Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Bradley Gilman
Subject(s): African Americans--Civil rights--Government policy, African Americans--Politics and government, Barnes, William, 1866-1930, Campaign management, Divorce--Law and legislation, Guggenheim, Simon, Illinois, Indiana, Marriage--Government policy, Maryland, Massachusetts--Boston, New York (State), New York (State)--New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania--Philadelphia, Political corruption, Polygamy--Law and legislation, Racism--Political aspects, Republican National Convention, Rhode Island, Southern States, Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930, Voter registration--Law and legislation--U.S. states, Washington, Booker T., 1856-1915
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Theodore Roosevelt responds to Bradley Gilman’s letter and discusses the topics of marriage, divorce, and African Americans as voters and legislative representatives. Roosevelt argues the need for federal government to control marriage, divorce, and polygamy. Roosevelt asserts the need to incorporate African American representatives for the Progressive movement from states like New York, Rhode Island, Maryland, Illinois, Ohio, or Indiana at the Republican National Convention in Chicago. He writes of the inequality faced by African Americans, particularly in the South, and their absence from legislative bodies in Southern states. In his argument, Roosevelt references Booker T. Washington and writes of the Republican Party’s use of uneducated African American representation as a corrupt tactic that won the candidacy for William H. Taft with William Barnes and Simon Guggenheim.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1912-07-24
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Language
English
Period
Progressive Party Candidate (1911-1912)
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 Theodore Roosevelt to Bradley Gilman. [July 24, 1912]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o229747. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Bradley Gilman. [24 Jul. 1912]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 13, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o229747.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1912, July 24]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Bradley Gilman.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o229747.
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. March 13, 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.
