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On September 14, 1901, Theodore Roosevelt took the oath of office as the 26th president of the United States in Buffalo, New York, at the home of Ansley Wilcox. Roosevelt’s predecessor, William McKinley, had been shot by an assassin at the Pan-American Exposition on September 6, dying at 2:15 a.m. on September 14. Wilcox’s home is now the site of the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site.
Currently, a collection of Buffalo newspapers regarding the shooting of President McKinley from September 7 to 25, 1901, as well as the scrapbook kept by Ansley Wilcox following the assassination attempt to Roosevelt’s inauguration in his library are available from the Inaugural’s collections.
Items from the Inaugural site’s collections were digitized and cataloged on-site and then transferred to the Theodore Roosevelt Center for inclusion in the digital library. As TR Center staff received materials from the Inaugural, the items were added to the digital library. See below to view items from this collection.
Digitization of items at the National Park sites was possible thanks to National Park Service Centennial Challenge Funding in partnership with Dickinson State University.
Postcard featuring the Ansley Wilcox Room at the Kathryn Lawrence’s Dining Rooms. Theodore Roosevelt was inaugurated at the house, then owned by Ansley Wilcox, on September 14, 1901.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1937-1959
Postcard featuring the White Room at the Kathryn Lawrence’s Dining Rooms. Theodore Roosevelt was inaugurated at the house on September 14, 1901.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1937-1959
Black ink print of oval portrait of Theodore Roosevelt in suit, vest, and tie.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
Unknown
Postcard with color image of Sagamore Hill, the home of Theodore Roosevelt.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1930-1945
Title page features a political cartoon titled “No Admittance,” depicting Uncle Sam and President Roosevelt, who is carrying a “Square Deal” bag, trying to gain admittance to the Senate. However, the doorway is blocked by the “Tariff Wall.” There are several short articles on American political events and an article, “The Return of Secretary Taft,” regarding the visit of Secretary of War Taft and Alice Roosevelt to Japan.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1905-10-07
Partial copy of Harper’s Weekly magazine dated June 4, 1904. The title page features a political cartoon, “Roosevelt Against the Field,” depicting a large elephant ridden by President Roosevelt racing a small donkey ridden by Alton B. Parker, William Randolph Hearst, Richard Olney, and Senator Gorman. The cover has an illustration of fighting in the Russo-Japanese War and there are three pages of brief articles covering recent political events.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1904-06-04
Partial copy of Harper’s Weekly magazine dated January 20, 1906. The title page features a political cartoon, “The Busy Showman – I,” depicting President Roosevelt as something of a puppeteer with James Wolcott Wadsworth dancing on his right and Governor Higgins attached to a battery on his left. The cover features the Harper’s Weekly nameplate behind a Greco-Roman statue of a female and there are two pages of brief articles covering recent political events.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1906-01-20
Partial copy of Harper’s Weekly magazine dated December 29, 1906. The title page features a political cartoon depicting Theodore Roosevelt putting a judicial robe on William H. Moody with Secretary of War Taft in the background reading a book entitled “Simplified Constitution.” The cover features the titles of two articles and there are two pages of brief articles covering recent political events.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1906-12-29
Puzzle postcard that, depending on perspective, shows a three-dimensional image of a portrait of Theodore Roosevelt or a view of the White House.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1906
Invitation to the opening ceremonies for the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site on September 14, 1971.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1971-09-14
Program of events for the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site.
Envelope commemorating the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site on September 14, 1971. At left are a black and white photograph of Theodore Roosevelt and the Wilcox Mansion. “Dedication, Wilcox Mansion, Buffalo, New York” is printed above the photographs and printed below is “70th Anniversary Inauguration of Theodore Roosevelt, President, September 14, 1971.”
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1971-09-14
Program for a mass meeting “In the Interests of the Enforcement of Laws and a Proper Respect for the Lord’s Day.” Speakers include Bishop John J. Keane, president of the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and New York City Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt. Program includes copies of the invitations extended to Roosevelt and Keane, proceedings of the meeting, and the text of the speeches.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1895-09-11
Stereograph of President Roosevelt wearing a top hat and riding in an open carriage through a large crowd at the South Carolina Inter-State and West Indian Exposition.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1902
Report detailing efforts to build an appropriate memorial to Theodore Roosevelt.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1926
Original pen and ink cartoon featuring Theodore Roosevelt throwing a shoe and a bag of rice at a carriage departing from the White House. Inside the carriage are the newly-married Alice Roosevelt Longworth and Nicholas Longworth.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1906
Sterling silver commemorative demitasse spoon with handle shaped like a figural Theodore Roosevelt on horseback and raised image of the United States Capitol in the bowl of the spoon.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
Unknown
Color supplement to the Buffalo Sunday Times with a full-length portrait of a standing Theodore Roosevelt and four oval portraits from different time periods in Roosevelt’s life in the corners. Page includes biographical information about Roosevelt up to 1909 and a timeline of his African safari.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1910
Round celluloid campaign pin with black and white portrait of Theodore Roosevelt on a light cream background with blue highlights. At the top and along the left edge is draped a colorized American flag. On the right side is printed in blue “For Governor Theodore Roosevelt.”
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1898
Invitation for Ansley Wilcox and Mary Grace Rumsey Wilcox to a White House reception. Includes invitation, envelope, admission card, and admission card envelope.