Letter from William T. Hornaday to Theodore Roosevelt
Subject(s): Antisemitism, Collectivism, Litter (Trash), National Zoological Park (U.S.), New York (State)--New York, New York (State)--New York--Bronx, New York Zoological Park, New York Zoological Society, Parks--Vandalism, Smithsonian Institution, Walcott, Charles D. (Charles Doolittle), 1850-1927, Wildlife Conservation International (New York Zoological Society), Wister, Owen, 1860-1938, Zoo visitors
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William T. Hornaday is distressed and disgusted at the abundance of litter and vandalism encountered at parks, zoos, and other public places. At the New York Zoological Park, they have removed 100 park benches because of littering, and Hornaday places the blame on neighborhood women and “low class Jews.” Hornaday believes that American society has become too focused on personal liberty and has grown tolerant of the “disorderly element.” In a handwritten postscript, Hornaday describes the “worst case” of park vandalism encountered at the National Zoological Park, and the disappointing response from Charles D. Walcott, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1917-08-17
Creator(s)
Hornaday, William T. (William Temple), 1854-1937
Recipient
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Language
English
Period
Post-Presidential Years (1913-January 6, 1919)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
5
Production Method
Record Type
Multi-image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
Letter from William T. Hornaday to Theodore Roosevelt. [August 17, 1917]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o128714. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Hornaday, William T. (William Temple), 1854-1937. Letter from William T. Hornaday to Theodore Roosevelt. [17 Aug. 1917]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 8, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o128714.
APA:
Hornaday, William T. (William Temple), 1854-1937., [1917, August 17]. Letter from William T. Hornaday to Theodore Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o128714.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 8, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
