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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.
Poster with photograph of President Roosevelt framed by decorative columns and a relief scene of Roosevelt on horseback leading a charge.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1901
Magazine article describing the family life of the Roosevelts at the White House. The centerfold is a layout of ten black and white photographs of the Roosevelt children.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1902-08
Color print reproduction of “The Rough Riders,” a National Guard Heritage Painting by Mort Kunstler. The painting depicts soldiers of the Rough Riders fighting their way up Kettle Hill on foot with a mounted Theodore Roosevelt leading the charge. Below the image is a description of the history of the Rough Riders.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1985
Round celluloid campaign pin with black and white portrait of Theodore Roosevelt and a playing card motif. Four playing cards and a fifth card with Roosevelt’s likeness are being held by a left hand. Prosperity, protection, expansion, and sound money are written on the cards. The edge of the pin has the slogan “Stand Pat!”
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1900
Sheet music for the song “Teddy You’re A Bear.” Four pages of sheet music with red, white, and blue design on the cover with photograph of Theodore Roosevelt.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1916
Round celluloid campaign pin with black and white photograph of Theodore Roosevelt on a cream background. The portrait is surrounded by a red and gold border with an American shield design at the top. The outside of the pin is dark blue.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1898
Round celluloid button with black and white portrait of Theodore Roosevelt on a light cream background. Outside edge is gold with a decorative design and an American flag stretched behind the photograph. Attached to the button at the top is a red ribbon.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1898
1904 presidential campaign poster featuring photographs of President Roosevelt and Charles W. Fairbanks.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1904
Harper’s Weekly cover shows Theodore Roosevelt holding a bowling bowl labeled “Nomination 1908.” A sign above the pins reads “Favorite Sons.” Pins are labeled with the names of the following states: Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Pennsylvania. Another sign lists people that are warned off the premises. Jack London is one of those individuals.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1907-06-01
Two pages from an unidentified book with a short biography and photograph of Theodore Roosevelt.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1895-1897
Black ink cartoon of President Roosevelt returning from a hunt with animal skins on his back. He is looking at a steam vent labeled “Washington” which has popped its lid because of the pressure. Men are struggling in the vent with steam bursts labeled “Loomis-Bowen Scandal,” “Santa Fe Rebate Suits,” “Panama R.R. Rates,” and “Castro’s Defiance.” Seated on top of the lid is Secretary of War Taft with devil’s horns.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1905-05-13
Newspaper article reviewing the reasons why Theodore Roosevelt was elected governor of New York.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1898
Photographs of Alton B. Parker and President Roosevelt, the candidates in the 1904 presidential election. Both are riding horses.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1904-07
Newspaper article reviewing the speech William Jennings Bryan delivered at Madison Square Garden. The article is accompanied with two collages of photographs showing Governor Roosevelt and Bryan on campaign.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1900
First day cover for a 3-cent American postage stamp commemorating the 25th anniversary of the opening of the Panama Canal. The stamp is shades of purple and features the image of a steam ship sailing through the canal. The ship is flanked on the left by a portrait of Theodore Roosevelt and on the right by a portrait of George W. Goethals. The left of the envelope features a purple design with black and white photograph of Theodore Roosevelt.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1939-08-15
First day cover with four 3-cent, green Mount Rushmore National Memorial stamps along the right side. Postmarked Keystone, South Dakota, on August 11, 1952. On the left side of the envelope is a black and white photograph of Mount Rushmore with an oval inset of Gutzon Borglum, the designer and sculptor. Addressed to John A. Lehocky, 736 Pear Street, Vineland, New Jersey.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1952-08-11
Two sheets of 3-cent United States postage stamps featuring an illustration of Sagamore Hill. Printed in green ink, the stamps are labeled “Sagamore Hill, Oyster Bay, N.Y., Home of Theodore Roosevelt.”
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1953
Sepia tone folio print of President Roosevelt in a suit and tie. In the bottom right corner is a reproduction of Roosevelt’s signature.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1903
Full length portrait of Theodore Roosevelt in Rough Rider uniform.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1899
First day cover for a red 6-cent stamp featuring a portrait of Theodore Roosevelt. Postmarked New York, New York, on November 18, 1955. Along the left side of the envelope is an ink portrait of Roosevelt. Below the portrait is a battle scene with several soldiers and two men on horseback.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1955-11-18