Your TR Source
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 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 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
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
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 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 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
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 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
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
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 from Harvard to his mother to request his hat. He reports that he is doing well in his classes, and complains about having his Sunday School class taken from him. He says he will go to Chestnut Hill to see the girls, referring to his future wife Alice Hathaway Lee.
1879-01-11
A young Theodore Roosevelt writes to his mother, commenting on the contents of her letter to him. He mentions saying hello to various family members for him and how much he misses his sister Conie (Corinne). This is a typewritten copy of the original letter.
1868-04-28
Theodore Roosevelt writes to his mother of his activities in Bar Harbour, including lawn tennis and dancing. Roosevelt mentions that he was ill, but that Alice Lee took very good care of him.
1880-08-01
Theodore Roosevelt, traveling by train, writes of his improving health after a bout with cholera. He also sends his regards to his aunt Anna Bulloch Gracie and to Mrs. Leavitt (Sarah Bancroft Leavitt).
1883-09-04
Theodore Roosevelt writes to his mother, claiming it to be the longest letter he will ever write. He writes about many topics, including his friends and various social calls, the status of his studies and courses he is taking, his exercise regimen, and the weather.
1878-10-08