Your TR Source
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-03-26
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Selous, Frederick Courteney, 1851-1917
English
President Roosevelt encloses for Frederick Courteney Selous a copy of an invitation from William Northrup McMillan. He explains that he has asked McMillan to contact Selous and Edward North Buxton when making arrangements. Alfred E. Pease has said that Sirdar F. R. Wingate could likely provide leather mosquito stockings, but Roosevelt would rather have Selous ask the outfitter Lawn & Alder to have them made and sent. William C. Judd seems like the best choice for managing the caravan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-25
President Roosevelt thanks Frederick Courteney Selous for the recent letter containing travel suggestions and details changes he has made in light of it. He compares his own past adventures and future safari to Selous’s travels. Roosevelt responds to Selous’s comments on potential safari guides, and asks if Selous will confer with Edward North Buxton on the topic and send back his suggestions. In a postscript, he asks for Selous’s opinion on taking William C. Judd with him, specifically as a caravan manager and guide.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-12
President Roosevelt thanks Frederick Courteney Selous for helping him prepare for his African trip, and reviews the supplies that have been arranged. Although hesitant at first, Roosevelt agrees with Selous on hiring “a reliable white man to manage the caravan and the like.” He requests that Selous hire William C. Judd for the position. Arrangements have been made for shipping the ammunition.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-22
President Roosevelt encloses the revised lists of supplies for Frederick Courteney Selous. He discusses his reasoning behind the revisions and provides Selous with his travel itinerary. Gerrit Forbes recently visited Roosevelt and recounted his recent hunt in Africa. Roosevelt is reluctant to hire a white man for the trip but will do so if Selous suggests it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-19
In this carbon copy of the original, Theodore Roosevelt writes his friend explorer Frederick Courteney Selous regarding Selous’ upcoming hunting safari in the Sudan. He asks him to kill and investigate certain animals including a Lado giraffe and a whiteheaded cob. He updates him on some of their friends and says Edmund Heller is going back to Africa. He thanks Selous for his words about Roosevelt’s defeat in the last Presidential election.
1911-02-02
Theodore Roosevelt sends Frederick Courteney Selous an article he wrote for The Outlook and directs him to the footnote about Alfred Russel Wallace’s statement about antelope horns. He finds Wallace and naturalists like him absurd in their writings about protective coloration and similar notions. They develop theories without having practical knowledge. Kermit Roosevelt’s hunts were successful.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-24
Theodore Roosevelt expresses to Frederick Courteney Selous his sympathy for the poor treatment Selous received during a scientific expedition, including health issues and bureaucratic obstacles. Roosevelt defends Selous’s integrity and scientific value, criticizes British officials for their lack of support, and reflects on his own African experiences. He praises Selous’s field observations and urges him to continue his contributions to natural history despite age and physical limitations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-11
Theodore Roosevelt has not heard from Frederick Courteney Selous for some time and wants to hear how his safari in the Lado Enclave went. He hopes Selous killed a giraffe as he is curious about what species is in the area and that he solved the questions of Mrs. Grey’s waterbuck. Roosevelt encourages Selous to write a book on his experiences and praises his previous works, especially as other hunter-naturalists’ books are “utterly dry.” He sends a copy of his pamphlet on protective coloration in animals and his follow-up article. Kermit Roosevelt misses Africa and is currently hunting in Mexico, with a trip to New Brunswick planned for September. Roosevelt wants Selous and his wife, Marie Catherine Gladys Selous, to visit him at Sagamore Hill.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-15
Theodore Roosevelt inquires if he and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt can spend the night at Frederick Courteney Selous’ home on June 1st before going to Lady Colville’s for lunch the following day.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-04-05
President Roosevelt discusses the provisions, particularly alcohol and other drinks, that he intends to bring for his upcoming safari. Noting that Frederick Courteney Selous and Edward North Buxton disagree on whether or not Roosevelt should hire a white man to manage his caravan, Roosevelt asks for Selous’s opinion. Roosevelt is considering hiring William C. Judd for the job. If he does hire Judd, Roosevelt wants it to be made clear that he will not be doing any hunting and will only be managing the caravan and serving as guide.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-12
President Roosevelt hopes that Frederick Courteney Selous received the shoe he sent. He discusses various supplies he thinks he should bring on his upcoming safari, based on a book by J. H. Patterson and advice he got from Gerrit Forbes, who recently returned from hunting in Africa.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-08
President Roosevelt discusses the various supplies, including food and drink, that he should bring on his safari. He tells Frederick Courteney Selous that he does not want the trip to be too luxurious, and does not want to bring very much alcohol. He also discusses the type of guns he should use and when he intends to leave for Africa. Selous’s friend Charles Sheldon recently visited Roosevelt and told about his hunting experiences in Alaska. Roosevelt has been invited to give the Romanes lecture in Oxford in 1910, and will be going to England after he leaves Africa.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-19
President Roosevelt is happy to have Lawn & Alder outfit his entire safari and send the supplies to Alfred E. Pease’s ranch. He is particularly glad to hear that they can get certain provisions that he wanted, such as Boston baked beans. After much thought, he agrees with Frederick Courteney Selous’s suggestion that he should hire a white man to manage the caravan, and will take Selous’s suggestion of William C. Judd.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-22
President Roosevelt has decided to take Frederick Courteney Selous’s advice and hire a white man to manage the caravan on his African safari, despite objections from Edward North Buxton. Roosevelt asks Selous to hire either R. J. Cunninghame or William C. Judd for the job if they are available. He provides a list of provisions that he would like to bring on the trip.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-12
President Roosevelt encloses several proposed itineraries for his upcoming African safari. He thinks it wise to wait to decide on an exact plan until he arrives in Africa.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-02
President Roosevelt is pleased that Frederick Courteney Selous was able to hire R. J. Cunninghame to manage his upcoming safari. He agrees with Selous about how to engage Shikari guides, and thinks it wise to ship most of his supplies to Nairobi and leave logistics to Cunninghame’s judgment. Roosevelt tells Selous that he likely will not go straight to Nairobi when he arrives in Africa, as he wants to avoid press and public attention.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-12
Theodore Roosevelt provides Frederick Courteney Selous with an excerpt of a letter that Frederick John Jackson sent another American about Roosevelt’s upcoming safari. The letter included various recommendations about suppliers and itinerary. Roosevelt likes the itinerary, but is concerned about whether he can prevent the press from following his caravan. He asks if the government could refuse to issue them licenses to travel.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-25
President Roosevelt has asked his safari guide R. J. Cunninghame to engage Leslie J. Tarlton. Roosevelt is concerned about the growing expense of the trip but does not want to disregard Cunninghame’s suggestions. He is also reluctant to allow anyone other than himself to shoot big game. Roosevelt is very busy with work leading up to the end of his presidency.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-07
President Roosevelt asks Frederick Courteney Selous for advice about which provisions and supplies he should select for his African safari and whether they should be sent from England.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-21