Mural painting and decoration

Thomas Hart Benton on scaffolding, beginning work on his mural, "Independence and the Opening of the West," at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library.

Thomas Hart Benton on scaffolding, painting the mural in the lobby of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library.

Thomas Hart Benton on scaffolding, painting the mural in the lobby of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library.

Sidney Larson (left) sketching on the lobby wall of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library. The sketch is being done in preparation for painting of the mural, "Independence and the Opening of the West," by Thomas Hart Benton. Mr. Benton is in the far upper right corner of the photo.

View of the lobby wall in the Truman Presidential Library and scaffolding before the Thomas Hart Benton mural, "Independence and the Opening of the West," was painted.

Duard Marshall (left), former President Harry S. Truman (center), and Sidney Larson (right) shaking hands in front of the Thomas Hart Benton mural in its beginning stages. Mr. Marshall and Mr. Larson assisted Mr. Benton with the mural.

Former President Harry S. Truman (right) and Dr. Philip C. Brooks (left) looking up at the blank wall of the lobby of the Truman Library. The wall is to be painted with a mural, entitled "Independence and the Opening of the West," by the artists Thomas Hart Benton. Scaffolding can be seen on the right.

Thomas Hart Benton (left) holds his sketch of the mural he will paint on the wall of the lobby of the Harry S. Truman Library. Behind Benton are Dr. Philip C. Brooks, Director of the Library, (center) and Sidney Larson, Mr. Benton's assistant (on scaffolding).

Mural on interior wall of building at Marine Training Base at Quantico, Virginia. From a leather bound album of 55 8 x 10 photos from President Truman's trip to the U. S. Marine Training Base at Quantico, Virginia. Gift from Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr., Major General, U. S. Marine Corps, Commandant, Marine Corps Schools.

Artist Thomas Hart Benton, standing on scaffolding, working on his mural for the lobby of the Harry S. Truman Library. The mural is entitled "Independence and the Opening of the West".