President Roosevelt thanks Walter Hines Page for his work on the Country Life Commission and emphasizes that the farmers “should feel a sense of ownership in this Commission,” and that the commission should “get in touch with and represent the farmers themselves.” He advises the commissioners to arrange for meetings of farmers so that the commission can gain insight into the needs, desires and problems of farmers and “all those who live in the open country and are intimately connected with those who do farm work.” He suggests topics such as “the efficiency of the rural schools, farmers organizations, the need of good roads, improved postal facilities” and “sanitary conditions on the farm.”

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1908-11-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Recipient

Page, Walter Hines, 1855-1918

Language

English

Period

U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)

Repository

Harvard College Library

Page Count

3

Production Method

Typed

Record Type

Multi-image

Resource Type

Letter

Rights

Electronic copy sponsored by the Theodore Roosevelt Center at Dickinson State University. For reproduction or publication permission, contact the Theodore Roosevelt Collection, Houghton Library. See the Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library Terms of Use for further copyright information.

Citation

Cite this Record

Chicago:

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Walter Hines Page. [November 9, 1908]. Harvard College Library.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o282740. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.

MLA:

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Walter Hines Page. [9 Nov. 1908]. Multi-image.
Harvard College Library. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 29, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o282740.

APA:

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1908, November 9]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Walter Hines Page.
Harvard College Library. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o282740.

Cite this Collection

Chicago:

Harvard College Library. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/harvard-college-library. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.

MLA:

Harvard College Library. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 29, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/harvard-college-library.

APA:

Harvard College Library. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/harvard-college-library.