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Theodore Roosevelt National Park was established by an Act of Congress in 1947 to memorialize Roosevelt’s western legacy and his conservation ethic. The national park encompasses roughly 70,000 acres of rugged badlands in western North Dakota, the place about which Roosevelt declared, “It was here that the romance of my life began.”
The Theodore Roosevelt National Park collection includes federal documents, historical studies, photographs, and a variety of three-dimensional items related to the development of the park. Historical studies such as Roosevelt’s Elkhorn Ranch, written by National Park Service historians, offer insight into Theodore Roosevelt’s time as a rancher in the Badlands. Other materials tell the story of how two Civilian Conservation Corps camps and the National Park Service developed the early infrastructure and framework of the park. Historical photographs depict the park’s development and illuminate the history of other nearby points of interest, including the town of Medora, the Chateau de Mores State Historic Site, and former ranches now within the park boundary.
This collection has been digitized and cataloged on site at Theodore Roosevelt National Park by digital library staff. See below to view items from this collection in the digital library.
Digitization of items at the National Park sites was possible thanks to National Park Service Centennial Challenge Funding in partnership with Dickinson State University.
Howard W. Baker writes to Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park Superintendent Hanks regarding a brochure and pageant in connection with the park. Baker says they appreciate Ray H. Mattison’s comments.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1949-07-18
Ray H. Mattison reports on various historical inaccuracies for the brochure and pageant celebrating Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1949
Ray H. Mattison writes to Father Pfaller regarding information from the Indian Sentinel, which reported Theodore Roosevelt’s assistance in recovering stolen Indian horses. Mattison thanks Pfaller for the excerpt he sent.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1949-04-28
Ray H. Mattison writes to Allyn F. Hanks regarding a manuscript believed to be a diary kept by Mrs. William Reid.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1949-04-27
Ray H. Mattison writes to librarian Perl A. Brown Coombs, of the public library in Glendive, Montana, inquiring about papers related to Theodore Roosevelt’s ranching. Coombs’ response is included, stating the only materials she has are from the Glendive Independent.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1949-01-14
Olaf T. Hagen writes to Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park Superintendent Hanks regarding historian Ray H. Mattison’s research notes.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1949-01-06
Librarian Margaret C. Ball writes to Ray H. Mattison, reporting that the issues of the Yellowstone Journal at Miles City only mention Theodore Roosevelt’s membership in the stockmen’s association. Ball suggests that Mattison might find more material for his research at the State Historical Society in Helena, Montana.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1948-12-29
Anne McDonnell writes to Ray H. Mattison regarding resources at the Historical Society of Montana for Mattison to research, mentioning the Eastern Montana Stockgrowers Association and Miles City newspapers.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1948-12-20
Allyn F. Hanks writes to Howard Baker regarding a recent trip to New York City and Washington, D.C., and attending the Boone and Crockett Club dinner with Archibald B. Roosevelt.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1952-01-12
Cover sheet from the National Park Service, Theodore Roosevelt National Park with the notation “File closed: Jan 1948 through June 1953.”
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Unknown
William J. Briggle writes to Howard W. Baker regarding Elkhorn Ranch research and photographs of John H. Reid. Briggle asks that six copies of the photographs be made.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1949-09-26
Vivian H. Hay writes to Arthur A. Henderson regarding a book sent with information on Theodore Roosevelt’s connections to the Masonic Lodge. Hay encloses a return label to be used when the book is sent back.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1960-06-07
Arthur A. Henderson writes to Vivian H. Hay regarding the receipt of the book Famous Masons and Masonic Presidents.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1960-07-01
Allyn F. Hanks writes to Carleton Putnam regarding Putnam’s research trip to the Badlands and his accommodation arrangements. Putnam is writing a biography on Theodore Roosevelt.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1952-07-25
Allyn F. Hanks writes to Howard W. Baker regarding a typewritten copy of Theodore Roosevelt’s diary from 1886 and a letter from Nora Cordingley of the Harvard Library. Cordingley’s letter explains the omitted portion of the diary.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1950-05-01
Ray H. Mattison writes to Allyn F. Hanks regarding Olaf T. Hagen’s unfinished manuscript, Pyramid Park 1879-1883, Where Theodore Roosevelt Came to Hunt Buffalo. Mattison wishes to find some of Hagen’s sources from the Bismark Daily Tribune and the Bismark Weekly Tribune at the Minnesota State Historical Society to fact check the manuscript.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1950-02-27
Chester L. Brooks writes to the Alderman Library regarding Thomas Lafayette Rosser’s notes on Northern Pacific Railroad through North Dakota and Eastern Montana and their availability.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1951-10-07
Press release regarding Carleton Putnam’s research trip to the Badlands. Putnam is writing a biography on Theodore Roosevelt.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1952-09-19
Herbert E. Kahler writes to Howard W. Baker regarding plans to microfilm three War Department records for Chester L. Brooks.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1953-03-09
Chester L. Brooks writes to the Smithsonian Institution, inquiring about photographs taken during the Stanley Expedition of 1873. Brooks is working on a report about the Badlands to 1873 and would like a list of photographs and reports pertaining to the survey taken during the expedition.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1953-02-20