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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.
Glass lantern slide transparency with a black and white photograph of Theodore Roosevelt dressed in a suit with a shadowed background.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
Unknown
Glass lantern slide transparency with a black and white photograph of Theodore Roosevelt seated at a desk. The image is surrounded by a white frame and a black border.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
Unknown
Black and white drawing of the Board of Police Commissioners of New York showing five men seated around a table. The men are, from left to right, Major William H. Kipp, Theodore Roosevelt, Andrew D. Parker, Avery De Lano Andrews, and Frederick Dent Grant.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1895-1897
Full page black and white photograph of Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, sitting in a chair and reading a book.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1902
Black and white cartoon of Theodore Roosevelt dressed as Moses with devil horns and a white beard. He is standing on a rock, holding a tablet labeled “The Law by T. R.,” and speaking to the people below.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1912-09-07
Political cartoon featuring Theodore Roosevelt’s head as a hot air balloon with its basket carrying Frank Andrew Munsey, Joseph M. Dixon, and George W. Perkins. Perkins is emptying a money bag and Munsey is throwing leaflets.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1912-09-14
Political cartoon featuring Theodore Roosevelt wearing his Rough Rider uniform and riding a moose. President Taft, dressed in a ruffled nightcap and gown, is leaning out a window holding an American flag.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1912-11-02
John G. Milburn recommends the appointment of W. Fred Greiner of Buffalo, New York, as a manager of the New York State exhibit at the Pan-American Exposition.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1899-03-25
White ceramic plate with red and blue trim depicting Theodore Roosevelt in a suit.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
Unknown
First day of issue envelope and stamp of Sagamore Hill. The stamp is green with an illustration of the Sagamore Hill house. On the left side of the envelope is a similar black and white illustration of the house. Above the house is an illustrated portrait of Theodore Roosevelt. The envelope is addressed to E. B. Scharpf of Buffalo, New York.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1953-09-14
Sheet music for “When Teddy Comes Marching Home,” a song celebrating Theodore Roosevelt’s return from his African safari. The front cover features a photograph of Roosevelt sitting at a desk and examining papers.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1910
Souvenir card featuring an excerpt from a letter written by President Roosevelt to The Sunday School Times. Roosevelt endorses the Rally Day for American Sunday school workers and the value of Bible study. Above the excerpt is a black and white oval photograph of Roosevelt.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1902
Round brass disk embossed with the image of a rider on a charging horse. Disk is hanging from an American eagle that has a safety pin attached to the reverse side.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1898
Straight pin with a cowboy hat on top, possibly from the 1912 presidential campaign to symbolize Theodore Roosevelt’s statement that he was “throwing my hat in the ring.”
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1912
Metal tag with leather strap inscribed with the words Roosevelt, Fairbanks, and 1904. The tag was likely a piece of campaign paraphernalia from President Roosevelt’s election campaign of 1904.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1904
Rectangular, glass paperweight with sepia tone photograph of President McKinley and Governor Roosevelt.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1900
Brief biography of Theodore Roosevelt presented by the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company. The cover features an illustration of Roosevelt riding a horse and carrying a rifle.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1926
Complete issue of The Outlook magazine containing articles including “The Death of President McKinley,” “The Accession of President Roosevelt,” “President McKinley’s Life and Political Career,” “As President,” “The New President,” “William McKinley,” “President Roosevelt,” “President McKinley / What the World Thought of Him,” and “The New President as a Literary Man.”
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1901-09-21
Image showing Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt seated and writing at a desk in her private library.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1902
President Roosevelt and his family at their summer home in Sagamore Hill, posed in front of an ivy-covered wall. Pictured from left to right: Kermit, Archie, Theodore, Ethel, Edith, Quentin, Ted.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1907