Our Literary President
Subject(s): Benton, Thomas Hart, 1782-1858, Cromwell, Oliver, 1599-1658, Dunbar, Paul Laurence, 1872-1906, Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924, Masters, Edgar Lee, 1868-1950, Matthews, Brander, 1852-1929, Morris, Gouverneur, 1752-1816, Norton, Aloysius A. (Aloysius Arthur), 1920-1998, Robinson, Edwin Arlington, 1869-1935, Roosevelt, Edith Kermit Carow, 1861-1948, Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919, Wharton, Edith, 1862-1937, Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924, Wister, Owen, 1860-1938
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Joseph R. Ornig chronicles Theodore Roosevelt’s work as a writer of histories, biographies, natural histories, essays, letters, and journalism. Ornig highlights some of these works, such as Roosevelt’s The Naval War of 1812 and The Winning of the West, by describing Roosevelt’s research, his aims, the books’ reception, and the time it took to complete them. Ornig also examines why Roosevelt wrote so much, citing the need to make money, articulating a reform agenda, and organizing his thoughts, and he notes those who acted as mentors to the literary Roosevelt like Henry Cabot Lodge and Owen Wister. Ornig also notes that Roosevelt assumed the role of mentor to many aspiring writers like the poet Edwin Arlington Robinson.
Eleven illustrations accompany the essay, including three of Roosevelt writing and two examples of his hand writing.
Collection
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
Creation Date
2014
Creator(s)
Publication Date
2023-12-17
Language
English
Period
Theodore Roosevelt and Public Memory (1919-present)
Original Collection
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
Page Count
18
Production Method
Record Type
Image
Resource Type
Rights
No permission is required from the Theodore Roosevelt Association to use items in the Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal collection for educational purposes. For permissions, contact William Tilchin at (516) 921-6319 or by email at wnt@bu.edu.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
Our Literary President. [October 29, 2025?]. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o308628. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Ornig, Joseph R.. Our Literary President. [29 Oct. 2025?]. 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/o308628.
APA:
Ornig, Joseph R..: , [2025, October 29?]. Our Literary President. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o308628.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-association-journal. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. October 29, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-association-journal.
APA:
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/theodore-roosevelt-association-journal.
