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The Dear Bess and Dear Harry Podcast, from Harry S Truman National Historic Site

Harry S Truman

From Harry S Truman National Historic Site; a chance to share some of the stories associated with Harry Truman, Bess W. Truman and their times. We will share letters written between Harry Truman, Bess Wallace Truman, Margaret Truman, and others. We will link to digital versions of the letters in case you'd like to see them. You may need to refresh the page for the latest episode.

Episodes

Dear Bess: January 13, 1914

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for January 13, 2022, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site and the National Park Service.

We have a gem of a letter for you today, postmarked on this date in 1914. Harry S Truman gives Miss Bess Wallace some insight into the business aspects of the Farm, and makes a sort of rare reference to his uncle Harrison Young. Harrison Young, for whom Harry Truman was named, is an interesting person. He was his mother’s brother and a business partner in the Young/ Truman farm. Harrison’s heart was more in Kansas City than on the family farm, and it was for this reason that the Truman family returned to the Farm in 1905, and Harry in 1906. It’s regrettable that there is only one known photograph of Harrison Young…he must have been fascinating to be around. His nephews and niece were very fond of him.

And listen for an insight into what it was like to sleep in Harry Truman’s room in the Farm Home…a reminder that there was no electricity to the structure until well after Truman left the Farm, and no dedicated heat source. We can be grateful for modern conveniences, right?

January 13, 1914 Grandview Dear Bess:

Here it is Monday night again before I get started on your letter. I intended getting it off in time for you to get it Tuesday but I never did get back to the house after I went out this morning. After we got the cows fed, a man came and wanted to buy one for $42.50 and have us deliver her at Grandview. We told him that if we decided to take him up, we'd be there by two o'clock. The cow was caught after a half hour's tussle all over two acres, and we decided to weigh her and see how much we were being skinned. She was attached to the rear of a wagon and dragged on the scales. She weighed 930 and would bring about $54.00 in K.C. Papa decided that $10.00 was too much of a present to make so we turned her loose. I was mad as I could be after all that trouble, and then keep her. She's a horrid beast, always has her nose where she's not wanted. She's like Uncle Harry's four work steers. He said a fellow had two yoke of cattle named for the different churches. One was called Catholic, one Methodist, one Baptist, and one Episcopalian. He had good reasons for calling them that too. He said the Episcopalian wouldn't eat at the proper time and would try to horn the rest away so they couldn't eat. The Catholic wanted all there was to eat and didn't want the rest to have any. The Methodist was always battling and wouldn't pull a pound, and the Baptist wanted to run and jump in every hole of water he saw. This cow is of the Catholic persuasion. It was 2:00 P.M. when the cow episode was finished. I started to the house and had just got myself comfortably seated when a man came after a load of hay. I had to put on fifty-two bales for him and some of them would weigh all of a hundred pounds apiece. There is no reason on earth for me to belong to the Kansas City Athletic Club for exercise. I can probably get my money's worth out of the pool and barbershop on Sundays, and the bar - I was about to forget the bar.

I have made up my mind to quit the Grandview Commercial Club because they sell booze and then, to be consistent, I join the K.C.A.C. because they do! Most people are about that consistent in their actions. I'll not try to drink up all the K.C.A.C. has on draught the first time I go anyway. I'll endeavor to go by easy stages. It sure would be a strain on the breweries if everyone drank as much as I do - at least a strain on their dividends. It makes me tired to hear a lot of holier-than-thou people yell temperance and try to make me vote dry, and then when I'm in the city with them they make fun of me for drinking buttermilk instead of rye. I was in town on the Thursday before Thanksgiving with some of Grandview's strongest drys. On the way home we stopped at a lunch stand to get a sandwich and then every one of them had to have a cold bottle and I got bawled out because I didn't take one. I never did hear a remark that suited me better than "What you do speaks so loud, I cannot hear what you say." If the drys were all really dry, there'd be about half the booze drank and sold that there is. Excuse me. I didn't intend to get on a Women's Christian Temperance Union subject but it just intruded itself.

I met a cold wave last night as I came down the road. It was a breeze right off Lake Winnipeg coming from right under the south star. I didn't appreciate it a little bit. My north window was up and the bed was cooled down to about absolute zero. I was hot when I got in the house but it didn't take me long to cool off. It was an awful task to arise this morning in that ten-degree room. I finally did but I believe some of the enamel is cracked on my teeth.

I hope to get to town this week but I don't know what day. If I get in I'll call you up. See you anyway Sunday, which will be a long time to wait. Anyway if I get a long letter pretty quick it'll help some.

Sincerely, Harry

A remarkable letter from on this date in 1914. Harry Truman describes some business happening on the Farm, ruminates on the propriety of alcohol, and describes how cold his room is in the family Farm Home.

A digital copy of the original can be seen here: https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/january-13-1914-postmark

Dear Bess: January 10, 1911

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for January 10, 2022, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site and the National Park Service. A very interesting letter for you today, written on this date in 1911. By this time, Harry S Truman had been working on his family’s farm about 4 or five years, and you hear a little self-doubt about his abilities.

We wish we knew more about when Harry Truman and Bess Wallace reunited, likely in 1910. In this letter, you hear Truman share a little more about himself with Miss Wallace…his love of books, particularly Twain, his love of music. In this letter, too, is a reminder that Truman’s mother, Martha Ellen, whose family owned this farm, was an educated woman.

Now some of the “Dear Bess” letters written by Harry Truman contain some unfortunate words, including what are recognized today as racial slurs. You’ll hear one here. They’re not easy to read or hear, but they are what they are. And for many of us, they show how much Harry Truman evolved…by the time he became President of the United States he started setting important precedent for civil rights, even willing to jeopardize his own electoral prospects to do what was right.

Grandview, Mo.

January 10, 1911

My Dear Bessie:

You see I haven't learned to write 1911 yet. It's hard to form the habit suddenly. It is also hard to acquire the habit of early rising of your own free will and accord on these chilly mornings. You see Papa could never sleep after a certain time in the small hours of the morning and he always arose and then called me. Now I have to get up myself and start fires, milk cows and do other odd jobs around while it is yet dark. Vivian takes turn about with me though so I can gradually come to it. I don't think I'll ever make much of a mark as a farmer or anywhere else but sometimes I have to come across. This is one of them.

Ethel was out last Friday and I put her to work immediately. She helped me haul a load of baled straw (she sat on top of the straw), and then we got a load of hay out of the stack. You should see her pitch hay. She said she had always been taught never to take big bites on her fork. I told her she could unlearn that on a haystack. She still has that terrible malady I told you of.

My reading has been no heavier than yours - maybe not so heavy. It has been confined to Everybody's and one or two other fifteen-cent or muckrake magazines and numerous farm publications. You know if one farm paper gets your name, you'll get a dozen before the year is over.

I thank you very much for your invitation and shall certainly take advantage of it as soon as I can. I suppose skating is fine. I haven't the time to go see at present. I have only a few things to do such as feed hogs and cattle, build a mile of fence and a barn, and be at the house as much as possible, which isn't very much. I forgot to say I have been reading Mark Twain. He is my patron saint in literature. I managed to save dimes enough to buy all he has written, so I am somewhat soaked in western slang and Mark Twain idioms. My mother has been trying to persuade me to read Alexander Pope. She got a copy of his poems for her birthday. I haven't been persuaded yet, except a few of his epitaphs, which are almost as good as those we used to read of Bobby Burns.

When it comes to reading though I am by it as I am by music. I would rather read Mark Twain or John Kendrick Bangs than all the Shakespeares and Miltons in Christendom.

I have some cousins in Kansas City who affect intellect. They once persuaded me to go to a season of Grand Opera with them. It happened to include Parsifal and some others which I cannot spell. Well I haven't recovered from that siege of Grand Opera yet. Perhaps if they had given me small doses I might have been trained, because I do love music. I can even appreciate Chopin when he is played on the piano. But when it comes to a lot of would-be actors and actresses running around over the stage and spouting song and hugging and killing each other promiscuously, why I had rather go to the Orpheum. Perhaps if I could understand Dutch and Dago I could appreciate it better for I did hear an opera in English once that sounded real good. They say though it isn't good form to appreciate singing in English. I am sorry.

I suppose you'll be sorry too when you see the conglomeration I call a letter. But I do like to get letters, and if you can stand mine yours will be immensely valued. My father is doing nicely thank you and I hope he'll be up in four or five weeks.

Wishing you all the best of health and sincerely hoping that you will honor me with another epistle soon. I am

Sincerely yours, Harry S. Truman

One of the very earliest surviving letters. Harry Truman describes to Bess Wallace his life on the Farm, more difficult at that time because his father was recuperating from an accident. He also shares with Miss Wallace what he's reading, especially his love of Mark Twain.

A digital copy of the original can be seen here:

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/january-10-1911-misdated

Dear Bess: January 7, 1913

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for January 7, 2022, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service. We have one of the most wonderful of the Dear Bess letters for you today, from this date in 1913. In this letter it’s easy to pick up on frustration that Harry S Truman, farmer, was having with business and life. But you can also hear that trademark Truman optimism, and, as always, the deep love and admiration he has for Miss Wallace in Independence.

January 07, 1913 Grandview

Dear Bess:

I was all kinds of a fool for not accepting your invitation to stay. When I got home the hired man was here. I didn't get cold but it was not the most agreeable walk in the world from Grandview. Besides instead of being thanked for getting home to milk I got nothing but jibes. Papa had the impudence to ask me if your mother kicked me out. Pretended he was anxious for me to stay because he wanted me to go see Judge Mize on business. Any old time I ever let grim duty interfere with my inclination or pleasure it will be a warmer night than the last one was. You know Mark or Bill Nye or some other smart man has said that when business interferes with pleasure, by all means let business go hang. It seems that people who do are as well off. Anyway they're not pursued by bad hoodoos as I told you I am. Some day I shall whirl on that hoodoo and knock it into a cocked hat, then things will begin to come right.

I bought an Adventure last night and entertained myself with bloodcurdling stories on the train so I'd feel nice and comfortable coming down the road. This month's number sure contains some hair raisers. I took your watch chain and hid it in my hat band. I was going to tell my good holdup man to take my dollar and half but leave such chain provided he found it. I wouldn't lose that for a farm. It's my good luck piece now. I'm not one bit superstitious, oh no. But you know there is always a part of the giver along with a present and that's what makes it precious. I'd be most empted to eat that chain rather than let someone get it.

My letters are like the ones Agnes's flame used to send her. They are candidates for the kitchen stove. These sheets are large enough to start a good fire. I think I shall follow your stunt and get some very, very tiny note paper then they go down the register easily anyway. You ought to use some larger paper. You get the best of me in that. One of my sheets is as big as your two. I'll admit that one of yours is worth all mine but you should give as much paper anyway.

You sure punctured my head in your last. Mrs. Southern was most awful nice to say what she did. Even when you know such things are mistakes they make you feel good. I was on the point of buying a new hat and having my picture took and all sorts of things. Really now, won't you get me a picture made for my watch lid? I want it most awful bad. You know I only have two of you and neither of them is half as good looking as the original. Now you ought to give me one anyway. If it'll help any I'll say they couldn't make one that would be, though I'd like you to let them try.

Are you going to let me come over next Sunday? I hope so. It'll be a mighty long week. There are no holidays in this one and not a good show in town that I've heard of. Besides I'm busted anyway. Boxley is going to New Mexico and has politely informed me that two hundred dollars are in order. That guy keeps me busted from month to month. If it keeps up much longer I'm going into the hands of a receiver in Judge Pollock's court. That seems to be a money making proposition. It wouldn't work in my case for I'm not a public service corporation. I have nothing I could raise the price on except hot air, and that's too high already.

You owe me a four-sheet notepaper letter. At least I think you do. Here's hoping I get it. You are going to get this on Tuesday. Ought I to send one so you'll get it on Wednesday too? I'll have to know pretty quick if I do.

Today is another good day to contemplate a walk to Courtney. I dreamed the other night that you and I took a longer one that that. I was afraid to tell it 'cause it's a bad sign. But I hope it comes true. Not the sign.

Most sincerely, Harry

One of the most wonderful of all the letters. It contains some frustration, some optimism, but, most of all, lots of love. This letter could be all the proof one needs that Harry S Truman loved Bess Wallace more than anyone or anything in the world.

A digital copy of the original can be seen here: https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/january-7-1913-postmark

Dear Bess: January 3, 1912

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for January 3, 2022, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service.

Today, in this new year, we wish to share with you a letter that Harry S Truman wrote to Bess Wallace on this date in 1912. It’s an interesting one. In it, he makes reference to the lawsuit still pending between his mother and father and her siblings over the will of Truman’s grandmother, Harriet Louisa Young. He makes references to activities with the Masons, which he loved doing, and makes references to perhaps seeing a performer named Mizzi Hajos. Mizzi Hajos was a Hungarian-born actress who was all the rage then. He also makes reference to Blanche Ring, another performer who made the song “In the Good Old Summertime” popular. These two actresses were among the most popular of the day, but did they know that in their audience was, perhaps, a future President of the United States and his First Lady?

Grandview, Mo. January 3, 1912

Dear Bessie:

I am using a stub pen and it goes on a rampage some times. I suppose that 1912 gave it the jimjams anyway it made a beautiful address.

Where were you Tuesday about eleven-thirty? Someone was evidently talking the receiver off your phone. I had to go see our lawyer in the forenoon and I tried to call up to see if you'd go to the Orpheum, but for some reason never did connect up. I guess I'll not be able to come down Thursday, much as I'd like to. I fear you might carry out your threat about the speach [sic] and then I'll have to work today and tomorrow and Friday so I can say I got in half a week anyway. This new route around the sheet is entirely unintentional. I didn't discover until I went to turn it over that I was going backwards. I am too lazy to start again and besides this variety of paper is getting scarce.

I shall have to come to Independence Saturday to swear that I have lived in Jackson County for the last five years and if you will be at home that evening I'd be most awful glad. I went to Belton from K.C. yesterday and helped them install the officers of Belton Lodge. We will do the job at Grandview on Friday. If I hadn't already lost two days this week (and will lose another Saturday) and if it were not for that speach? [sic], I would see the same performance at Independence but I have to stay at home sometimes.

I was Grand Marshall last night at Belton. You can see how it should be done on Thursday. I didn't do it that way. When the show was over I sneaked off to the hotel and stayed all night so I would not have to arise at an unearthly hour. Some one of the good brothers always takes me home with him when I stay in Belton. They are nearly all in business that requires their attention at an early hour. I have not had more than four hours of sleep at one time since last Friday night. Therefore, the hotel.

Did you ever have a house party mostly girls? Well if you have you know whether they sleep or not. You never heard such a racket in your life. It sounded like the ten-cent store on bargain day from Saturday morning until Monday afternoon. Of course I contributed my share of the noise, but my share was mostly in daylight. Five of the girls stayed in one room at night and mine adjoined it on the east. It sounded at times as if a young earthquake had escaped and was endeavoring to enter my room through the solid wall. The girls said that one set wanted all the covers and the others wouldn't stand for it. We had a fine time, though, but as Macbeth would say, house parties murder sleep. I wish people wouldn't all try to have their parties on the same day. You know Miss Dicie and Miss Maggie hit the same date and on Monday evening Mrs. Frank Blair at Belton had a dinner party and Miss Whiteman at Grandview also favored me with an invitation for a party that day. I already had her invitation when you called up. She doesn't know it though I am happy to say. If people at Grandview find out I pass them up to go to Independence they'll think I'm stuck up. I'm not though because I'd pass up the whole state when I get a chance to come down there. Especially between now and February because after that I'll have to stay at home every day but Sunday. Maybe you'll be glad of that but I won't.

How would you enjoy Mizzi Hajos on Saturday P.M.? That is provided I am able to land some decent seats. Would you mind balcony no. 1 provided downstairs is all gone? I believe you said you were going to see Blanche Ring on Saturday afternoon. What is the reason I couldn't meet you somewhere after the show and go to dinner in K.C. and then to the show. Provided of course you could stand the Tea Cup Inn, for I'm too near busted for the Baltimore. Besides, they serve a tabled whatever it is dinner there and I wouldn't have to bother my hear about what to order. I shall call you up tomorrow and tell you I can't come down tomorrow evening and then we can discuss this arrangement. I hope you can go. Now you owe me a letter and a half. Be sure and answer the half.

Sincerely, Harry

A very interesting letter. Truman mentions meeting his lawyer, likely referring to a lawsuit his family was part of. He also makes reference to some Masonic activities, and talks about going to the theater with Miss Wallace. Note how Truman admits his lack of funds near the end.

A copy of the original is here, courtesy the awesome Truman Library: https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/january-3-1912?documentid=NA&pagenumber=4

Dear Bess: December 31, 1910

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess, Dear Harry podcast for December 31, 2021, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service.

We have a treat for you today…the oldest known surviving “Dear Bess” letter, dated December 31, 1910. Family tradition holds that one day, likely in 1910, Harry S Truman was staying with his cousins at 216 North Delaware, when the Noland family engineered a reunion of sorts with Bess Wallace, who lived at 219 North Delaware Street. It’s not clear how often Harry Truman and Bess Wallace had seen each other since they graduated high school together in 1901. But at some point, the Nolands asked Harry to return a dessert plate that belonged to Bess’ family across the street. Margaret Truman said that her father crossed Delaware Street “at the speed of light” to ring the bell at 219 North Delaware.

We’re not sure if this is indeed the first “Dear Bess,” but regardless, by December 31, 1910, the courtship was on. Harry Truman had loved Bess Wallace for twenty years by this point. The farmer from Grandview was out to win the heart of Bess Wallace.

Grandview, Mo.

December 31, 1910

My Dear Bessie: I am very glad you liked the book. I liked it so well myself I nearly kept it. I saw it advertised in Life and remembered that you were fond of Scott when we went to school.

Nothing would please me better than to come to see you during the holidays or any other time for the matter of that, but Papa broke his leg the other day and I am the chief nurse, next to my mother, besides being farm boss now. So you see I'll be somewhat closely confined for some time to come. I hope you'll let the invitation be a standing one though and I shall avail myself of it at the very first opportunity.

I guess Ethel and Nellie have been busy with their exams is the reason you haven't seen them. I got a letter from Ethel the other day saying she was suffering so from cramming, both mental and physical, and from "epizootic" (whatever that is) that she and Nellie would be unable to come out this week. You know they always spend a few days at Christmas out here. It was just as well, as I would have had to cancel their date anyway after Papa's accident. We haven't quite got over the excitement yet. A horse pulled a big beam over on him in the barn. We were so glad he wasn't killed we didn't know what to do.

If you see fit to let me hear from you sometimes, I shall certainly appreciate it. Farm life as an everyday affair is not generally exciting. Wishing you and all of you the very happiest New Year, I am

Very Sincerely,

Harry S. Truman

The oldest surviving "Dear Bess" letter from December 31, 1910!

Harry S Truman, farmer, living in Grandview Missouri, had been reunited with the great love of his life, Bess Wallace. And now he was on a quest to capture her heart.

You can see a digital copy of the original here:

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/december-31-1910

Dear Bess: December 28, 1941

Transcript

Hello and welcome to the Dear Bess and Dear Harry podcast for December 28, 2021, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site and the National Park Service.

The famous “Dear Bess” letters continued to be written even after Harry Truman married Bess Wallace in 1919. This letter, from on this day in 1941, is terrific in that Senator Harry S Truman makes a lovely reference to the wedding anniversary of his parents, Martha Ellen Young Truman and John Anderson Truman.

John and Martha Truman came from families that had farms near each other in Grandview, Jackson County, Missouri. We don’t know much about their courtship, but they were married on December 28, 1881. They lost their first child, but then eventually had three others…Harry, in 1884, John Vivian in 1886, and Mary Jane in 1889. John Anderson Truman died in 1914 in the family Farm Home in Grandview. Martha Ellen Truman, called Mattie by some, lived to see her son become President of the United States. She died in 1947.

December 28, 1941 En route aboard Missouri Pacific R.R. to St. Louis

Dear Bess: I found this in my briefcase and thought I might as well use it. The date is the wedding anniversary of my mother and father in 1881. Some time ago, I'd say as we reckon time, but only a snap of the fingers in the universe.

Please call Vivian and tell him that Wilson came in to see me and I talked about Mary's station to him and I believe he'd better talk with him, too. I forgot to tell him when I stopped there.

We almost missed the train after waiting for it didn't we? See that that dumbell orders those seats and then the conductor will be looking for you. I'll make arrangements about your space on the B. & O. if the agent meets me at St. Louis. I hated to leave but my job must be done now sure enough and I wouldn't have had a minute's peace, and neither would the family, if I'd stayed at home. Too much publicity. Somebody said the last "Time" is still calling me the fox-faced little Senator. Maybe I am. As Bulger used to say, it's better to be that than nothing.

Wish you and Margie were along. But I can't have everything I guess. If there are any editorials please cut 'em out. Say hello to everybody and kiss my baby.

Love to you, Harry

In this letter, Senator Harry S Truman makes note of the wedding anniversary of his parents. A charming, if too brief, letter.

The original can be seen here, courtesy of the Truman Library: https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-truman-1921-1959/december-28-1941

Dear Bess: December 25, 1917

Transcript

Happy holidays from the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast, Harry S Truman National Historic Site and the National Park Service. We simply wish to share this letter with you from Christmas Day, 1917, while Harry S Truman was in the midst of some Army training, preparing for his service in World War I.

We wish all of you a safe and happy holiday season…let’s listen to what Lieutenant Harry S Truman wrote to his sweetheart, Miss Bess Wallace, while in training in Oklahoma.

December 25, 1917

Dear Bess: I should be severely reprimanded for this week's work. A whole week has gone since I wrote you. I wired you last night and hope it arrived today. I have been the busiest little bee in the hive I guess doing a full days drill and trying to get my country store off the rocks. I succeeded very successfully in accomplishing the latter. It will run with its usual regularity from now on. I got your package and simply couldn't wait any longer than today to open it. It sure was grand. Those gloves and that sweater were exactly what I needed. Your mother's cake is simply too pretty to cut. It looks exactly like a big Christmas bell. I'm not going to cut it until Christmas Day. Hope you got your package all right. I haven't seen it but if it's according to directions I am hoping it will be acceptable.

There were some promotions in our regiment this week. Kelly, Phelps, Flynn, Joes were promoted from second to first lieutenants. The Colonel and Lt. Col. are going to San Antonio to school and Col. Danford is going to take over our regiment for a month. He's an artillery man for sure and I suppose we must be making some progress to get the use of a man like him. He's written a book on field artillery that is considered a regular Bible by most artillerymen. I guess we'll have to put in a few more hours than we have been now to learn that book. We're lucky to have been using it already for a text book.

Perry is home on a permanent furlough. You asked me how he could be home. That's how. They put him before an efficiency board. We doing real military now and politicians don't count.

Mary S. B. has the scarlet fever in Lawton and Kenneth can only call her up. She has a nurse and is getting along all right. Please don't hold it against me this week and I won't let it occur again. Write as often and as long as you can.

Most sincerely, Harry

Written on Christmas Day, 1917, Lt. Harry S Truman fills in Miss Bess Wallace with the latest from his Army training camp in Oklahoma, while raving about his future mother-in-law's Christmas cake!

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/december-25-1917?documentid=NA&pagenumber=3

Dear Bess: December 21, 1911

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for December 21, 2021, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site and the National Park Service. We would like to share a fascinating letter with you that was written by Harry S Truman, farmer, to his sweetheart Bess Wallace, on this date in 1911.

There is a lot of charm in this letter, as well as a little self doubt that Truman harbored. But the most interesting part of this letter revolves around a legal battle that Harry Truman and his parents were involved with. When Truman’s maternal grandmother, Harriet Louisa Gregg Young died, she left the farm to John and Martha Truman, as well as Harry, who was partner in John A. Truman and Son, Farmers. Martha Truman’s siblings contested the will, and that legal battle took not only time, but significant financial resources, seemingly much of the profits of the farm. Eventually, the Trumans won the legal challenge, but at significant cost. Unfortunately, much of the paperwork from this challenge seems to be lost, making the mentions that Truman made in these letters very valuable.

Grandview, Mo. December 21, 1911

Dear Bessie: You cheated me out of two pages. Aren't you ashamed? If you only knew how glad I am to get them, you wouldn't be so short with them. I suppose I am too crazy about you anyway. Every time I see you I get more so, if it is possible. I know I haven't any right to but there are certain things that can't be helped, and that is one of them. I wouldn't help it if I could you know.

I guess you are lucky that you don't care-as even the best of fellow, which I am not, couldn't very well make a girl happy on nothing a week and a hat- full of debts. You see, I was fool enough or good enough, whichever way you look at it to go in with daddy even on his debts. Say, don't ever mention that as no one knows he has any, especially his relatives, See?

Really though if I thought you cared, I bet I could win out anyway in spite of all the kin in creation.

This is a mighty poor Christmas letter but our dear relatives have succeeded in giving us the bluest Christmas since grandmother died. If you could see the allegations in the brief, you'd think my mother was the prime lady villain. It makes me so mad I could fight a boilermaker. They even accused our grandmother of being weak minded and most everything else-when she was the best businesswoman I ever expect to see. If we'd ever mentioned property to her, that itself would have finished us-as it should have done.

Bessie, if my dear men friends who invited themselves to dinner here Christmas go home on the afternoon train, I am going to try and see you Christmas evening if you are at home. I'll call you up if I can, or if I can't, about five-thirty. But don't stay at home on my account because I may not get to come. I'll bring you a copy of Richeileu if I come. I got Edwin Booth's prompt copy for fifteen cents. It's a stirring play I tell you. Mamma and Mary are going to see Julius in the afternoon. Maybe you'll run into them. I sent you a piece of tin jewelry the other day. I got it some time ago but found a busted link in the chain and had to have it renewed, so when I got it again I just sent it--that's why so early. With a Merry Christmas, I am, as always,

Your Harry

Lots of romance in this letter, plus an interesting insight into a legal battle Harry Truman and his family were engaged in concerning the will of Mrs. Harriet Louisa Gregg Young, Harry Truman's grandmother.

You can see the original letter here: https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/december-21-1911

Dear Bess: December 17, 1912

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for December 17, 2021, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site and the National Park Service. We would like to share this letter from December 17, 1912, with you today.

Harry S Truman, farmer, writes of a gift that he has procured for his sweetheart, Miss Bess Wallace. It’s evident he put a lot of thought into this purchase, and is concerned how it will be received. And if you like to eat sausage, pay note to Truman’s description of how it was made on his family’s farm.

Grandview, Mo.

[Dec. 17, 1912]

Dear Bess: I've got it - oh, job well done maybe. It's not a rope of pearls or a limousine. It took me seventeen and one-half minutes by the clock to decide and seven weeks to think of. Then of course it's not half good enough. I really couldn't get anything good enough, not even if I had a million. You can exchange it for something if it's not agreeable. It didn't come from Cady's or Jaccard's nor E.B.T.'s nor any hardware store nor Monkey Ward's nor the ten-cent store. I'll give you three guesses and if you guess, I'll send it back and get the other one, which happens to be the same thing. The guy brought the wrapper from gay Paree in the bottom of his trunk. He gave me that and it's better looking than the thing itself. You can't guess it, so you needn't try. I'm only building up your expectations so they can be keeled over at one fell swoop. You know a grand disappointment is as much fun as a good surprise--to the lookers on.

That lowdown dentist kept me for one solid hour and nearly drilled into my gray matter, fact is some of it must have leaked out. I went up and down 11th, Walnut and EBT's but didn't run into your mother. If I had I'd have had three lunches. Wouldn't that have been magnifique. When you phoned she wouldn't arrive until one I went to the Elgin and tanked up walked up Walnut and who should I meet but Myra and Mary going to lunch. They insisted and I went. All I could do was drink chocolate while they destroyed some sandwiches at the Scarritt arcade. Polly said she had only three more things to get at 12:30 and had to be at 57th and Highland at 2:30. I bet she's not more than there yet.

I trailed all over the district. Bought the twins a present and Mary one. Have yet to purchase the cousins and pappy one. I got mamma an aluminum roaster. She's been wanting one and as she'd probably make me get it anyway this is a good time to be nice about it. Mary's beau met me and wanted me to suggest what she wanted. I told him I was hunting a brother myself for a suggestion but had none to wake. He seemed to think I was some what of a knot head but I didn't care to have my back hair loosened when I got home. He suggested a thing or two and I told him to go to it they'd suit me all right. He informed that I wasn't the one he cared to suit. The argument ended at that point.

Did your flowers ever arrive? I should have sent a messenger but did think of it at the time. I suppose you carried the prize home. I was in your burg again last night to a Lodge of Instruction. I told Polly that's where I was going but they didn't believe me, neither did Ethel and Nellie or the folks at home. It doesn't pay to tell the truth even occasionally to some people.

We are going to kill hogs today, oh what a mess when the meat comes home. It's always my job to stuff the sausage into sacks. It is a very agreeable one too. Always I put in some good hide off my own hands along towards the last because they blister and the blisters wear off. It doesn't injure the flavor of the sausage.

May I come Sunday, and are you going to let me go shopping with you Monday or? - and? - Tuesday, whichever suits you best - and I wish that wedding was in kingdom come on Saturday night, for that's the only one this week that I can get off to go to a show. Perhaps it is as well for I'll have a few more cents for Christmas presents and lunch Monday and, or, Tuesday.

Sincerely, Harry

A fascinating letter. Will Bess Wallace like the Christmas present that Harry has bought for her? You can tell he's worried about that.

Dear Bess: December 14, 1911

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for December 14, 2021, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service.

We have a fun letter for you today, written on this day in 1911. Remember, the courtship of Mr. Harry S Truman of Grandview and Miss Bess Wallace was likely in its first year. Quite significantly, in this letter Mr. Truman shares the joy he feels in having received a standing invitation for Sunday dinner at 219 North Delaware Street, where Miss Wallace lived. Much has been written and said about the relationship between Harry Truman and Mrs. Madge Gates Wallace…but in this letter he is over the moon that Mrs. Wallace has extended this invitation. It’s a pivotal moment for Harry Truman. Imagine him at a Sunday dinner, with George and Elizabeth Gates, Mother Wallace and her three sons, George, Frank and Fred, and Bess Wallace. Do you think he was nervous? Or more pleased to be there?

Lots of fun in this letter, from commentary about Christmas and gifts, Mr. Truman’s choice of reading material, and a prank that he played on his sister, Mary Jane Truman. We are so glad these letters survive!

Grandview, Mo. December 14, 1911 Dear Bessie:

I have been dissipating this week in Pleasant Hill. The town is wet and I really could. The Grand Lecturer of Missouri was there and Mr. Blair wanted me to go learn a lecture for him! I have a hard enough head so that when anything is pounded into it in a strong manner, it stays. That's why I got called on. I am very glad I was, for one of the good old brothers down there took me home with him Tuesday night and gave me quail on toast for breakfast-all I could possibly hold, with a plate full of them still on the table when I left. It was a downright shame to leave them. Even the old Lecturer himself looked at them with regret. He came over specially for breakfast. This good brother begged me to stay Wednesday night, too, but I just had to come home. Papa says I only visit at home anyway. I am trying to make use of my time before we fire the hired men, for it'll be home for me then, sure enough. One reason why I attend these instruction Lodges is because when I visit K.C. Lodges or Independence they make a point to call on the farmer Master to do something-and if it is bungled they say, oh well he's from the woods; it's to be expected. If it isn't, they won't believe I'm a farmer. I am though, and I'm glad I am.

Miss Betty is a very good cook to ask me to dinner next Sunday and I shall be glad to go, more than glad, because you are going. Then I'll still have a dinner at your house to look forward to. Tell your mother that I will be pleased to have lunch there Sunday provided it won't cancel a future dinner.

Do you suppose Allen Bros. could be persuaded to take us out and come for us without a J.P. Morgan fee? It would be much more convenient than a rig because there'd be no horse to look after. My sister has an old beau in Pleasant Hill. I accidentally ran into him and it entered my head to play a joke on her. I got one of the boys in the instruction school to write her a card and sign the fellow's initials. I beat the card home, so I don't know how it'll turn out. She has never seen his pen ability, so if Vivian gets the card we'll have a circus for a while.

It certainly is nice of you to say that you enjoyed Lucy more than Trovatore, and I am glad. I enjoyed it more than any Grand Opera I ever heard. The Christmas wish hasn't struck me yet. But it never does until the day before. I guess everyone will be happy when it's over with. Life would not be worthwhile without a Christmas, though. Be sure and save me a fig. An atrocious pun could be made here but you must give me credit for not doing it.

Nellie Noland called me up the other day and her voice sounded as if she were in the last stages of acute excitement. The cause was a visit from some people who had entertained her at Standardoilville. She wanted me for tomorrow night and I have a Lodge election and Third Degree that night. The people decided not to come until next week and I am very thankful. I could neither turn Nellie down nor miss the meeting. I don't know what I'd have done. Probably sent my astral body one place and my temporal the other.

Girls go to an awful lot of work and worry for Christmas, don't they? They'll sew and paint and do fancy needlework for weeks and weeks just to give away. It just takes me about thirty minutes to do the whole stunt. I go grab two or three boxes of candy with pretty pink ribbons (I don't know if the ribbon has one b or two) and holly on them and a piece of tin "joolry" for Mary and the job is done. I usually have to take my four girl cousins to a show Christmas week and then I'm square for the year.

Ethel says men have no business giving girls things to wear, even cousins, because they use such horrid taste in selection. I think she's embittered because a fellow gave her a solid gold bracelet with an amethyst (I wish Theodore Roosevelt spelling were in use) as big as an English walnut in it. It really wouldn't do for Liza Carilen to wear on the stage.

I have been reading The Shuttle, by Mrs. Burnett. It is not so good as The Rosary, by Mrs. Barclay, on practically the same subject. Life and Adventure are my standbys. Adventure is the only magazine printed on cheap paper that I can read. Some people like realism in their reading for entertainment but I want refined Diamond Dick in mine. I would nearly as lief read geometry as George Eliot or Browning. Sometime I am going to read Daniel Dronda though. I hope to meet Mary in K.C. Saturday for the purpose of being bled for Christmas and will call you up about going to Mr. Pritchett's.

I certainly appreciate your making my Sunday invitation a standing one. Remember please that you are in debt to me for a letter, which I shall expect after I see you.

Most sincerely, Harry

This is a most important letter. Among Harry S Truman's often humorous takes on Christmas and Christmas shopping, Truman is overjoyed that he has, now, a standing invitation for Sunday dinner at 219 North Delaware Street, where Bess Wallace lives. A turning point for Harry Truman, the suitor!

A digital copy of the original can be seen here:

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/truman-papers/correspondence-harry-s-truman-bess-wallace-1910-1919/december-14-1911

Dear Harry: December 10, 1938

Transcript

Welcome to the Dear Bess/ Dear Harry podcast for December 10, 2021, a service of Harry S Truman National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park Service.

Today we wish to share with you one of the relatively few “Dear Harry” letters that Bess Wallace Truman wrote to her husband Harry, this time from December 10, 1938. It’s unfortunate that Mrs. Truman destroyed most of her correspondence with Mr. Truman, but we certainly understand her personal desire of privacy. In this time before emails and text messages, and when long distance calls were expensive, letters were an inexpensive way to keep in touch. And it was simply a part of their world.

December 10, 1938

[Independence, Mo.]

Dear Harry- You will be a bit surprised to find this waiting for you no doubt. I don't know whether you meant you were starting for N.O. on Sunday or would arrive-so am getting it off in time. Thanks for the stamps-I judged you wanted them used.

Wasn't that a tricky Christmas card from the Shields-Was it in with the table-cloth? Am mighty anxious to see the cloth-am glad you didn't feel too badly stung on the duty.

Marg & I went to K.C. yesterday & bought her evening dress. She is wild about it but I'm afraid it will hurt your eyes.

Bud called up last night-He and Sharon are in K.C. on their way west-B. to Denver & S. to Dodge City-They are coming out tomorrow for a short visit.

Hope it's nice & warm in N.O.-It's chilly here but more pleasant than that warm weather was-

I got some nice cologne in attractive bottles at Wooly's for the girls & will send them to Vic & ask him to "distribute" them. (Writing on a soft magazine has its difficulties.)

Have a good time and hurry home-

Love- Bess

In one of the relatively few "Dear Harry" letters, Mrs. Bess Truman updates her husband Harry with some of the latest happenings in Independence, while Senator Truman is en route to New Orleans.

Oh, how we wish we had more of Mrs. Truman's letters!

A digital copy of the original is here:

https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/personal-papers/harry-s-truman-correspondence-file-1919-1943/december-10-1938-postmark

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