Your TR Source
Harvard University’s Theodore Roosevelt Collection, housed in its Widener and Houghton libraries, is a major resource for study of the life and times of Theodore Roosevelt. The collection originated as a comprehensive library opened in New York City by the Roosevelt Memorial (later Theodore Roosevelt) Association in 1923, and donated in 1943 to Roosevelt’s alma mater. The collection, since enlarged, includes manuscripts (Theodore Roosevelt’s papers other than those designated by him for the Library of Congress and papers of other Roosevelt family members), ancillary archival resources, printed works, photographs and cartoons, and ephemera relating to Roosevelt’s personal and professional life.
Portions of the collection, already cataloged, were digitized at Harvard and then received by digital library staff. Our digital library currently holds some 3,000 items from the Harvard collection, consisting of its total holdings of Theodore Roosevelt’s diaries, outgoing correspondence, and compositions, as well as eleven personal clipping scrapbooks, 1881-1899. See below to view items from this collection in the digital library.
Reproduction or publication of these materials requires the permission of the Theodore Roosevelt Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit from Dark Harbor, Maine where he and Mother are staying with Ethel Roosevelt Derby and mourning Quentin Roosevelt. He says Ethel’s son Richard has been a great comfort for Mother and he hopes they will send Archie Roosevelt home soon. Roosevelt says Quentin’s death has been in every newspaper and has helped unite the country.
1918-07-28
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to say nineteen of his letters arrived in one day. Roosevelt discusses his views on the author Thomas Hardy and literature in general. He writes about Quentin Roosevelt’s death and how Mother and Quentin’s fiancee Flora Payne Whitney are doing. He adds he wrote to General John Pershing regarding Kermit being assigned to machine gun work.
1918-08-04
Theodore Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit about the amazing things American newspapers are saying about Roosevelt’s four sons and how they contrast them with German Kaiser Wilhelm II’s sons. He says Quentin Roosevelt’s grave has been discovered and his fiancee Flora Payne Whitney will stay with Ethel Roosevelt Derby. Roosevelt talks of letters from Belle Roosevelt and Aunt Emily Tyler Carow and how he is doing all he can to get people to speed up the war.
1918-08-10
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit about mourning Quentin Roosevelt and how upset he is Flora Payne Whitney was not able to go to Europe and marry him before he died. Roosevelt tells Kermit to write to Rudyard Kipling and that he will not give him any advice on machine guns or tanks because he trusts Kermit’s judgment. He is upset to have to sit and watch everything happen because he is too old to help.
1918-08-18
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit and daughter-in-law Belle to say he is happy and surprised they are able to live together. He tells Belle to take care of herself and says he is glad Kermit is with the artillery. Roosevelt says Ethel Roosevelt Derby and Quentin’s fiancee Flora Payne Whitney are coming down to stay with Mother who is heart-broken over Quentin’s death, and Archie Roosevelt will be sent home soon as well. He closes by saying he is asking for the money from his Nobel Prize back from Congress so he can give it to charities. Enclosed was a sheet of French stamps.
Roosevelt, Kermit, 1889-1943; Roosevelt, Belle, 1892-1968
2012-02-02
English
A sheet of four French stamps that Theodore Roosevelt enclosed in a letter to his son Kermit. They say “Republique Francaise” and are worth 15 cents.
1918
Theodore Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit and daughter-in-law Bell about the anticipation for Archie Roosevelt’s homecoming and the rumors Quentin Roosevelt was posthumously awarded the French Croix du Guerre. He says he traveled to Illinois with Mother to give a big speech recently.
1918-08-29
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit and daughter-in-law Belle to say Archie Roosevelt has returned home. He tells Kermit having to spend three months in school is a small price to pay for being able to join the American army so quickly and tells Belle to take care of herself. Roosevelt says he is still giving speeches about speeding up the war and having a total victory. He has also acted as a guide to some soldiers who visited from Camp Mills.
1918-09-08
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit and daughter-in-law Belle that Aunt Corinne’s husband, Douglas Robinson, has died. He says Archie Roosevelt to doing well and hopes to return to the front in the spring. There has been some unworthy action in preventing Ted Roosevelt from receiving a promotion.
1918-09-13
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit and daughter-in-law Belle to say the artillery training would be good for Kermit. Uncle Douglas Robinson’s funeral was touching and Archie Roosevelt will have his knee operated on again. Ted Roosevelt has been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and Roosevelt is working on another book. Roosevelt says the letters people have been writing about Quentin Roosevelt are wonderful.
1918-09-21
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit and daughter-in-law Belle about receiving a letter from Rudyard Kipling and having to go on a trip to promote the liberty loan. He has to make speeches and is not happy about going. He says Alice Roosevelt Longworth’s husband, Nicholas Longworth, made a speech in Congress referencing Kermit and his brothers. Alice came to visit Archie.
1918-09-26
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit and daughter-in-law Belle about how happy he is that Scribners accepted Kermit’s poem. He describes his travels for the liberty loan drive and criticizes President Woodrow Wilson’s handling of the war. Roosevelt closes with a list of recent dinner guests.
1918-10-13
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit and daughter-in-law Belle about President Woodrow Wilson’s failure at attempting a peace negotiation which enraged the American public. He encloses a check from Scribners for Kermit’s poem and says he has finished his speaking tour for the liberty loan. A letter from Endicott Peabody of Groton School was enclosed.
1918-10-20
Headmaster of Groton School, Endicott Peabody, sends a printed letter to all Groton alumni telling them of the boys farming instead of playing football this year and the establishment of intensive military training. He also gives updates on various faculty members and the state of the flu epidemic near the school. He adds that the soldier alumni photos are being displayed.
1918-10-05
Theodore Roosevelt tells his son Kermit that Bridges wanted some articles from Kermit about his time in Mesopotamia. Roosevelt says it is his sixtieth birthday and he has a lot of happy memories to look back on. He lists several guests he has had the past few days and criticizes President Woodrow Wilson for accepting any type of peace just to end the war.
1918-10-27
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit about the honor of him serving in General John J. Pershing’s army and the state of peace negotiations. He gives updates on Ethel Roosevelt Derby and Archie Roosevelt.
1918-11-03
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit that Mother received a letter from Belle about the christening of Joseph Willard and he has heard of Kermit’s part in the latest war action. Roosevelt gives updates on Archie Roosevelt and says he heard Ethel Roosevelt Derby’s husband Richard has aged a great deal in the war.
1918-12-03
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to tell him Ted Roosevelt’s wife Eleanor has arrived and told him Kermit’s battery was attached to Ted’s regiment. Roosevelt reviews all the action Kermit has seen in the war and tell him how proud he is of him. He adds that Archie Roosevelt has written a small book about his experiences in the first year of the war.
1918-12-16
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit after returning home from seven weeks in the hospital with rheumatoid arthritis and sciatica. He says he can only hobble a few yards. He provides updates on Ethel Roosevelt Derby, Archie Roosevelt and the grandchildren. Roosevelt asks Kermit to write him about his experiences in the Argonne and the march to the Rhine river. He closes by saying he hopes Kermit will be home soon, unless President Woodrow Wilson does something to his own selfish advantage.
1918-12-29
Theodore Roosevelt writes from his trip with Mother to Medora, North Dakota. He draws pictures to go with the text and says someone will read the letter to Ted. He writes about riding and roping horses as well as seeing deer and chickens.
1890-09-05