Africa, East

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alfred E. Pease

President Roosevelt received Alfred E. Pease’s letter on the same day as an invitation from William Northrup McMillan, and he has asked McMillan to contact Pease, Frederick Courteney Selous and Edward North Buxton for making arrangements. Sirdar F. R. Wingate has offered a boat in Gondokoro, and from there Roosevelt will hunt for white rhinoceros before tackling game from the exhaustive list of creatures Pease has said can be found on the Nile. Roosevelt is glad he will be able to restock supplies in Nairobi. At present Roosevelt’s time is consumed by the political campaigns in the United States. He hopes to see Harry Johnston soon, with whom he has an ongoing intellectual correspondence.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Northrup McMillan

President Roosevelt thanks William Northrup McMillan for the invitation to stay at the farm in Nairobi, and says he will likely come after staying with Alfred E. Pease and before taking the trip McMillan suggested. Roosevelt will be joined by Kermit Roosevelt and General Edgar Alexander Mearns, and he will be shooting specimens for the National Museum. For further planning Roosevelt asks McMillan to be in contact with Edward North Buxton, Frederick Courteney Selous, and Pease. After going through British East Africa Roosevelt will go on to the Nile and meet Sirdar F. R. Wingate and Leigh S. J. Hunt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward North Buxton

President Roosevelt sends Edward North Buxton a copy of a letter from William Northrup McMillan. Roosevelt hopes to visit McMillan’s farm, but has asked that he contact Buxton when making arrangements. Roosevelt discusses potential guides for the Safari, and Alfred E. Pease has strongly suggested William C. Judd. For the hunting boots, Roosevelt does not want to bother Sirdar F. R. Wingate, and he has asked Frederick Courteney Selous to add them to the supplies. Until the presidential campaign is over, Roosevelt’s attention is on helping to elect William H. Taft.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt agrees with Ambassador Reid’s assessment of the interviewing being done by Edward VII, King of England. He thanks Reid for the introduction to Phillip H. Percival. After conferring with Edward North Buxton, Roosevelt has decided not to shoot in the reserves, and rescinds his request to Lord Eyre Crowe. Instead he asks only for permission regarding restricted species. The Sirdar of Egypt, F. R. Wingate, has written to Roosevelt about Sudan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-12

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward North Buxton

President Roosevelt asks Edward North Buxton about mosquito boots and requests that he review the supply list and make any needed changes. Alfred E. Pease’s description of where to hunt lion and other game thoroughly excites Roosevelt. The Winchester Repeating Arms Company has arranged for shipping ammunition. Roosevelt intends to follow Buxton’s advice and “shall travel as comfortably as possible.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alfred E. Pease

President Roosevelt has received Alfred E. Pease’s letter, and has also heard from Edward North Buxton. As Pease suggested, he sent funds to Buxton and to Nairobi. A friend recently told him about the same lion country Pease mentioned, and Roosevelt thinks it is ideal. Currently, Roosevelt finds it “difficult to devote full attention to my Presidential work […] because I am looking forward so eagerly to my African trip!”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt thanks Ambassador Reid for the interesting letter, especially for the insight on Newfoundland. He is interested in what Secretary of State of India John Morley says about India, and discusses the intricacies surrounding “the control of thickly peopled tropical regions by self-governing northern democracies.” Roosevelt hopes to speak with Morley after presenting the Romanes lecture at Oxford. He asks Reid to inquire of the British statesman, Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes, about conditional hunting on the reserves. The Vermont elections went well.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Hays Hammond

President Roosevelt cannot give the endorsement John Hays Hammond requests, because if he gave one endorsement, he would be asked to endorse countless other organizations as well. If he were going to South Africa, he would hire Frederick Russell Burnham as a guide. Because he is going to East Africa, however, he needs someone with local knowledge.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-29

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward North Buxton

Although initially reluctant, President Roosevelt tells Edward North Buxton that he will hire a white hunter as advised by Frederick Courteney Selous. He agrees with Buxton about taking shorter trips, but he does want to go where J. H. Patterson went and see “scores” of diverse game. Roosevelt inquires if three months is enough time for the trip.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alfred E. Pease

President Roosevelt thanks Alfred E. Pease for helping him prepare for his Africa trip. He will follow through with Pease’s suggestions. Regardless of the sizable game, Roosevelt does not want to visit the Congo Free State for fear of controversy. A lion is Roosevelt’s primary goal. Per Frederick Courteney Selous’s advice, Roosevelt will hire “a white man who knows the country.” William C. Judd has been recommended several times. Selous will order all of the equipment.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert Bridges

President Roosevelt has written a statement about his association with Scribner’s Magazine during his upcoming African safari as requested by Robert Bridges, but requests Bridges be vague about the exact itinerary and timing of the trip, so as to avoid unwanted followers in the field, and asks that Bridges emphasize that the trip is associated with the National Museum of Natural History. Roosevelt emphasizes that his work with The Outlook magazine will in no way conflict with his work for Scribner’s.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to A. Blayney Percival

President Roosevelt hopes to be able to rely upon A. Blayney Percival for direction in locating the different types of game he wishes to hunt on his upcoming African safari, including lion, elephant, rhinoceros, buffalo, giraffe, hippopotamus, eland, wildebeests, roan, oryx, and waterbuck.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Cabot Lodge

President Roosevelt updates Henry Cabot Lodge on personal and political matters. Roosevelt feels obligated to enjoy a series of essays by Westerlick because his wife, Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, assumes he would not care for them; the puzzling problem of the re-nomination for Charles Evans Hughes for governor of New York; the plans for Roosevelt’s upcoming African safari, and his desire to tour Europe on the way home as a private citizen without pomp; his plans to write for Scribner’s and The Outlook post-presidency, and his reasoning for selecting those offers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward North Buxton

President Roosevelt tells Edward North Buxton that he has never used a peep sight for hunting, and describes the type of rifle sights he likes best, including a hand-drawn sketch. Roosevelt relays some details about the timing of travel for his upcoming African safari, saying he is pleased to be able to start the hard physical part of the trip by degrees at Alfred E. Pease’s ranch. The president hopes to stop over in England on the return trip to see Buxton, Frederick Courteney Selous, and other friends. Roosevelt has ordered the books Buxton recommended, and thanks him for sending an interesting extract from a report by J. H. Patterson.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Arthur Hamilton Lee

President Roosevelt thanks Arthur Hamilton Lee for the painting, saying he is overwhelmed by Lee’s kindness and generosity, and the way in which he has read Roosevelt’s thoughts about the painting. Roosevelt mentions that Admiral William S. Cowles, Anna Roosevelt Cowles, and Vice-President Charles W. Fairbanks recently attended the tricentennial celebrations in Québec, emphasizing the “hearty friendship” between the United States and England. Roosevelt thinks the British fleet should be kept up to the highest standards for the “peace of the world,” though he would like to limit the size of ships. Roosevelt’s African safari is coming up, and he hopes he can travel as a private person, but will pay his respects to various important personages along the way if need be.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to H. F. Ward

Theodore Roosevelt declines with regret H. F. Ward’s invitation for Roosevelt to write an introduction to Ward’s pamphlet on East Africa. Roosevelt suggests Ward visit him if Ward is ever in New York.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-05-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to H. Rider Haggard

Theodore Roosevelt has enjoyed H. Rider Haggard’s book Rural Denmark. He agrees with Haggard regarding the land and those who live on it. Roosevelt comments on settlement patterns and their relations to agriculture and English speaking, as seen in the United States, Canada, Australia, and England. He compares the seemingly transient English settlers in East Africa with the Boers. While Denmark has done well, Roosevelt was puzzled by a particular “queer social growth” during his visit. He understands Haggard’s discouragement in trying to teach people “what is vital for them to learn and what they refuse to learn,” and advises him to approach the task. Roosevelt apologizes for writing “an unconscionably long letter.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Abel Chapman

Theodore Roosevelt was delighted to receive Abel Chapman’s book, and praises it as highlighting Chapman’s work both as a big game hunter and as a naturalist. He especially remarks on the photographs included present in the book, and reflects that he has kept few of his own trophies. He hopes Chapman will come hunt in Alaska or Newfoundland sometime, which will allow him to visit Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Eleanor Corbett

Theodore Roosevelt is pleased with the photograph Eleanor Corbett sent and welcomes the Corbett family to Sagamore Hill whenever they visit from England. Roosevelt shares that his neighbor is in East Africa on a lion hunt and reminds Roosevelt of his lion hunt. He also includes a book review.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919