary Shaw Branton has donated to the U.S. government her copyright interest in all writings in this collection, or in any other collection of papers in the custody of the National Archives and Records Administration. 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: Sharie Simon, Jan Davis, and Richard Yon (2004).

[ Top of the page | Administrative Information | Biographical Sketch | Collection Description | Series Descriptions | Folder Title List ]

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

1920 (November 15)		Born, Kansas City, Missouri
1942		Received B.A. degree, University of Missouri-Columbia
1942-1943		Jackson County Juvenile Court Probation Officer.
1943-1945		Director of Girls Department-Elliot Park Neighborhood House, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
1947 (April 12)		Married William Coleman Branton
1947-Present		Active member, Independence Square Redevelopment, Truman Library Institute, Truman Medical Center Foundation, Hope House, Jackson County Historical Society, Children's Mercy Hospital, and other organizations.
1972		Community Service Award
1985		William Coleman Branton Died
1985		Spirit Award
1988		Yates Medallion for Distinguished Service
1993		Patriot of the Year Award
1996		Volunteer of the Year Award

[ Top of the page | Administrative Information | Biographical Sketch | Collection Description | Series Descriptions | Folder Title List ]

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COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

The papers of Mary Shaw Branton consist of newspaper clippings, printed material, correspondence, memorabilia, invitations, photographs, scrapbooks, and other items mostly pertaining to Branton's friendship with Margaret Truman Daniel and the Truman family. The collection documents Harry S. Truman's Inauguration, post-presidential years, and death; the dedication and re-dedication of the Harry S. Truman Library; Margaret Truman Daniel's music career, marriage, children, and grandchildren; the death of Bess Truman; and commemorative events and ceremonies honoring the memory and legacy of Harry S. Truman.

The collection consists of five series. The first series, the Harry S. Truman File, comprises approximately two-thirds of the collection. It includes information concerning Truman's Inauguration, retirement years, death, and funeral, as well as material documenting the celebration of the Truman birthday centennial in 1984, other memorial tributes to the late President, and the activities of the Harry S. Truman Library Institute for National and International Affairs. The Bess Wallace Truman File and the Margaret Truman Daniel File contain some personal correspondence with Mrs. Truman and Margaret. The last two series, the Edna Hutchison File and the Mary Gentry Shaw File, include scrapbooks documenting the trip made by members of Mrs. Truman's Independence bridge club to visit their friend in the White House in 1946. Mrs. Hutchison and Mrs. Shaw (Mary Shaw Branton's mother) were among the bridge club members who went on this trip.

Mary Shaw Branton and Margaret Truman Daniel have been lifelong friends. Each served as the other's maid of honor at their respective weddings. Their correspondence consists mostly of letters updating Branton on events occurring within Margaret's immediate family, as well as holiday cards. Also included is a letter from Clifton Truman Daniel, Margaret's oldest child, to Branton regarding his work as a journalist. Bess Truman and Mary Gentry Shaw were also friends. The collection provides an account of their relationships and interactions over the years. Correspondence from Bess Truman to Shaw focuses on the wonderful times they had visiting together. There is also correspondence in the collection with Madge Gates Wallace, Bess Truman's mother.

Most of the collection consists of newspaper clippings and other printed material chronicling the life, times, and legacy of Harry S. Truman, his presidency, and the post-presidential years. Included in the memorabilia are invitations and programs that Branton received for events such as Margaret's wedding, Harry S. Truman's Inauguration, the dedication of the Harry S. Truman Library, the funerals of Harry S. Truman and Bess Truman, the unveiling and dedication of the Truman statue in front of the Jackson County Courthouse in Independence, and other events and ceremonies honoring President Truman.

Related materials at the Truman Library include an oral history interview with Mary Shaw Branton (No. 504) and the papers of Clifton and Margaret Truman Daniel.

[ Top of the page | Administrative Information | Biographical Sketch | Collection Description | Series Descriptions | Folder Title List ]

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