Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James W. Gerard
Subject(s): Etiquette, Gerard, Mary Augusta Daly, 1876-1956, Gifts, Knives, Superstition
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President Roosevelt thanks James W. Gerard for the gift of a knife and returns a penny to Gerard to honor a superstition regarding gifting knives. Roosevelt considers the knife far too valuable to risk taking to Africa and will keep it in the north room of his home where he hopes to host Gerard and his wife Mary Augusta Daly Gerard after he returns from his safari.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1909-03-02
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Gerard, James W. (James Watson), 1867-1951
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
1
Production Method
Record Type
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 Theodore Roosevelt to James W. Gerard. [March 2, 1909]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o206944. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James W. Gerard. [2 Mar. 1909]. Image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. February 6, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o206944.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1909, March 2]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James W. Gerard.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o206944.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
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. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. February 6, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
