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“You may have something on that “S”. I'll have to look into it. I think you and I had better make it a point to see that gentleman if we get to St. Louis. I don't see how he could be but a grand person with that last name—whether the first one adds anything to his stature or not is hard to say.”

—Letter from Harry S. Truman to Leverett Saltonstall, 26 May 1950

Leverett Saltonstalls Humor

During the time Leverett Saltonstall (1892–1979) served as a US senator from Massachusetts (1945–1967), he was well-known for his skill at reaching across the aisle to establish productive bipartisan relationships in the Senate. He also had a great sense of humor. He typed and sent a letter to Pres. Harry S. Truman in 1950 upon making a funny discovery. He wrote: “This morning I received a letter from a gentleman in St. Louis, a lawyer, who states that his wife’s brother is named Truman Saltonstall. If we reverse this, does it account for the “S” in your name?”


Two days later, Truman responded “You may have something on that “S”. I'll have to look into it.Read Truman’s reply.


Explore our collection of documents and photographs related to Leverett Saltonstall and read his letter to President Truman.

Upcoming Events

PROGRAM

Monday, 6 May | 6:00 PM

Democracy Awakening: A Conversation with Heather Cox Richardson


Heather Cox Richardson, in conversation with Catherine Allgor, MHS President


The in-person event is sold out.


Register to attend online.

SEMINAR

Tuesday, 7 May | 5:00 PM

Mobility, Entrepreneurial Networking, Self-Improvement & Urban Tendencies in the Early Republican Northeast


Kirsten E. Wood, Florida International University, with comment by Richard D. Brown, University of Connecticut


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PROGRAM

Wednesday, 15 May | 6:00 PM

Annual Fiori Lecture: Curating Controversy: Exhibiting Difficult Objects in Museums


Erica Lome, Historic New England, and Karina Corrigan, Peabody Essex Museum, moderated by Catherine Allgor, MHS


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Thursday, 16 May, 5:00 PM: Digital History Seminar on Projects Related to Public History and Documentary Editing with Tru Leverette Hall, Clayton McCarl, Maya Blackin, and Janaya Ferrer, from the University of North Florida; Laura Pietro, Suffolk University; and Marta Crilly, Boston College. This is a seminar.


Thursday, 23 May, 6:00 PM: A Civil Right: 20 Years of Marriage Equality in Massachusetts with the Honorable Margaret Marshall, former Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Court, and Nancy Cott, Harvard University, in conversation with Catherine Allgor, MHS. This is a program.


Tuesday, 28 May, 6:00 PM: Our Voices: AAPI History at the MHS with Rakashi Chand, Reading Room Supervisor, and Peter Drummey, Chief Historian & Stephen T. Riley Librarian. This is a program.


See full calendar. Explore Member Week events.

Looking for More?

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If you missed a program or would like to revisit the material presented, please visit www.masshist.org/video.

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Learn more at www.masshist.org/library.

2024 Making History Gala


Join us for an unforgettable evening on 6 June 2024, with featured speaker Doris Kearns Goodwin at the iconic Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston. Visit www.masshist.org/gala to purchase tickets.  

The MHS Fund and Membership

Our Members make it possible for us to offer an array of complimentary services including admission to our exhibition galleries and library, online access to our collections and digital editions, and onsite and remote reference services for all. Membership begins with a fully tax-deductible contribution of $250 or more to the MHS Fund. All Members enjoy a full year of social, cultural, and educational experiences, including invitations to our annual Holiday Party, FREE program registration, and Member Week perks. Learn more and join today!
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