Your TR Source
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.
Alice Roosevelt Longworth, age 94, remains the capitol’s “grande dame.” After being introduced to a guest from Buffalo, New York, she was asked about her feelings upon hearing that William McKinley had been shot. She responded, “Sheer ecstasy.”
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1978
Theodore Roosevelt conveys his regrets that he was not at the hotel when Peter C. Doyle called on him.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1900-11-01
Commemorative bronze coin celebrating Theodore Roosevelt’s career and presidency. Coin features Roosevelt’s silhouette on the obverse and biographical information about Roosevelt on the reverse.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1909
Engraved invitation to a reception at the White House on Thursday, January 26, 1905. Also includes an envelope with an embossed gold eagle and a non-transferable admittance card for Mr. and Mrs. Walter Jennings.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1905-01-26
Edith Kermit Roosevelt expresses get well wishes to Jean Pollock Brown Jennings.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1939-11-01
Check payment from Edward W. Bok to Theodore Roosevelt in the amount of $600 and dated December 22, 1916.
This check was payment for a series of articles Theodore Roosevelt wrote anonymously for the Ladies Home Journal in 1916-1917, under a column or department called “Men.” The readers did not know that the homey advice, on such matters as how a father should behave the first time a young man comes to call on his daughter, was being given by a former president of the United States.
1912 campaign poster with full length black and white photograph of Bull Moose party presidential candidate Theodore Roosevelt and vice-presidential candidate Hiram Johnson. At the bottom of the poster is a quote from Rudyard Kipling.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1912
Commemorative first day of issue cover postmarked in Tucson, Arizona, with four-cent “Forest Conservation” U.S. postage stamp in right corner. Envelope has image of Smokey the Bear, a black and white ink drawing of Theodore Roosevelt, and an image of a river running through a forest.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1958-10-27
Commemorative first day of issue cover of 3 cent U.S. postage stamp celebrating the 50th anniversary of the organization of the Rough Riders. Stamp in the upper right corner is violet-brown with the image of the William Owen O’Neill statue of a horse and a rider. Postmarked in Prescott, Arizona, on Oct. 27, 1948. Has a portrait of “Bucky” O’Neill in the upper left and a drawing of the same horse and rider statue featured on the stamp.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1948-10-27
Commemorative first day cover postmarked on the USS Charleston with three-cent “25th Anniversary Panama Canal” United States postage stamp in right corner. Reverse of envelope has an illustration of the Empire State Building as the world’s tallest building.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1939-08-15
Engraved invitation addressed to Admiral and Mrs. Goodrich for a reception at the White House, possibly for the Army-Navy reception.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1907-02-07
Small silver-colored medallion with “Alice” engraved on it. Small hole at top.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
Unknown
A black and white political cartoon showing politicians from Nebraska, New York (Theodore Roosevelt), Ohio (William H. Taft), Indiana, and Illinois as snowmen.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1908-01-08
Full color political cartoon depicting President Roosevelt dressed as Aaron, the Biblical figure, laying his hands on the head of a goat representing Standard Oil. The goat has a bell labeled “Prosecution” around its neck and is carrying many bundles that represent other trusts. William Jennings Bryan and William Randolph Hearst are nearby and appear to be clapping.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1907
Full color political cartoon depicting President Roosevelt leading the “Regular Republican Party Ticket,” in the form of an elephant, along the road to the Pennsylvania State Capitol. Behind them on the road is a keg-shaped wagon mired in mud and being confounded by obstacles. The wagon is being urged on by William Jennings Bryan and driven by Lewis Emery. A donkey labeled “Democratic Destructive Party” pulls the wagon along with a giraffe labeled “Lincoln Obstructive Party.”
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1906
Full color political cartoon depicting President Roosevelt cutting the bonds that are restraining the Republican elephant. The bonds have labels reflecting factional difficulties and fighting. The Democratic Party can be seen in the form of a braying donkey in the background.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1906
Uncle Sam sweeps the steps of Congress as the various politicians and interest groups leave. President Taft is in the upper right hand corner, waving cheerfully. Theodore Roosevelt is next to Taft and holding a copy of The Outlook. A tower labeled “Oyster Bay” is behind Roosevelt. In the caption, Uncle Sam says, “I’m glad it’s all over.”
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1910
Full color political cartoon depicting Theodore Roosevelt as a fortune teller. He sits inside a circus tent, reading the palm of a female figure labeled “New York State.” Leaving from the right side of the tent are Pennsylvania and Ohio. Waiting in line at the left are Kansas, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1910
Engraved black and white print of President Roosevelt dressed in a suit and standing with his right hand resting on a railing.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1903
Harper’s Weekly cover featuring a black and white photograph of President Roosevelt seated in a chair. Roosevelt is wearing riding pants and holds a hat in his left hand.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1904-07-02