Your TR Source
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.
Please see below to view items from the collection.
Augustus J. Mattos, a former butler for Henry Cabot Lodge, has applied for a civil service position as a Portuguese interpreter and appeals to Mrs. Roosevelt for help.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1903-09-16
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.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1903-09-30
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.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1903-10-05
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.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1903-10-23
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.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1903-11-04
President Roosevelt asks Senator Lodge to explain to their friends that Chatham is in the district of Louis Frisbie Payn, and that Payn’s newspaper has a poor view of the Roosevelt administration.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1903-11-18
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.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1903-12-09
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.”
Massachusetts Historical Society
1903-12-21
President Roosevelt writes that at 11 am tomorrow, weather permitting, he will await “sad, bad, mad” little Eva.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1903-12-21
President Roosevelt wishes Senator Lodge luck with his trip and hopes he will be successful with his mission. Roosevelt impresses upon Lodge the necessity of success in coming to an agreement with England, as this is the last chance to do so by the “free act” of both parties.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1903-07-16
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Secretary of the Navy Meyer regarding a young man about whom they have exchanged letters earlier, who has since taken Roosevelt’s advice and turned himself in. Roosevelt feels strongly that the Army and Navy deal too harshly with desertion in times of peace and that the severity of punishment contributes to the number of desertions. Major-General Edward Hamilton of the British Army found that it was better to show leniency. Roosevelt invites Meyer and his wife to visit him when Meyer attends the Lincoln dinner.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1911-01-20
Theodore Roosevelt says that if George von Lengerke Meyer is willing, Meyer can ride out with him. Roosevelt thinks the situation is a bad joke on him, as he “unwittingly increased the punishment for desertion” while he was President.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1911-02-07
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Secretary of the Navy Meyer for his interest in the Gray matter.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1911-02-20
Theodore Roosevelt expresses to Secretary of the Navy Meyer how greatly relieved he is to never have to make another speaking tour. Roosevelt fears that it may be too late for the editors of The Outlook to use Meyer’s article, but he thanks him for sending it. Roosevelt reminds Meyer that he and his wife are invited to spend the night with the Roosevelts on their journey East. He will read Ballou’s paper with interest.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1911-04-25
Theodore Roosevelt assures Secretary of the Navy Meyer that he knew Meyer had not said what the papers reported him to have said. Meyer was right to repeat what Roosevelt said, that he would not be a candidate. Roosevelt enjoyed having Meyer as a guest.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1911-06-10
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Secretary of the Navy Meyer on the topic of Semmes Read, whose case is now before Meyer. Read was the best among all the officers Roosevelt saw on the presidential yachts USS Mayflower and USS Sylph, and he had the highest confidence in him. Roosevelt says that if Read recovers and if there were a war, he would advocate for Read being put back in any position he would accept.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1911-06-19
Theodore Roosevelt says that Secretary of the Navy Meyer is kind to take such trouble. Roosevelt agrees with the position Meyer has taken in the Rhoades matter.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1911-06-20
Theodore Roosevelt tells George von Lengerke Meyer that Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt had a narrow escape, but is now on the road to recovery. He does not know how long it will take for her to heal. He also apologizes for not being able to be present at the Overseers meeting on the 11th, but will try to be at a meeting later.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1911-10-06
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Secretary of the Navy Meyer but regrets that it is not possible for him to accept. Roosevelt wonders if Meyer is going to Harvard on December 13 for the overseers’ meeting, as Roosevelt will be going then. He will be staying with James Ford Rhodes, but if Meyer is going, he will make a date to see him, too.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1911-10-27
Theodore Roosevelt writes to George von Lengerke Meyer to let him know that, while he had initially proposed visiting on December 13 in conjunction with the Overseers’ Meeting, he now knows he will be busy all day. He asks if Meyer will be going later in the year.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1911-11-21