Johnston, Harry, 1858-1927 | - Theodore Roosevelt Center

Letter from Harry Johnston to Theodore Roosevelt

Harry Johnston thanks Theodore Roosevelt for sending his collection of essays on birds and mammals. Johnson was also sorry to read in the papers that Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt fell from her horse. He plans to visit Germany and Holland soon to study breeding in Europe, and mentioned an invitation from Booker Washington to attend the Negro Confrence in Alabama.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-06

Letter from Harry Johnston to Theodore Roosevelt

Harry Johnston thanks President Roosevelt for facilitating a warm reception when he visited the Panama Canal construction site, where he met president-elect William H. Taft. Johnston then wrote a letter to Taft on his return to Colòn about the city’s appalling hotel and infrastructure. He now worries that this was inappropriate. If Taft is angry, he asks Roosevelt to “placate his wrath.” Johnston also wonders why Roosevelt is going hunting in Africa instead of somewhere in South America, Central America, or the Antilles. He shares his address in England, and hopes that United States Minister to Haiti H. W. Furniss will retain his position in the new administration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-03

Letter from Harry Johnston to William H. Taft

Harry Johnston enjoyed meeting President-elect Taft and his wife, Helen Herron Taft, during their Panama Canal inspection. Johnson is optimistic about Taft’s plan for a dam at Gatun, but advises that the city of Colón poses another significant threat to the Canal. He offers suggestions for improving Colón’s dated and unsafe infrastructure.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-02

Letter from Harry Johnston to Theodore Roosevelt

Harry Johnston discusses his current stay in Haiti and his pleasant experience traveling with American Minister Plenipotentiary H. W. Furniss as his guide. Johnston describes Furniss as “the most influential foreigner” in Haiti and compliments his knowledge of the country, his popularity among locals, and his ability to navigate the “rotten” Haitian government. Johnston urges President Roosevelt to visit Haiti because of its natural beauty but cautions him about the “utterly bad” government and “ignorant” president. Johnston also asks Roosevelt to put in a good word for him when he passes through the Panama Canal at the same time as president-elect William H. Taft, and he requests that Roosevelt send him two War Department maps of Haiti and San Domingo.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-13

Letter from Harry Johnston to Theodore Roosevelt

Harry Johnston tells President Roosevelt about some of his travels around the southern United States, and his observations of both the people and environment there. Johnston plans to spend some time in Louisiana before traveling to Florida, and thence to Cuba. Johnston also would like to travel to Haiti, but worries that potential unrest there will make it difficult for him to visit. He asks Roosevelt if he would consider writing a letter of introduction allowing him to visit, as “it would be rather disappointing to return to England without some glimpse of Haiti.” Harper’s will be publishing an article of Johnston’s describing his impressions of New York that Roosevelt helped review.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-01

Letter from Harry Johnston to George S. Mackenzie

Harry Johnston has spent the last few days with President Roosevelt discussing his upcoming trip to Africa. Johnston recommended that Roosevelt acquire good Gulf Arab horses from George S. Mackenzie. If Mackenzie can provide two such horses, Johnston asks him to write Roosevelt at the White House.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-09

Letter from Harry Johnston to Theodore Roosevelt

Harry Johnston expresses his deep gratitude to President Roosevelt for so promptly providing him letters of introduction. Johnston discusses when he would like to visit Roosevelt, and hopes that he might spend an upcoming weekend if it was not too much of an imposition. In particular, Johnston would like to discuss the situation in Liberia.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-29

Letter from Harry Johnston to Theodore Roosevelt

Harry Johnston takes great pleasure in corresponding with President Roosevelt, not just because it is an honor to have private letters from an important head of state, but also because Johnston is elated that Roosevelt shares his opinions about the treatment of Black people. Johnston outlines some of his beliefs, including the fact that better treatment of Africans in British colonies makes good economic sense. Johnston will be in the United States in the autumn, and hopes to meet with Roosevelt and discuss a number of matters he hopes to write about, including a history of African people in the Western Hemisphere, the problems of Liberia, and the preservation of big game. In a postscript, Johnston writes in “phonetic English,” saying if English spelling were simplified it would become the “universal medium of international relations.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-06

Letter from Harry Johnston to Theodore Roosevelt

Harry Johnston has heard President Roosevelt’s wish to visit with him about big game preservation and the question of Liberia. Johnston is not sure of his plans yet, but if he does visit the United States he will certainly visit Washington, D.C. Johnston tells Roosevelt some of his thoughts about Liberia, writing that if Liberia fails, it will be a setback for the progress of African-American rights in the United States. There is plenty of room for African-American colonists in Western Africa, but there are many obstacles as well.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-28