Letter from Emma Brace to Corinne Roosevelt Robinson
Subject(s): Alien labor, Books and reading, Emigration and immigration--Government policy, Foreign workers, Hungary, Immigrants, Immigrants--Taxation, Italy, Italy--Sicily, Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919, Watchorn, Robert, 1858-1944
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Emma Brace explains to Corinne Roosevelt Robinson her concerns about possible upcoming restrictions to immigration. She read in the newspaper that President Roosevelt is considering a change in policy that would require immigrants to pay a $25 tax in order to come, or limit immigration with national quotas. Brace feels this is a mistake because it is unfair to peasants and their families, especially Italians, who cannot afford the tax, and unfair to American companies who need good laborers. Brace tells Robinson about an idea she read in a book called Imported Americans, in which representatives from American companies would go abroad to villages and select the workers they want, thereby giving a certificate to those who meet the criteria and thus the “undesirable may not even leave their own commune.” Brace believes this idea is approved by Commissioner of Immigration Robert Watchorn and hopes Robinson will communicate this idea to her “active-minded brother,” meaning President Roosevelt.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1905-05-25
Creator(s)
Donaldson, Emma Brace, 1859-1952
Recipient
Robinson, Corinne Roosevelt, 1861-1933
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
8
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 Emma Brace to Corinne Roosevelt Robinson. [May 25, 1905]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o49330. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Donaldson, Emma Brace, 1859-1952. Letter from Emma Brace to Corinne Roosevelt Robinson. [25 May. 1905]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. February 20, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o49330.
APA:
Donaldson, Emma Brace, 1859-1952., [1905, May 25]. Letter from Emma Brace to Corinne Roosevelt Robinson.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o49330.
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. February 20, 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.
