Buxton, Edward North, 1840-1924

Alfred E. Pease updates Edward North Buxton about life at his ranch in Africa. Pease says that his wife Helen Ann Fowler Pease and daughter Lavender Mary Pease are getting more adjusted to the “very rough life.” Pease is amazed by the amount of game in the area and says it no longer seems strange to see such a diverse lot of animals. He details several attempts to hunt wildebeest, hyenas, and lions and concludes by discussing the output of his farm.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-02

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-03-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Recipient

Buxton, Edward North, 1840-1924

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-04-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Recipient

Buxton, Edward North, 1840-1924

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-04-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Recipient

Buxton, Edward North, 1840-1924

President Roosevelt compares his opinions on hunting rifles and ammunition with opinions previously expressed by Edward North Buxton. Roosevelt sends measurements of his head so that Buxton can order a pith helmet, asks for Zeiss glass, and thanks Buxton for ordering canvas camp shoes directly to Mombasa. He mentions his mosquito boots being too small but intends to keep them and order two more pairs for longer feet.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-26

President Roosevelt is pleased that following a successful election in the United States, he can leave for his African safari with “a clear conscience and an easy heart.” Roosevelt questions Edward North Buxton at length about the specifications of the hunting rifles and ammunition he should use on the trip. He would like to avoid having a rifle sent over for him to try if it is possible, because he wants to avoid paying a heavy duty on it. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-01

President Roosevelt discusses the naturalists and taxidermists, including Edgar Alexander Mearns, who will accompany him on his African safari. He assures Edward North Buxton that he will make it clear that neither the white safari guide, nor the other white naturalists on the trip will do any hunting. He and Kermit will be the only two guns. He hopes that if they can get some samples close to the railway lines, the naturalists can take the trophies to Nairobi and preserve them there, while Roosevelt and Kermit take a longer trip, similar to J. H. Patterson’s, by themselves. Roosevelt is concerned that he will not be in good enough physical condition to have a successful trip.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-23

President Roosevelt discusses various matters regarding provisions, hunting rifles, and ammunition for his upcoming African safari. He would like them to be sent to Mombasa and Alfred E. Pease’s ranch for him to pick up when he arrives. Roosevelt informs Edward North Buxton that he has decided to take Frederick Courteney Selous’s advice and hire a white man to manage his caravan; this will allow Roosevelt to focus on hunting and not on the logistics of the caravan. While Roosevelt and his son Kermit are staying with Pease, the manager and taxidermists and naturalists that are coming along can stay nearby. Roosevelt discusses the areas he would like to hunt and the animals that he hopes to shoot.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-12

President Roosevelt tells Edward North Buxton that he intends to visit Sir William Northrup McMillan’s farm in Africa, but will first visit and stay at Alfred E. Pease’s ranch. Gerrit Forbes, a young Harvard man who just returned from a hunting trip in Africa, would like to go with Roosevelt to help manage his caravan. However, Roosevelt believes he will go with the more experienced William C. Judd. Pease suggested that F. R. Wingate could provide Roosevelt with leather stockings. Roosevelt must now turn most of his attention to helping William H. Taft win the presidency.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-25

Now that President Roosevelt understands the situation regarding the reserves in Africa, he tells Edward North Buxton that he does not intend to go into them unless other public officers are allowed. He does wonder if he would be allowed to shoot certain protected specimens for the National Museum. He discusses the timeline of his trip through British East Africa and up the Nile. Finally, Roosevelt further ponders Frederick Courteney Selous’s suggestion that he hire a white man like William C. Judd to manage his caravan while he hunts. He asks Buxton to speak with Selous about it and then provide his thoughts on the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-12

President Roosevelt questions Edward North Buxton about whether or not he should bring a gun for close-range shooting. He clarifies his decision to hire an Englishman to manage his caravan, and his choice of hunting guides for himself and his son Kermit. He hopes that he will be able to get permission to visit game reserves in British East Africa to shoot specimens for the National Museum, but he does not want special privileges that would not be extended to others. He plans to start his hunt at Alfred E. Pease’s ranch, and wants to know if it will be possible to keep the press away. He notes that his son Ted will be starting his new job while he and Kermit are hunting.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-10

President Roosevelt asks Edward North Buxton if it is possible for the same firm that made his boots to make a pair of mosquito boots for himself and his son Kermit. Buxton should get a list of the provisions that Lawn and Alder are providing for Roosevelt, and has permission to make changes. Alfred E. Pease’s description of his ranch is very tempting for Roosevelt, and he is excited to hunt there. Roosevelt is trying to minimize the loss of ammunition that he is having shipped for the hunt, and will try to think of the safari as a holiday.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-07

President Roosevelt asks Edward North Buxton to procure the list of his provisions from Lawn and Alder, and to add whatever Buxton thinks is necessary. He trusts Buxton’s judgment. He also discusses his rifle preferences, but yields to Buxton’s recommendation for what rifle will be best for hunting in Africa. He is pleased that he was asked to deliver the Romanes Lecture at Oxford, which gives him a good excuse to go to England and see old friends there.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-31

After thinking it over, President Roosevelt tells Edward North Buxton that he has decided to take Frederick Courteney Selous’s suggestion and hire a white man to manage the caravan on his safari. Roosevelt is going on holiday and wants to devote his time and attention to hunting and natural history, rather than managing the party. Selous has recommended William C. Judd. He agrees with Buxton’s idea about taking several shorter hunting trips, and discusses where he would like to go.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-24

President Roosevelt discusses whether to employ locals or Englishmen as safari guides on his upcoming trip. He has started engaging shikaris, and notes that he would rather not employ white guides unless absolutely necessary. Roosevelt has amended the list of supplies that Frederick Courteney Selous suggested he bring, cutting down on alcohol and luxuries. He discuses the itinerary and logistics of the trip, particularly in relation to ensuring that he is able to shoot good specimens for the Smithsonian Institute, which can easily be transported.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-20

President Roosevelt discusses which gun sights he prefers with Edward North Buxton. He also confirms the dates when he expects to arrive in Africa. Citing concern about his being “an exceedingly soft individual,” Roosevelt intends to “break in” his body at Alfred E. Pease’s ranch before the main hunt. He recently spoke to Gerrit Forbes about the hunting trip in Africa that he just returned from.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-08

President Roosevelt asks Edward North Buxton to order boots for himself and his son Kermit. He expresses concern about whether the upcoming safari will be good for Kermit’s health. He is very interested in the letter from Ernst Karl Hoyos-Sprinzenstein and wonders if it would be possible for him to visit. Roosevelt would like to discuss hunting with him. Roosevelt increasingly believes that he will do most of his hunting in British East Africa and the Nile so that he can spend more time hunting and less time traveling.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-01

President Roosevelt tells Edward North Buxton that his son Kermit wants the same shoes that Buxton ordered for him. He also asks Buxton to forward an enclosed unsealed letter to Alfred E. Pease. Roosevelt discusses travel plans for his upcoming safari. He is debating whether to start at Pease’s ranch, or to take a trip into the desert. Although he appreciates Buxton’s suggestions, he believes he will not go to Uganda.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-28

President Roosevelt thanks Edward North Buxton for being willing to go see Lord Crewe. He assures Buxton that he and his son Kermit will be the only two in the safari party who are shooting, and they will largely only shoot animals for the National Museum. They may bring back only a dozen personal trophies between the two of them. Roosevelt discusses his itinerary for the trip, and lists all of the animals he hopes to shoot, in order of most important.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-21

President Roosevelt writes to Edward North Buxton about his upcoming safari, including details about the outfitting of his trip, as well as his travel plans. Roosevelt will accept Alfred E. Pease’s invitation to visit his ranch to begin his journey and get acclimated. He then plans to make several trips from the railway to get into good game-country. Roosevelt plans to get Kermit Roosevelt a camera to do photography on the trip, and hopes to have a couple field taxidermists accompany him as well, as the trip will have a naturalist purpose behind it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-25