Bigelow, William Sturgis, 1850-1926

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-04-30

Creator(s)

Bigelow, William Sturgis, 1850-1926

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Language

English

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-04-23

Creator(s)

Bigelow, William Sturgis, 1850-1926

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Language

English

William Sturgis Bigelow sends his thanks to William Loeb for sending him a note and speech. President Roosevelt has hit the nail squarely on the head, he says, and it is a wonderful speech.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-21

Creator(s)

Bigelow, William Sturgis, 1850-1926

William Sturgis Bigelow discusses the accommodations, schedule, and company at his home for President Roosevelt’s upcoming visit. He thinks Justice Holmes would be more comfortable elsewhere, since they would have to share a bathroom, but he has no problem hosting Senator Lodge. Bigelow points out that it is lucky that no one seems to have discovered yet that Roosevelt will be staying with him otherwise Governor Guild would “have the Ancient + Honorable camped on the [Boston] Common in front of the house to fire twenty one guns whenever you put on a clean shirt.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-26

Creator(s)

Bigelow, William Sturgis, 1850-1926

William Sturgis Bigelow confirms that the book, Bushido, is worthwhile and highly valued by the Japanese.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-25

Creator(s)

Bigelow, William Sturgis, 1850-1926

William Sturgis Bigelow offers to send Theodore Roosevelt a book. Bigelow comments on events involving Port Arthur, Manchuria, Russia, Japan, and China. A side remark is included regarding Senator Henry Cabot Lodge.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-17

Creator(s)

Bigelow, William Sturgis, 1850-1926

William Sturgis Bigelow is pleased Senator Lodge was reelected and compares Theodore Roosevelt to a political pile driver. He advises Roosevelt to use arguments other than the “fool and crook” one during his upcoming Western trip. Bigelow asks Roosevelt to deliver the enclosed memorandum to his secretary and requests they send a postcard.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-20

Creator(s)

Bigelow, William Sturgis, 1850-1926

William Sturgis Bigelow says there are two kinds of Cabots: one kind speaks only to other Cabots, and the other kind do not speak to anyone. Sturgis states he is of the latter class. However, he will relax his principles to come express appreciation to President Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-29

Creator(s)

Bigelow, William Sturgis, 1850-1926

William Sturgis Bigelow thanks President Roosevelt for his help securing archaeological dig permission for Oric Bates and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Bigelow will put a bust of Roosevelt in the Museum with a smaller one of Maecenas beside it. Baroness Lillian May Speck von Sternberg was heartbroken over the result of her auction. After a visit to the theater in Times Square, John called a faint star “futile,” which Bigelow says is “the way stars look from hell.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-22

Creator(s)

Bigelow, William Sturgis, 1850-1926

The letter and enclosed coin that President Roosevelt sent to William Sturgis Bigelow have finally arrived. They were not forwarded to Bigelow on Nantucket. Bigelow is glad that Roosevelt likes the coin, and is pleased to have the first one struck. He is also especially touched by Roosevelt’s kind letter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-11

Creator(s)

Bigelow, William Sturgis, 1850-1926

William Sturgis Bigelow tells President Roosevelt about the visit he had from the Lodge family, who have now departed. Anna Cabot Mills Lodge enjoyed the peace and quiet, but spent some time visiting George A. James, Henry Cabot Lodge’s recently widowed brother-in-law. Senator Lodge appeared invigorated by his success at the Republican National Convention in Chicago, and greatly enjoyed seeing all the newspaper reports praising him. Bigelow wishes that Lodge could continue to be somewhat more relaxed while he is in Europe, but thinks that Lodge is too much like Roosevelt in needing, and loving, to work. Bigelow describes some of the features of the island he is at, particularly the birds and june-bugs. He has heard that Roosevelt is enjoying Irish literature currently, and offers to send him a related encyclopedia.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-12

Creator(s)

Bigelow, William Sturgis, 1850-1926

Because they have voted to return the words “In God We Trust” to the coinage, William Sturgis Bigelow jokingly suggests President Roosevelt get back at them by adding “I know that my Redeemer liveth” on the treasury notes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-17

Creator(s)

Bigelow, William Sturgis, 1850-1926

William Sturgis Bigelow will “leave them all out” and thinks it will be much better.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-31

Creator(s)

Bigelow, William Sturgis, 1850-1926

William Sturgis Bigelow informs President Roosevelt that the Japanese government would be gratified if there could be an exchange of professors between Japan and the United States, much like the United States does with France and Germany. Bigelow has a large amount of books and paintings in Japan that Postal Inspector Anthony Comstock will not let him bring into the country. Doing so would require special arrangements both in Japan and the United States, and Bigelow asks if anything can be done regarding this. Bigelow says that progress on the twenty dollar coin is going nicely. He has heard that Roosevelt is going to make up for taking “In God We Trust” off the coins by putting “I know that my redeemer liveth” on treasury notes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-17

Creator(s)

Bigelow, William Sturgis, 1850-1926

William Sturgis Bigelow received the proof of the new $20 gold coin and praises it highly. Some people will not like it because it does not stack, but Bigelow believes this will not be a problem. He has had two die-cutters and art museum experts wrestling with the idea of making a high-relief coin that can stack. When he has a model he will send it to President Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-08

Creator(s)

Bigelow, William Sturgis, 1850-1926

William Sturgis Bigelow sends President Roosevelt a book of photographs of authors. He recommends that Roosevelt read a pamphlet on Foucault’s pendulum. Next time newspapermen gin up war talk he could set one up in the Capitol. Bigelow is glad to be going away during Boston’s Old Home Week.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-25

Creator(s)

Bigelow, William Sturgis, 1850-1926

William Sturgis Bigelow is very happy with Theodore Roosevelt’s response to his letter and his actions regarding the California boycott and Japanese naturalization. Bigelow praises Roosevelt’s oratory skills and states that the Japanese will be very happy with the promise of naturalization.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-30

Creator(s)

Bigelow, William Sturgis, 1850-1926

William Sturgis Bigelow discusses Japanese sentiment toward the United States in the wake of some racial tensions in California. Bigelow suggests that Roosevelt endorse the idea of naturalization for Japanese in the country, because that might instill some goodwill toward the United States in Japan. Bigelow states that a boycott would hurt California, but would “serve her right” in the wake of legislation against “Mongolians.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-25

Creator(s)

Bigelow, William Sturgis, 1850-1926

William Sturgis Bigelow sends to President Roosevelt six jiu jitsu jackets that he purchased in Tokyo. Bigelow expresses relief at being settled in a new home, especially since the Lodge brothers have taken care of moving the furniture while he was away. He invites Roosevelt to visit when he is next in town and paints a vivid picture of the Boston sights visible from his bathroom window. In a postscript, Bigelow notes that a verdict by Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis has “waked things up,” and in another, he remarks that the Lodges are doing well and that Anna Lodge’s health has improved.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-15

Creator(s)

Bigelow, William Sturgis, 1850-1926

William Sturgis Bigelow writes to ask President Roosevelt whether Japan or Russia initiated the Portsmouth Conference. He cannot make sense of the action of the Japanese in not demanding an indemnity.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-18

Creator(s)

Bigelow, William Sturgis, 1850-1926