Your TR Source
Theodore Roosevelt passed his examinations but did not do as well as expected. He had been bothered by a slight headache. Roosevelt is thankful the hard work is over until next year. He will be leaving on the Thursday afternoon train.
1878-06-02
Theodore Roosevelt reached Cambridge, Massachusetts, in “capital health and spirits.” He officiated at the athletic meeting and joined the Porcellian Club. The Sunday school was disorganized but the boys were happy to see him. Roosevelt would like Elliott Roosevelt to send the number for the shoemaker on Broadway.
1878-11-03
The weather has been poor but Theodore Roosevelt has been fortunate not to catch a cold. He has been looking over a letter from Theodore Roosevelt Sr., and feels sad he can no longer write to him. Roosevelt had a three hour examination today and will be visiting home two weeks from next Friday.
1878-03-24
Theodore Roosevelt has arrived in Cambridge, Massachusetts, after a comfortable trip. His hands are too cold to write well.
1878-12-04
Theodore Roosevelt misses his family and wishes he could be with them to mourn the death of Theodore Roosevelt, Sr. His busy schedule has prevented him from feeling the loss as strongly as the rest of the family. Roosevelt looks forward to spending ten days with his family in April.
1878-03-10
Theodore Roosevelt hopes that his parents are having a good time at the old Burlington house. He always found the house fascinating. The boys of Oyster Bay formed a club for running and jumping and are having “great fun.” William Emlen Roosevelt is the best jumper and Theodore the fastest.
1875-08-29
Theodore Roosevelt has had an enjoyable week at the Colonel’s house. He was disappointed that they had to take two guides into the woods for hunting.
1871-08-01
The family misses Martha Bulloch Roosevelt but everyone is well. Five boys visited last Saturday and they had a beautiful time. They were noisy but did not break anything. During Sunday school, everyone laughed at the biblical story of Job’s comforters, whom Anna Roosevelt called “scallawags.”
1871-04-22
Theodore Roosevelt hopes that Martha Bulloch Roosevelt is enjoying her trip. Roosevelt attended Nelly Dean’s wedding yesterday and made himself so agreeable that an “old lady” gave him a compliment. He made one blunder when some sandwiches fell into the Charlotte russe and he “helped cousin Leila to a fair share of both.”
1871
Theodore Roosevelt has just realized that spring has arrived. The birds are returning, and he enjoyed seeing and hearing large numbers of robins in the park. Last night’s small party was a success. Anna Roosevelt has been an excellent housekeeper, and Roosevelt has performed his duty, winding the clocks, “in the most commendable manner.”
1875-03-14
Theodore Roosevelt will miss Martha Bulloch Roosevelt but is glad that she will be staying down south for a while longer. The weather for Easter was beautiful, but Roosevelt was unable to go shooting with Fred Osborn on Good Friday due to a bad cold. Roosevelt’s dance classes are going well, and the new coachman, Fox, is a good employee.
1875-03-28
The Roosevelt children are in good health and beautiful spirits. Theodore Roosevelt’s mission class went well and the students have christened him “Teacher Four Eyes.” Mr. Rhinelander did not come to dance class, likely deterred by his older age. Roosevelt probably will not travel to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as he is behind in his studies due to illness.
1876-03-04
Theodore Roosevelt asks if his father is enjoying himself and reports that the Roosevelt children are in good health. The children had a dinner party and Roosevelt hopes that the guests’ ages are satisfactory. His dancing class, boxing, studies, and mission class are “progressing beautifully.”
1876-03-13
Theodore Roosevelt is pleased with his room in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and will start his work on Monday. He requests the valise, papers, and inkstand as soon as possible. If he can borrow a bag, he will spend next Sunday with H. D. Minot.
1876-09-29
Theodore Roosevelt writes his mother all about his social life at Harvard and the people he has visited with including the Saltonstalls and Whitneys. He describes listening to the Glee Club sing on Class Day with Alice Hathaway Lee and being invited by Mr. Whitney to a boat race in New London. He adds he would like to invite some of his friends to New York.
1879-06-22
Theodore Roosevelt writes his mother from his honeymoon in Switzerland and describes the “spree” he and Alice had with Charley Alexander. They gave a dinner for some of Alice’s Boston friends and met some other Americans. The only useless purchase made the whole trip was a gondola pole he finally sent ahead of them to Liverpool.
1881-08-02
Theodore Roosevelt writes his mother from his honeymoon and says Venice is “unquestionably the loveliest.” He describes the room at the hotel and activities they have done: rowing in a gondola, San Marco, and the doge’s palace. He also describes the pigeons on the sill.
1881-06-21
Theodore Roosevelt writes his mother from his honeymoon in London. He describes visiting Aunt Hattie and the only thing that marred the visit was the “slobbering” of the younger Bullochs. He also details paintings at the National Gallery and at South Kensington. He took Alice to “ladies day” at Epsom Races, driving in Hyde Park, the opera and Saint Paul’s.
1881-06-05
Theodore Roosevelt describes for his mother the enjoyment he has had staying with the Saltonstalls, especially Rose and her cousin Alice Hathaway Lee. He describes riding in the cart and playing games. He has fallen behind in school during the last month but intends to make it up.
1879-11-29
Theodore Roosevelt describes to his mother from his trip into the backwoods of Maine with his guide Bill Sewall. He describes setting up camp, the food, dragging the boat upstream, the scenery, and hunting.
1879-09-14