Artists

Thomas Hart Benton (left) with James A. Michener in the lobby of the Harry S. Truman Library.

Standing on scaffolding, Thomas Hart Benton is the subject of an unidentified photographer as he works on the mural "Independence and the Opening of the West" that he is creating in the lobby of the Harry S. Truman Library, Independence, Missouri. Printed from slide no. 20 (SL2517) of 22 original slides copied and returned to the photographer. From: Charles Shangler. Please credit Charles Shangler as the photographer.

Standing on scaffolding, Thomas Hart Benton pauses to reflect on the work is he doing on the mural "Independence and the Opening of the West" which he is painting in the lobby of the Harry S. Truman Library, Independence, Missouri. Printed from slide no. 22 (SL2519) of 22 original slides copied and returned to the photographer. From: Charles Shangler.

Thomas Hart Benton takes a break from painting the mural "Independence and the Opening of the West" which he is creating in the lobby of the Harry S. Truman Library, Independence, Missouri, to speak with an unidentified photographer (left). Printed from slide no. 21 (SL2518) of 22 original slides copied and returned to the photographer. From: Charles Shangler

Standing on scaffolding, Thomas Hart Benton dips his paintbrush into paint as he works on the mural "Independence and the Opening of the West" which he is creating in the lobby of the Harry S. Truman Library, Independence, Missouri. Printed from slide no. 19 (SL2516) of 22 original slides copied and returned to the photographer. From: Charles Shangler. Please credit Charles Shangler as the photographer.

Standing on scaffolding, Thomas Hart Benton applies paint to the mural "Independence and the Opening of the West" which he is creating in the lobby of the Harry S. Truman Library, Independence, Missouri. Printed from slide no. 18 (SL2515) of 22 original slides copied and returned to the photographer. From: Charles Shangler. Please credit Charles Shangler as the photographer.

Standing on scaffolding, paintbrush in hand, Thomas Hart Benton dabs paint on an Indian in the mural "Independence and the Opening of the West" he is painting in the lobby of the Harry S. Truman Library, Independence, Missouri. Printed from slide no. 15 (SL2512) of 22 original slides copied and returned to the photographer. From: Charles Shangler. Please credit Charles Shangler as the photographer.

Thomas Hart Benton adds more paint to his paintbrush as he works on the mural "Independence and the Opening of the West" he is creating in the lobby of the Harry S. Truman Library, Independence, Missouri. Printed from slide no. 17 (SL2514) of 22 original slides copied and returned to the photographer. From: Charles Shangler. Please credit Charles Shangler as the photographer.

With paintbrush in hand, Thomas Hart Benton applies paint to the mural, "Independence and the Opening of the West," he is creating in the lobby of the Harry S. Truman Library, Independence, Missouri. Printed from slide no. 16 (SL2513) of 22 original slides copied and returned to the photographer. From: Charles Shangler. Please credit Charles Shangler as the photographer.

Standing on scaffolding, Thomas Hart Benton dips his paintbrush into a jar of paint as he works on an Indian in the mural "Independence and the Opening of the West" he is painting in the lobby of the Harry S. Truman Library, Independence, Missouri. Printed from slide no. 14 (SL2511) of 22 original slides copied and returned to the photographer. From: Charles Shangler. Please credit Charles Shangler as the photographer.