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Harry Truman Typed Letters (2) Signed with Related Letters and Photographs Concerning the White House Reconstruction...
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Description
Harry Truman Typed Letters (2) Signed with Related Letters and Photographs Concerning the White House Reconstruction of 1949-1952. All from the papers of William Adams Delano, a consulting architect on the project. Delano was the architect that had added a third floor to the White House in 1927 under President Coolidge. He had initially been brought in to consult for an addition of a porch in 1946, when the White House was discovered to be in danger of imminent collapse. Congress created the Commission on the Renovation of the Executive Mansion in March 1949, and the United States Commission of Fine Arts was given approving authority for the design work. Delano was brought in as an advisor.The lot includes:
Harry Truman Typed Letter Signed. One page with integral blank on White House letterhead, 7" x 8.75"; November 13, 1950. A letter to Delano granting him permission to publish a poem. Truman adds, "Things seem to be going very well over at the house and I am told they will be through earlier than they thought." With large mounting remnant and adhesive stains on verso of blank integral and uneven toning. Integral blank has tear at center that is reinforced by mounting remnant.
Harry Truman Typed Letter Signed. One page with integral blank on White House letterhead, 7" x 8.75"; April 16, 1952. Truman writes, "You have made a great contribution to the architectural beauty of the White House I think. If you and I could have revamped that Pennsylvania Avenue porch on the north side of the White House itself, we would have had a perfect architectural Presidents' House. Sometime or other I hope somebody will do the job." Ironically, Delano's addition of a third floor in 1927 was one of the contributing factors to the structural damage that made the reconstruction necessary. The whole interior was demolished and a new foundation was created. Letter has adhesive residue along the top of the blank integral. Staple holes at top left corner. Uneven toning, with a line of foxing along the right margin.
Harry Truman Autograph Note Signed on a place card with the presidential seal. Mr. Delano's place card for a luncheon given at the White House in celebration of the completion of the reconstruction. Truman writes, "A most pleasant luncheon with Mr. Delano April 9, 1952. Harry S. Truman." Scattered staining and staple holes at top left corner. Light soiling to verso.
Harry Truman Signed Photo. 10" x 8", a photograph of Truman with the Committee for the Renovation of the Executive Mansion standing on the White House lawn. Truman signs below his image. With photo stamp crediting Abbie Rowe of the National Park Service on the verso. Date stamped June 20, 1949 on verso, below the annotation "1113 - A" written in red ink. Diagonal crease in lower left corner, also light creasing along the margins.
The group also includes a letter signed from White House architect, Lorenzo Winslow; a letter signed by committee appointee, Richard E. Dougherty; two letters signed by project manager Glen Edgerton; three retained carbons of letters by Delano; a small campaign button that reads, "Truman was screwy to build a porch for Dewey"; a 1958 printing titled "The White House", issued by the National Park Service; and seven black and white photographs of the White House, including one of exterior scaffolding, and one showing a proposed design for a family porch.
Condition: Winslow letter has staple holes at top left corner and uneven toning. Dougherty letter has uneven toning, soiling, and has been folded in quarters. Both Edgarton letters have staple holes at top left corners and uneven toning, and one of the letters has mounting remnants at top of verso. One of the retained carbons has staple holes at top left corner and creasing. Photos have news agency stamps on verso and include agency descriptions.
Auction Info
2019 May 14 Historical Manuscripts Grand Format Auction - Dallas #6210 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
May, 2019
14th
Tuesday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 5
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 734
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