Dates: 1918-1987
The papers of James M. Pendergast consist of correspondence, newspaper articles, and other documents mostly concerning Pendergast’s relationship with Harry S. Truman.
Size: Less than one-half of one linear foot (about 100 pages).
Access: Open, except for two documents that are closed at the request of the donors.
Copyright: No donation of copyright was received with this collection. Documents created by U.S. Government officials in the course of their duties are in the public domain. Copyright interest in other documents presumably belongs to the creators of those documents, or their heirs.
Processed by: Marco A. Ibarra (2008) as part of the Truman Library Internship Program.
Supervising Archivists: Randy Sowell and David Clark.
[ Top of the page | Administrative Information | Biographical Sketch | Collection Description | Series Descriptions | Folder Title List ]
James M. “Jim” Pendergast was born in Kansas City, Missouri. He was the nephew of the famous Kansas City political boss, Thomas J. Pendergast. Jim and Harry S. Truman became close personal friends when they met as Army officers during World War I. After the war, Pendergast graduated from the Kansas City School of Law and became an attorney. He later succeeded his uncle as President of the Jackson Democratic Club. As a leader of the Pendergast organization, he helped launch Truman’s political career. Jim Pendergast died in Kansas City on March 28, 1966 at the age of seventy.
The papers of James M. Pendergast mainly consist of correspondence, newspaper clippings, and other items relating to Pendergast’s friendship with Harry S. Truman.
Included in the collection are many letters from Truman to Pendergast, containing references to personal matters, government jobs, and Missouri politics. Also included are a few letters from Pendergast to his wife Kathleen regarding Truman’s 1934 Senate campaign. One letter from Pendergast’s grandson to the historian David McCullough pertains to McCullough’s research into Truman’s life.
The newspaper articles in the collection mostly document the Truman-Pendergast relationship. Also included is the text of a televised speech delivered by Pendergast in 1956, with introductory remarks by Truman.
More information about Pendergast is available in the papers of Harry S. Truman (Papers as U.S. Senator and Vice President and President’s Personal Files 3232 and 5507).
|
Container Nos. |
Series |
|
|
1 |
CORRESPONDENCE FILE, 1918-1987 Correspondence, newspaper clippings, and other items relating to Pendergast’s friendship with Harry S. Truman. Arranged chronologically. |
CORRESPONDENCE FILE, 1918-1987
Box 1
- 1918-1934
- 1941-1952
- 1954-1987 and Undated