Your TR Source
President Roosevelt writes to C. Hart Merriam at the Department of Agriculture about his trip to Yellowstone Park. He talks at length about the elk at the park, their habits, and how many of them there are.
1903-04-16
Theodore Roosevelt sends C. Hart Merriam the injured skull of a male wolf he caught in Montana in 1889. The specimen may be of no value.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-27
Theodore Roosevelt sends C. Hart Merriam the skin and skeleton of a wolf killed about fifty miles north of Quebec on the Tourelli Club grounds.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1917-01-15
On behalf of Theodore Roosevelt, his secretary writes to C. Hart Merriam to coordinate Merriam’s visit to Oyster Bay.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-03-11
Theodore Roosevelt would like C. Hart Merriam to come down to Oyster Bay on the thirteenth.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-03-05
Theodore Roosevelt would like C. Hart Merriam to come to New York with Edward William Nelson and spend a night with Roosevelt. Roosevelt could invite Charles Sheldon and others, and they could discuss concealing coloration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-19
Theodore Roosevelt responds to C. Hart Merriam’s criticism by taking out the belligerent attitude and “softening down the hammering of Thayer.” As for the other matters concerning animal coloration, they will agree to disagree. Roosevelt is pleased Merriam likes his autobiography and sends his regards to Merriam’s wife and family.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1913-05-07
Theodore Roosevelt shares his observations on animal coloration with C. Hart Merriam and asks where he can get some of Merriam’s lectures on protective coloration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1913-04-09
Theodore Roosevelt will see C. Hart Merriam tomorrow. Roosevelt believes it is a scandal “that his salary should be so small.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-22
The snake man turned up, but the snake did not actually have a sting. Theodore Roosevelt lets C. Hart Merriam know that Charles D. Walcott closed with his offer and that Congress will not have to give any funds.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-06
Theodore Roosevelt is pleased to learn of the partnership between the Biological Survey and the National Conservation Commission. The Commission has already conferred with C. Hart Merriam regarding details.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-02
Theodore Roosevelt thanks C. Hart Merriam for the pamphlets on Mendel’s Law. Roosevelt encourages Merriam to write a great natural history of the mammals of North America.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-06
Theodore Roosevelt stands corrected, as he learned from Merriam that the song thrush and the titmouse are invasive.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-22
Theodore Roosevelt did not know that skylarks were objectionable. He has always been hoping to see them increase on Long Island. He would like C. Hart Merriam to tell him what “to let in and keep out.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-19
Theodore Roosevelt asks C. Hart Merriam about a kind of airgun that could be used for killing English sparrows. He would like to do as little damage as possible to other birds.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-15
One of Theodore Roosevelt’s sons shot a hawk at Pine Knot. The hawk had recently eaten a pine mouse, beetle, and four grasshoppers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-31
Theodore Roosevelt thinks it is extraordinary that any human being can believe William J. Long, stating that they “ought to have some sense.” This is in reference to the “nature fakers” controversy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-09
Theodore Roosevelt believes he was correct about the passenger pigeons he saw. He includes evidence in the form of a letter written by Joseph Wilmer, whose place Plain Dealing is near Roosevelt’s Pine Knot. Roosevelt also includes an excerpt from George Shiras discussing various topics, including the timber wolf and how lynx hunt, and disagreeing with William J. Long’s texts on the subjects.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-08
President Roosevelt describes a dozen passenger pigeons that he saw in Virginia. He did not kill any because he did not have a gun, but nothing could have persuaded him to shoot them anyway.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-23
Theodore Roosevelt sends an enclosure that shows things are “all right.” He is also excited for the Biological Survey.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-28