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Harry S Truman National Historic SiteGates-Wallace home, ca. 1900
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Harry S Truman National Historic Site
Medical Personnel
Marcia Armstrong
Marcia Armstrong

Armstrong, Marcia
Interviewed August 13, 1991

Marcia Armstrong, employed by Upjohn, worked as a nurse for Bess W. Truman from September 1980 until Truman's death in 1982.

Interview (pdf - 274KB)

 
George and Stella Earnshaw
George and Stella Earnshaw

Earnshaw, Stella E. and George B.
Interviewed July 22, 1991

Stella Earnshaw worked for Dr. Charles Allen and as a nurse occasionally aided Bess W. and Margaret Truman. Mrs. Earnshaw, a native of Platte City, Missouri, provides information about the Gates and Wells families located in that area.

Interview (pdf - 137KB)

 
Dr. Wallace Graham
Dr. Wallace Graham

Graham, Dr. Wallace
Interviewed December 9, 1985

Dr. Wallace H. Graham was the personal physician of President Truman and his family from September 12, 1945, until the deaths of Harry S Truman and Bess W. Truman.

Interview

 
Alice Gross
Alice Gross

Gross, Alice T.
Interviewed August 16, 1991

Alice Gross worked for Bess W. Truman as a personal care assistant from June 1978 to August 1980.

Interview (pdf - 99KB)

 
Trudy Johnson as
Trudy Johnson dressed as "Gumdrop"

Johnson, Trudy
Interviewed November 18, 1985

Trudy Johnson was hired in October of 1980 and served as a night time nurse and companion to Mrs. Truman until June 1981.

Interview

 
Valeria LaMere
Valeria LaMere

LaMere, Valeria
Interviewed November 18, 1992

Valeria LaMere, first nurse and companion, later housekeeper, worked for Bess W. Truman from October 1977 to Truman's death in 1982. LaMere discusses Truman's birthday parties, daily routine, the Carter visit in 1980, shopping with the Secret Service and local friends and visitors.

Interview

 
Robert Shemwell
Robert Shemwell

Shemwell, Robert R.
Interviewed August 3, 1991

Robert R. Shemwell, podiatrist, served the Trumans from 1954 until Harry S Truman's death in 1972 and Bess W. Truman's death in 1982.

Interview

 
Velma Simmons
Velma Simmons

Simmons, Velma James
Interviewed November 3, 1985

Velma James Simmons was a companion/nurse for Bess W. Truman for sixteen months. Simmons discusses the meals she prepared for Mrs. Truman, other nurses also employed in the Truman home, and visits by Margaret and Clifton Daniel.

Interview (pdf - 64KB)

Margaret Truman at national convention. Credit: Truman Library  

Did You Know?
Harry Truman didn’t want to embarrass his loved ones. He wrote, “I’ve never cared for social position or rank for myself except to see that those dear to me were not made to suffer for my shortcomings.”

Last Updated: May 12, 2008 at 15:42 EST