Letter from Secretary of War
Henry Stimson to President Harry S. Truman
April 24, 1945
National Archives, Harry S. Truman Presidential Library
In this once secret letter to President Harry S. Truman, Secretary of War Henry Stimson requested an urgent meeting to discuss the Manhattan Project, the all-out effort by the Federal Government to build an atomic bomb during World War II.
Student interest:
- Subtle references in a document can pique student curiosity and encourage critical thinking.
- Unique markings on a document capture student attention.
Teachers Note:
You can find this letter in an online project of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Museum and Library and in a "Teaching With Documents" article in the November 2003 issue of Social Education. In both cases, this document's ability to capture student attention and encourage further research is highlighted. The letter is available online in the National Archives Digital Classroom at http://www.archives.gov/education/.
