[4] Barbara Potts was the first woman mayor of Independence, Missouri, birthplace of Harry S. Truman, the 33rd president of the United States.
She initiated and oversaw a number of projects to address social concerns and historical preservation including the 1983 opening of Hope House, an emergency shelter for domestic-violence victims, and the Crossroads Homeless Center.
[6] Potts also served on both the national and local committees for the 1984 Harry S. Truman Centennial, a series of events commemorating the 100th anniversary of the former president's birthday.
[7] In May 1988, Potts coordinated with United States Representative Alan Wheat to expand the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site.
[11] In 1998, U.S. Rep. Karen McCarthy of Missouri recognized Barbara Potts in the US House of Representatives for establishing the Women's History Collection at the Jackson County Historical Society & Library.