George C. Marshall Foundation facts for kids
The George C. Marshall Foundation is located in Lexington, Virginia. It was started by President Harry S. Truman. The main goal of the Foundation is to keep and share the important papers of General George C. Marshall. General Marshall was a very important leader. He served as the Army's chief of staff, and later as the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense. He even won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1953 for his famous plan, the Marshall Plan, which helped rebuild Europe after World War II.
About the Marshall Foundation
The Foundation is built on the grounds of the Virginia Military Institute. It has a special library, an archive (a place for historical documents), and offices. The Foundation was officially opened on May 23, 1964. It was a big event with many important soldiers and leaders attending. Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Dwight D. Eisenhower both spoke at the ceremony. General Omar Bradley was the first president of the Foundation. Other important people on the first board of directors included Robert A. Lovett, Dr. Forrest C. Pogue, and General Frank McCarthy.
The Marshall Research Library
The Marshall Foundation used to have a museum. This museum showed exhibits about Marshall's life and work. It had displays about his military career and his achievements after World War II. The museum closed its doors in January 2021. Some artifacts are still kept by the Foundation. Other items have been sent to other museums for people to see.
The Marshall Research Library is a very important part of the Foundation. It focuses on the history of the United States military and its diplomacy (how countries work together). This covers the years from about 1900 to 1960. This was the time when George Marshall was a military officer and a public servant.
The library holds many valuable collections. It has more than 23,000 original writings and two million documents. Many of these documents come from the National Archives and Records Administration. You can also find hundreds of old maps and thousands of photographs there. The library also has 700 posters from countries involved in both World Wars. There are also films and over 250 oral histories. Oral histories are recordings of people talking about their experiences.
Images for kids
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U.S. Army Chief of Staff General George C. Marshall
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George C. Marshall Foundation building on the campus of VMI
