Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Bessie Van Vorst
Subject(s): Citizenship, Citizenship (International law), Families, Family, Women
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In reply to Bessie Van Vorst’s article “The Woman Who Toils,” President Roosevelt writes about the characteristics of citizens needed for a strong nation, one of which is being a good wife and mother or being a father. This appears to be an early draft of the letter, which was finally sent dated October 18, 1902.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1902-10-16
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Van Vorst, John, Mrs., 1873-1928
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 1st Term (September 1901-February 1905)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
3
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 Bessie Van Vorst. [October 16, 1902]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o283197. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Bessie Van Vorst. [16 Oct. 1902]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. January 22, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o283197.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919., [1902, October 16]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Bessie Van Vorst.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o283197.
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. January 22, 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.
