Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles
Theodore Roosevelt gives his opinion on who should be invited to Anna Roosevelt Cowles’s house while he is visiting.
Collection
Creation Date
1912-12-16
Your TR Source
Cowles, Anna Roosevelt, 1855-1931
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles
Theodore Roosevelt confirms plans for a visit and clarifies his desire not to have political people who are not Progressive Party members staying at his sister’s house while he is there. He also thanks Anna Roosevelt Cowles again for her gift of the lamps and mentions his distress at the news about Edie Ferguson.
Collection
Creation Date
1912-12-19
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Anna Roosevelt Cowles for her Christmas gift of a bowl.
Collection
Creation Date
1912-12-26
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles
Theodore Roosevelt will not get to Michigan until after Anna Roosevelt Cowles leaves, but will see her in New York. He enjoyed the two clippings and thinks highly of Dick Derby.
Collection
Creation Date
1913-03-13
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles
Theodore Roosevelt plans to stop at Anna Roosevelt Cowles’ house in Farmington for a visit while he is on a trip to Andover in June.
Collection
Creation Date
1913-05-02
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles
Theodore Roosevelt describes the end of a lawsuit in which an editor who libeled him eventually gave in. Roosevelt believes he succeeded in putting the matter behind him and he is pleased with the way his friends supported him through the ordeal.
Collection
Creation Date
1913-05-31
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles
Theodore Roosevelt is curious about whether William Sheffield Cowles, Jr. chose the Navy, and provides updates on Kermit Roosevelt’s health and career plans. Roosevelt has an opportunity to change his current trip’s itinerary and go down an unknown river. He is pleased at the reception in South America and has been able to give his views on the Monroe doctrine and on democracy in general.
Collection
Creation Date
1913-11-11
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles
Theodore Roosevelt tries to arrange a time for Anna Roosevelt Cowles to visit him for lunch in New York next week. The letter was dictated to and signed by Roosevelt’s secretary, John W. McGrath, and an explanatory note from McGrath is included.
Collection
Creation Date
1914-05-21
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Anna Roosevelt Cowles for the wooden bowl and wishes they could have spent time together. He describes a lovely Christmas with the grandchildren.
Collection
Creation Date
1914-12-29
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles
Theodore Roosevelt has written to Mrs. Pierce. Quentin Roosevelt enjoyed his time at Farmington, especially with William Sheffield Cowles, Jr. The last two months Roosevelt and Edith Roosevelt have been less busy and have been very happy; they both laughed over Anna’s last letter.
Collection
Creation Date
1915-01-08
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles
Theodore Roosevelt writes from his desk at Sagamore Hill and relates that the wisteria is blooming on the vine that Edith Roosevelt planted for him. He thinks the country quite beautiful and is concerned about the potential for drought this year. Roosevelt hopes to confirm that Anna Roosevelt Cowles can travel by car to visit him in the next two months, and, if not, he and Edith will drive to see her. He shares his satisfaction that Henry L. Stimson will be Secretary of War.
Collection
Creation Date
1911-05-15
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles
Theodore Roosevelt shares with Anna Roosevelt Cowles his frustration with the number of invitations he receives to dedicate and/or deliver speeches at local institutions around the country, and the lack of understanding he encounters when he declines such invitations. He has spoken in almost every state since he returned from safari several months earlier, and while he wanted to do so, he has decided that he will speak only at occasions or for causes that will receive a national audience. He writes about his views on women’s suffrage, saying that he “tepidly” favors it where the majority of women desire it themselves. However, he does not believe it to be of much consequence, believing that it will do only a small bit of good, and none of the harm that its opponents insist it will.
Collection
Creation Date
1911-06-29
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Anna Roosevelt Cowles that he enjoyed William Sheffield Cowles Jr.’s recent visit. Roosevelt explains that they have secured permission to build a new road on their property and describes the redevelopment to accommodate motor vehicles. Roosevelt is amused by the effect of their newfound mobility on Ethel Roosevelt, Kermit Roosevelt, and their friends; they visit friends who live farther away and these guests reciprocate by visiting the Roosevelts’ home too. Roosevelt explains that he is glad they did not have a car before this summer, because he would rather not socialize so much. He updates Anna on the academic interests and college plans of Archibald Roosevelt. Archie and Quentin Roosevelt have taken to playing tennis together, which makes Roosevelt happy, and Quentin also plays baseball with James the butler. Roosevelt speaks very highly of the staff and servants of the house and stable, who are black, and the gardeners and the chauffeur, who are “native Americans.” Roosevelt hopes Anna can visit in the fall or spring and is glad he was able to visit her the past spring. He tells her that the Emlen Roosevelts have had a difficult time because of Aunt Lizzie (Elizabeth Emlen Roosevelt), who is feeble and suffering from mental illness. However, Edith just spent time with Aunt Lizzie and enjoyed it.
Collection
Creation Date
1911-07-28
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles
Theodore Roosevelt writes to continue a discussion with Anna Roosevelt Cowles about the need for lively pursuits at home that he compares to the French art of savoir vivre. He gives examples that Oyster Bay ought to have: a park with a bandstand, a Y.M.C.A, and tennis courts; and explains that Edith Roosevelt and Ethel Roosevelt are trying to enlist some of the villagers to contribute to supplying some of these facilities. Roosevelt updates Cowles on his family’s activities. Edith’s fiftieth birthday was two days ago and she was delighted with her presents, which is not always the case. Roosevelt writes that sometimes she even shares his “own mother’s way of looking at a present of which she does not approve.” They ride and row together, and he plays tennis well.
Collection
Creation Date
1911-08-08
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Anna Roosevelt Cowles to explain he has written to Theodore Roosevelt Jr., and everything went as well as possible with Eleanor Butler Alexander Roosevelt, who has given birth to her first child, Grace Green Roosevelt. Roosevelt received a letter from Grace Green Alexander, who told him that mother and child are doing well. Roosevelt and Edith Roosevelt are happy to be grandparents. Roosevelt is glad that Cowles’s doctor has encouraged her to go back to Mount Clemens. He is looking forward to her visit in the fall.
Collection
Creation Date
1911-08-25
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles
Theodore Roosevelt encloses an autograph Anna Roosevelt Cowles has requested, joking that the person who asked her for it obviously has not seen his handwriting. He describes Edith Roosevelt’s recent injury, in which she suffered a slight concussion and dislocation of three upper-neck vertebrae. He believes she is out of danger but she does not because she is still in a great deal of pain even though doctors assured her it would abate by now. Roosevelt does not know when she will be better but he is sure she will be out of bed by the time Cowles visits on the 24th. He is thrilled with how much Ethel Roosevelt has helped take care of Edith and appreciates her good heart and strong capabilities.
Collection
Creation Date
1911-10-05
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles
Theodore Roosevelt informs Anna Roosevelt Cowles that a nerve specialist has been in to consult with Alec Lambert on Edith Roosevelt’s condition, which has been worse for the last two or three days after her recent concussion and neck-vertebrae injury. The specialist suggested that she will not be able to see outsiders or have visitors in the house for the next two to three weeks, especially while nurses are with her around the clock, which means Cowles’s visit will need to be rescheduled. Roosevelt is extremely sorry and is still impressed with Ethel’s dedication and hopes she does not tire out.
Collection
Creation Date
1911-10-13
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Anna Roosevelt Cowles for the Christmas gifts of a lamp and a hearth brush, saying that he especially wanted the lamp and it has already added to his comfort. He misses her and wishes he could talk with her and William Sheffield Cowles about his complicated political situation. He sends his regards to William Sheffield Cowles, Jr., understanding that he has had a difficult time but he knows it would be harder if he were taken away now. Roosevelt is certain young Sheffield will win out because he has the right stuff in him.
Collection
Creation Date
1911-12-27
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles
Theodore Roosevelt replies to Anna Roosevelt Cowles about Elisha Ely Garrison, a good man who was in his regiment. Garrison wrote to Roosevelt recently because he is interested in financial legislation and hoped Roosevelt would discuss it with him. Roosevelt says that Garrison is a real friend and a Yale man; Roosevelt always listens to him when he visits and sends him a follow-up letter of acknowledgement when he sends a manuscript or pamphlet. Roosevelt shares that he and Edith Roosevelt laughed when they read Cowles’ account of the Frederika Bremer celebration and about William Sheffield Cowles Jr. playing football to work off the extra treats at Christmas.
Collection
Creation Date
1911-12-29
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles
Theodore Roosevelt writes that Edith Roosevelt is much better after suffering from erysipelas for the last several months. Alec Lambert gave Edith four injections that seem to have reduced the duration of the disease. Roosevelt wishes he could see his sister and William Sheffield Cowles so he could discuss his political situation with them. He thinks being nominated at all would be a misfortune, but “to be nominated by a bare majority of the popular vote would be a calamity.” While there may be some anti-Taft sentiment, he believes Taft will be renominated without much opposition, and he may win the election if Democrats split into factions. Roosevelt mentions concern over whether William Sheffield Cowles, Jr. returned to school a bit more content.
Collection
Creation Date
1912-01-12