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Massachusetts Historical Society

Founded in 1791, the Massachusetts Historical Society celebrates history as “not just a series of events that happened to individuals long ago but … integral to the fabric of our daily lives.” The MHS is noted for its holdings of personal papers related to John Adams, John Quincy Adams, and Thomas Jefferson.

Theodore Roosevelt related items in this collection include photos of Roosevelt speaking at his inauguration, TR in his frontiersman attire, as well as a signed photograph given from Roosevelt to his close friend and confidant Henry Cabot Lodge. Letters from TR to Lodge are also included. Other correspondence highlights are Roosevelt writing to members of the Saltonstall family and a letter from Roosevelt to Mary Bowditch Forbes commenting on pacifist women.

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Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt tells Senator Lodge that Congressman Franklin E. Brooks of Colorado has not consulted him about Randolph since last spring. Roosevelt believes that if Edward Oliver Wolcott will take Randolph, Roosevelt could convince Brooks to take him as well. Roosevelt asks Lodge to see how Wolcott feels about it.

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1903-12-09

Note from Theodore Roosevelt

Note from Theodore Roosevelt

President Roosevelt references his previous letter in which he incorrectly attributed a quote to Algernon Charles Swinburne instead of Robert Browning, and says that Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt triumphed in the letter recipient’s “superior literary acumen.”

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1903-12-21

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt compliments Senator Lodge on his speech. He feels that the results have been “most satisfactory” compared to the year before the election of 1900. They have done better in Maryland and no worse in New York, and overall, Roosevelt is satisfied with the results. He looks forward to Lodge’s visit.

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1903-11-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt tells Senator Lodge, who is serving on the Alaskan Boundary Tribunal, that the United States can yield on the Portland Canal Islands as long as Lord Alverstone agrees with them on the line being drawn around the heads of the inlets. Roosevelt believes the contention regarding where the line should be drawn is a result of inaccurate maps of the area. He asserts that the British have “no case whatever” and that Alverstone should be satisfied with the very minimum. Roosevelt is glad that Lodge, Secretary of War Elihu Root, and former Senator George Turner of Washington feel the same way.

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1903-10-05

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt sends his greetings to Senator Lodge on his return from the successful Alaska boundary negotiations. Roosevelt needs Lodge’s assistance in the Massachusetts campaign, where William Alexander Gaston and Richard Olney have been attacking Roosevelt “savagely.” Olney is attacking Roosevelt for the Post Office scandals, despite the fact that they began under the administration of which Olney was a part. Roosevelt sends love to Lodge’s wife Nannie, and congratulates him on his new grandson, John Davis Lodge.

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1903-10-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt had a pleasant last few days of summer. He describes to Senator Lodge what he read recently. Roosevelt also discusses his political struggles including the Miller case with the labor unions, the various Post Office scandals, and renewed opposition to the Cuban Reciprocity Treaty from the American Protective Tariff League.

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1903-09-30

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt goes over the events in the controversy at the Government Printing Office. He is pleased that the situation with Wall Street has improved. Roosevelt is annoyed over the public outcry that emerged when no special commendation was offered to General Nelson Appleton Miles upon his retirement. Such a commendation would have been unprecedented and Roosevelt continues to have a very low opinion of Miles.

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1903-09-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

Due to poor negotiations with the British and Canadians, President Roosevelt intends to announce that the United States will claim and occupy all disputed territory. However, Roosevelt will speak mildly and make no threats. Roosevelt is pleased with the improving conditions in the business world and will be reviewing the naval squadron tomorrow.

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1906-08-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

There is a movement to make General Nelson Appleton Miles the commander of the Grand Army of the Republic and then the Democratic Vice Presidential candidate. As commander, Miles could create problems for the Republican Party by making “demands on the Pension Office and posing as the friend of the soldier.” President Roosevelt considers Miles a self-interested liar and traitor. The financial situation is “ugly” and Roosevelt blames the panic on “speculative watering of stocks on a giant scale.”

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1903-08-06