American Taste
Subject(s): Alexandra, Queen, consort of Edward VII, King of Great Britain, 1844-1925, de Musza, Jules, Desborough, William Henry Grenfell, Baron, 1855-1945, Edward VII, King of Great Britain, 1841-1910, Hayes, Johnny, 1886-1965, Kirby, Gustavus T. (Gustavus Town), 1874-1956, McCabe, Joseph B., 1859-1930, Pietri, Dorando, 1885-1942, Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919, Sheppard, Melvin W. (Melvin Whinfield), 1883-1942, Sullivan, James E. (James Edward), 1862-1914
Click on image to zoom in
The author of this letter to the editor disapproves of American Olympic officials James E. Sullivan, Gustavus T. Kirby, and Joseph B. McCabe, and the effect they have had on the culture of the United States. The author includes a clipping from a Boston newspaper which they say displays an event of “tasteless vulgarity” organized by Harvard University and Yale University, in which the King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra of Great Britain were shown “the grossest disrespect.” The accompanying clipping which is quoted seems to describe an initiation ceremony to a Harvard club that pokes fun at the conclusion of the 1908 Olympic Marathon, with students dressed as Dorando Pietri, Johnny Hayes, and members of the royal family.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1908-12-18
Creator(s)
Publication Date
2021-08-19
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Original Collection
Theodore Roosevelt Papers
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
2
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:
American Taste. [December 18, 1908?]. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o300653. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Unknown. American Taste. [18 Dec. 1908?]. Multi-image. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. October 29, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o300653.
APA:
Unknown.: , [1908, December 18?]. American Taste. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o300653.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. 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 Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. October 29, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
