His parents couldn't decide which grandfather to honor with the middle
name, however they were both "S" names.
Briefly quoting from the Truman Library site:
In recent years the question of whether to use a period after the "S"
in Harry S. Truman's name has become a subject of controversy,
especially among editors. The evidence provided by Mr. Truman's own
practice argues strongly for the use of the period. While, as many
people do, Mr. Truman often ran the letters in his signature together
in a single stroke, the archives of the Harry S. Truman Library has
numerous examples of the signature written at various times throughout
Mr. Truman's lifetime where his use of a period after the "S" is very
obvious.
Mr. Truman apparently initiated the "period" controversy in 1962 when,
perhaps in jest, he told newspapermen that the period should be
omitted. In explanation he said that the "S" did not stand for any name
but was a compromise between the names of his grandfathers, Anderson
Shipp Truman and Solomon Young. He was later heard to say that the use
of the period dated after 1962 as well as before.
For more information:
Barb Engvall
Teacher-Librarian
John Campbell Elem
Selah, WA
macbarb@charter.net
http://www.selah.k12.wa.us/JC/jc.cfm
http://www.trumanlibrary.org/speriod.htm
On Feb 26, 2004, at 1:29 PM, GraceAnne Andreassi DeCandido wrote:
> Harry Truman didn't have a middle name. Why he chose S,
> though, I do not know.
> GraceAnne
>
> The honorable Tim Lance inscribed the following on 26 Feb 2004
>
>> Note the lack of a period after S as his middle name. I am
>> blanking on why and don't have time at the moment to
>> research. I have to leave but told the teacher by morning
>> I'd have all the information she'd need, merrily offered by
>> the largest Ready Reference Desk I know of.
>>
>> Thank you,
>>
>> Tim
>>
>> Timothy G. Lance / Librarian
>> Cook Elementary / Austin (Texas) I.S.D.
>> tlance@austin.isd.tenet.edu
>>
> GraceAnne A. DeCandido, MLS
> Blue Roses Consulting ~ Writing ~ Editorial ~ Web Content
> New York City ~ ladyhawk@well.com
> http://www.well.com/user/ladyhawk/gadhome.html
>
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> http://www.well.com/user/ladyhawk/gadbio.html
>
> Everything is held together with stories.
> That is all that is holding us together, stories and compassion.
> ~Barry Lopez
>
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