Motion Picture MP2002-115
Administrative Information
Harry S. Truman discussing with interviewer Merle Miller such topics as Native American tribes in the area of Independence, Missouri, how Truman's ancestors came to Missouri, and slavery in the area. Sound only. NOTE: Mr. Truman uses a racial slur in this recording.
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Shot List
Reel 1
| 0:00 | Unidentified voice: “61 F 4324 Talent Associates, Truman Story, Roll 10, Take 1” Background talking between crew members about re-recording Mr. Truman’s comments on Indian tribes. “Wildtrack 2006. . .” This soundtrack is from Talent Associates, the early producers of the television series, and includes questions from Merle Miller to Mr. Truman. | |
| 1:39 | Mr. Truman is talking about native Indian tribes in this area; Pawnees, Blackfeet, Cherokees, and Sioux. Most were friendly; Major Sibley was trading with the Osage Indians. Mentions Chief Whitehair of the Osage. The Osage ceded land for white settlement for rights to trade at Sibley’s trading post. A cabinet secretary named Whitehair told President Truman that if Chief Whitehair hadn’t given away all the land, he (the cabinet secretary) would be a millionaire. | |
| 3:02 | Mr. Truman discusses first white people in area (from Kentucky, Tennessee, northern Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, North Carolina). Mr Truman’s ancestors came in 1842 and his grandfather Truman owned land in a place called Holmes Park. He mentions also his grandfather Young. The families became neighbors after moving to Missouri; they may have been acquainted in Kentucky. They thought this would be a good area to make a new start. | |
| 5:33 | Mr. Truman is asked about Nancy Tyler Holmes. Mr. Truman replied she was the mother of his grandmother Truman. She was scalped by the Indians and always wore a scarf. | |
| 7:01 | Question: what was the land like? Mr. Truman replies the land was prairie land and not considered good for farming where Grandfather Young settled. Grandfather Truman settled north of there in timberland, as well as prairie. | |
| 7:50 | Question about whether they had slaves. Mr. Truman replies nearly all his ancestors had slaves. He discusses history of Missouri and the Missouri Compromise. Many of the slaves were wedding presents. There were five or six slaves for a normal family: a cook, nurse, maid, and field hands. Question about Mr. Benton’s mural, and the painting of the slave in the mural. | |
| 9:30 | Mr. Truman replies that yes, there were many slaves (uses racial epithet) who were skilled labor. He mentions Hiram Young, the blacksmith represented by the Benton Mural figure. | |