Letter from Jacob A. Riis to Theodore Roosevelt
Subject(s): Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925, Denmark--Copenhagen, Finsen, Niels R. (Niels Ryberg), 1860-1904, Finseninstituttet (Copenhagen, Denmark), Medical care, North America--Cascade Range, Railroad travel, Scandinavians, Sternburg, Hermann Speck von, Freiherr, 1852-1908, Washington (State), YMCA of the USA
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Jacob A. Riis quotes a conversation he had with a fellow countryman, who told him of a time when President Roosevelt was leaving Seattle and had looked down on a crowd made up largely of Scandinavians, and seemed disappointed when they did not give him a sign of recognition. The man believes Roosevelt did not know that Scandinavians are “never demonstrative that way.” Riis also mentions Baron Hermann Speck von Sternburg’s poisoned face wound that will not heal, and recommends that he contact the Finsen Light Institute to seek treatment for it.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1907-01-23
Creator(s)
Riis, Jacob A. (Jacob August), 1849-1914
Recipient
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 2nd Term (March 1905-February 1909)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
4
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 Jacob A. Riis to Theodore Roosevelt. [January 23, 1907]. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o55386. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Riis, Jacob A. (Jacob August), 1849-1914. Letter from Jacob A. Riis to Theodore Roosevelt. [23 Jan. 1907]. Multi-image.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. March 12, 2026. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o55386.
APA:
Riis, Jacob A. (Jacob August), 1849-1914., [1907, January 23]. Letter from Jacob A. Riis to Theodore Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o55386.
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. March 12, 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.
