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Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site

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.

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Ansley Wilcox residence

Ansley Wilcox residence

Color postcard of the Ansley Wilcox residence, the location where Theodore Roosevelt took the oath of office after William McKinley’s death. The portico is draped with black bunting and a large American flag hangs above the steps. Photographers and others are gathered in front of the house.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site

Creation Date

1910

Wilcox house

Wilcox house

Black and white postcard of the Ansley Wilcox house, the location where President Roosevelt took the oath of office after William McKinley’s death. The portico is draped with black bunting and a large American flag hangs above the steps. Photographers and others are gathered in front of the house.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site

Creation Date

1901-1907

Chippendale desk of Ansley Wilcox

Chippendale desk of Ansley Wilcox

A Sheraton-style Chippendale desk manufactured in England circa 1790 where Theodore Roosevelt wrote his first proclamation to the nation following his 1901 inauguration. Desk has large slant top with corners decorated with inlay of light wood in fan design. Inside are seven cubbyholes, seven small drawers, three large drawers, and two concealed drawers. Beneath are four full length drawers with brass pulls and brass framed keyhole. Made of English walnut with an oak base.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site

Creation Date

1790

He was overwhelmed by the world’s gratitude

He was overwhelmed by the world’s gratitude

Reprinted in unknown newspaper and date – originally printed in the Chicago Tribune on August 30, 1905. Black ink cartoon with Theodore Roosevelt buried beneath a pile of flowers and a pile of congratulations cards, signed by various world leaders including Edward VII, Kaiser Wilhelm, and (Czar) Nicholas. In the background are two men walking off into the sunset, one with the Russian flag, and the other with the Japanese flag. At the top is a short paragraph highlighting Theodore Roosevelt’s accomplishments in negotiating the end of the Russo-Japanese War and advocating that Franklin Roosevelt do the same between England and Germany.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site

Creation Date

1939-1941

Colonel Roosevelt’s anti-trust campaign

Colonel Roosevelt’s anti-trust campaign

Black ink cartoon with two panels suggesting that President Roosevelt is not fighting against large trusts. The first panel is labeled “Front View” and appears to show Roosevelt, with a cavalry hat and rifle, defending the “Anti-Trust Breastworks.” The second panel is labeled “Rear View” and shows a stick holding up the glasses and hat while the rifle, labeled “Attorney Generalship,” is just another stick with one end made to appear like a rifle barrel.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site

Creation Date

1904-06-19

All ready, professor!

All ready, professor!

Black ink cartoon of President Roosevelt in his Rough Rider uniform and “Jedge Parker” on stage. Roosevelt bends over with his hat stretched out and both men hold a sheet of music. In front of the stage is a fat, bald man labeled “Wall Street” sitting and playing a piano, with his sheet music the same as the one being held by Roosevelt and Alton B. Parker. The text of the music reads “There will be no silver threads among the gold.”

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site

Creation Date

1904-07-24

And that’s no yarn

And that’s no yarn

Black ink cartoon of President Roosevelt dressed in an admiral’s uniform and standing on a copy of the United States Constitution. He is addressing six men, all with Roosevelt’s face. One of the men is dressed as a cook and labeled “Treasury.” The rest are in Naval uniforms with the labels Army, Cabinet, Navy, Senate, and House. In the background is a ship’s smokestack labeled “The Uncle Sam Teddy.”

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site

Creation Date

1904-06-12

Postcard to Mrs. M. Marcellus

Postcard to Mrs. M. Marcellus

Sepia tone postcard featuring a teddy bear and billy possum clasping paws. In the background, the dome of the United States Capitol is visible. In the upper left corner is a circular photograph of Theodore Roosevelt and in the upper right corner is a circular photograph of President Taft. The caption reads “Good Bye Teddy.” The written message states, “I guess that William will beat him 2 to 1.”

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site

Creation Date

1909