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, Great Britain, Harvard University, Hayes, Johnny, 1886-1965, Initiations (into trades, societies, etc.), International relations, International relations--Public opinion, Kirby, Gustavus T. (Gustavus Town), 1874-1956, McCabe, Joseph B., 1859-1930, Olympics, Pietri, Dorando, 1885-1942, Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919, Scandals, Sheppard, Melvin W. (Melvin Whinfield), 1883-1942, Sportsmanship, Sullivan, James E. (James Edward), 1862-1914, University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, Yale University
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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)
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
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]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. 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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 19, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o300653.
APA:
Unknown., [1908, December 18]. American Taste.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o300653.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. 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. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 19, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
