The Garr Family

Vietta and theTrumans

Vietta’s father Benjamin, born in 1858, wasthe eldest child of George and MarthaGarr. The Garrs and their children wereslaves on a farm near Independence untilMissouri’s emancipation in 1865. By 1870,the family was farming in Independence.They were devout Baptists, an affiliationthat continued to be strong in subsequentgenerations.

Benjamin Garr married Emma Jamisonaround 1895. They lived in Independenceand rented a house on Farmer Street. It issaid that Ben worked for Bess Truman’sgrandfather, George Porterfield Gates, as ahouseman. He also worked as a hostler --someone who takes care of horses or mules-- and as a laborer at a local rock quarry.Emma Garr worked as a laundress.

During the late nineteenth and earlytwentieth centuries, African Americanshad limited job options. Men worked aslaborers in various businesses and inprivate homes as house servants orgardeners. Women held positions ascooks, maids and laundresses.Benjamin and Emma had one daughter,

Vietta Garr Vietta Garr worked for the Truman family as cook,companion and friend for more than 35 years. Herinvolvement at church and her leadership in a fraternalorganization called the Knights of Tabor, as well as herposition at the Truman home, made her a highlyrespected member of the African American communityin Independence, Missouri. Vietta’s life is an exampleof one of the overlooked stories of our nation’s history:the African American domestic.

Ione Vietta, in March of 1896. Vietta grewup watching her female relatives work ascooks and laundresses and learned theskills she would need to work in a privatehome. She attended Young School, theAfrican American school in Independence,located on the corner of Farmer andNoland streets and completed her highschool education there. By 1920, she wasworking in an Independence home as aservant.

Benjamin Garr died between 1934-1938.Emma Garr died July 21, 1940. Both ofVietta’s parents are buried at WoodlawnCemetery in Independence.

Vietta Garr began working in the Wallace-Truman home in 1928. Bess Truman’smother, Madge Gates Wallace, wasaccustomed to having servants in thehome. Her parents, George and ElizabethGates, employed live-in servants duringthe late 19th century. Domestics in this partof the Midwest were typically AfricanAmericans. After the turn of the 20th

century, the Gates-Wallace familycontinued to employ black domestics,although they no longer lived with thefamily.

Vietta worked for the family until 1943.With Senator Truman and his family livingin Washington D.C., Vietta was no longerneeded at the Independence house on aregular basis. She soon found a position asmanager of the Crown Drug Store lunchcounter at 12th and Paseo in Kansas City,Missouri.

In 1945, Bess asked Vietta to work for thefamily again when Harry Truman becamepresident. She accompanied the family tothe White House to be a companion to the

aging Madge Wallace. Although Vietta wasnever the official White House chef, theTrumans favored her meals. Vietta knewwhat foods each of the Trumans enjoyed.During their stays in Independence, shefixed steam-fried chicken or baked Virginiaham, her own special recipe for sweetpotatoes and the President’s favorite, angelfood cake.

Vietta helped raise the Truman’s daughterMargaret, from the time she was a smallchild. Margaret was not able to say “Vietta”as a young child, calling her “Pete” instead.They developed a strong bond that lastedinto Margaret’s adulthood. Viettaaccompanied Margaret on numerousconcert appearances providing trustedcompanionship.

During her time in Washington, Vietta metmany famous and influential people. Shecollected cards, autographs and otherkeepsakes, which she compiled intoscrapbooks chronicling her travels.

Headstones of Benjamin and Emma Garr,Woodlawn Cemetery.

Photos by Bill Curtis.

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Vietta in her work uniform,circa 1950.

National Historic SiteNational Park ServiceU.S. Department of the Interior

Harry S Truman

CommunityInvolvement

Second Baptist Church

The Knights andDaughters of Tabor

Retirement

Vietta was well known throughout theAfrican American community, not onlyfor her position at the Truman household,but also for her involvement in SecondBaptist Church and the Knights andDaughters of Tabor. Her opinion was

Vietta was a longtime member of SecondBaptist Church located on White OakStreet in Independence. Church was animportant part of her daily life and Viettawas involved with many committees andspecial groups within the church. Sheplayed the piano and sang soprano in thechurch choir. She was known for herwonderful cooking and often preparedfood for church gatherings.

In 1957, the Trumans set up a trust fund forVietta with $5200 from their estate. Thetrust paid twenty dollars per week untilVietta’s death or for five years, the time itwould take to deplete the fund. Shereceived the support from 1957 until 1962.Vietta continued to work for the Trumansduring those years, finally retiring in themid 1960s. She never married.

Vietta was severly injured in late 1973 whenher dress caught fire from a burner on herkitchen stove. She died on December 31,1973. Her funeral was held January 6, 1974at Second Baptist Church. In her eulogythe pastor commented that Vietta wasassociated with diplomats and statesmenfrom many countries yet she never lost herlove of church and community.

E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

respected by both blacks and whites. Sheoften referred people from her church andcommunity for domestic positions.Several people who worked on a part timebasis for the Truman family were referredby Vietta.

Vietta Garr’s International Order of Twelve endow-ment certificate, dated February 7, 1921.

Courtesy of Norman & Roxanne Robinson.

Vietta Garr is buried with her parents atWoodlawn Cemetery.

Vietta’s home at 131 E. Farmer in Independence,circa 1970.

Photo by Bill Curtis

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Second Baptist Church, Independence, Missouri,circa 1960.

Photo by Bill Curtis

In August 1872, Rev. Moses Dicksonfounded a benevolent society for AfricanAmericans in Independence called theInternational Order of Twelve of theKnights and Daughters of Tabor. Thesociety’s objectives were to spreadChristianity and education, acquire realestate and avoid intemperance. TheKnights of Tabor spread quickly across thecountry and by 1900 claimed 200,000members.

Vietta Garr was an active member of thewomen’s Independence chapter. TheSalem Tabernacle No. 1 provided a socialoutlet, but more importantly it allowedAfrican Americans to purchase burialinsurance during a time when whitecompanies would not insure black citizens.

Vietta became a member on February 7,1921. She listed her mother, Emma Garr, asbeneficiary of her insurance policy. Duringthe late 1920s, Vietta took on an active rolein the society, serving as High Priestess, theleader of the Tabernacle. She served in thisposition for several years. The SalemTabernacle No. 1 operated into the early1930s when the Depression made payingdues too difficult and the chapterdisbanded.

Vietta, circa 1965.

For More Information Contact: Superintendent, Harry S Truman NHS, 223 North Main Street, Independence, Missouri 64050

KJS 2004