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Frederick Courtney Selous discusses concerns about President Roosevelt’s upcoming trip to Africa. Selous gives his opinions on the provisions, safari guides, equipment porters, and the hunting of big game animals. Selous includes a postscript informing Roosevelt that everything has been shipped and should arrive in Nairobi by early March.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-25
William L. Smith offers advice for President Roosevelt’s upcoming East Africa expedition, including what sort of camera to bring along, and the sort of treatment necessary to prevent malaria. Smith suggests purchasing $400 Naturalists Graflex camera in order to take photographs of animals at a distance, and explains how to best care for the plates, plate holder, and film box so the photos will not get ruined. He additionally recommends Dr. Koch’s preventative malaria treatment which involves taking powdered quinine for two successive days each week. Smith met with three friends who recently returned from East Africa who also saw Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-25
Secretary of the Treasury Cortelyou sends President Roosevelt a pair of books that he thinks he will be interested in–one volume on the works of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, and another on the region of Africa where Roosevelt will travel on his safari.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-24
R. J. Cunninghame has recently returned from being on safari, and wishes to clarify a few points from his last letter to Frederick Courteney Selous now that he has the opportunity. Cunninghame discourages the hiring of Somali porters for President Roosevelt’s safari, as they will not be native to the country they are traveling through. While they are expert guides in their own country, bringing them on Roosevelt’s proposed route, Cunninghame says, will likely just result in increased expense for services that could be better done by other people. Additionally, Cunninghame believes strongly that Roosevelt should hire Leslie J. Tarlton as an additional safari guide. He suggests the importance of having another very competent person help manage the safari and be able to accompany Roosevelt or his son, Kermit Roosevelt, when they are out hunting.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-25
James J. Harrison tells President Roosevelt about his present experiences on safari in Africa, including his route and travel times. He offers to meet Roosevelt during his safari to show him where to find certain types of game, as he will be familiar with the country they can be found in. Harrison warns Roosevelt about arriving too early, as the rains in November and December could cause troubles. He also advises Roosevelt to make sure to bring a pair of thin mosquito boots to wear around camp.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-27
John L. Harrington writes to President Roosevelt to follow up on a conversation they had at a recent lunch, and gives Roosevelt some details about a journey on the Upper Nile that he took in 1904. Harrington has already been making some arrangements for Roosevelt to be able to hunt during this leg of the journey. He appends a copy of a map of the region to the letter for Roosevelt to look at.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-28
Charles R. Watson, writing on behalf of the Board of Foreign Relations of the United Presbyterian Church of North America, has learned that President Roosevelt is contemplating a trip to Africa after leaving the presidency, and invites him to visit any of the mission stations that the Presbyterian Church has established along the Nile River Valley. Watson believes Roosevelt’s visit to any of these stations would be a boon, and would allow him to see in person the sorts of missionary efforts he has previously praised. Accompanying the letter, Watson includes a list of various works that he is sending to Roosevelt under separate cover addressing the mission work in Egypt and the Sudan, a list of the various mission stations that have been established in the region, and a pair of maps illustrating their locations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-22
Winston Churchill gave Whitelaw Reid a copy of his book to send to President Roosevelt just before the diplomatic pouch was sealed, which Reid now sends to Roosevelt. Churchill additionally pledges assistance should Roosevelt need any regarding his upcoming safari.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-23
W. S. Rainsford writes to President Roosevelt with advice for his upcoming African safari. Rainsford believes that R. J. Cunninghame will serve Roosevelt well.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-22
Consul General Iddings is sending President Roosevelt two pairs of mosquito boots via London. Iddings instructs Roosevelt on how to use the boots, and emphasizes their importance in preventing mosquito bites at night. When Roosevelt is out hunting, his normal pants and boots should prevent mosquito bites well enough. If the boots do not fit, Roosevelt can send them back so they can be altered before he arrives. Iddings also forwards Roosevelt a letter from Sir Lee Stack, the chief Sudan official who is in Cairo, and who has been assisting Iddings. Iddings was pleased to hear of the Republican victory in the presidential election, and congratulates Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-05
Friedrich Bronsart von Schellendorf invites President Roosevelt to do him the honor of visiting him and his wife at their wildlife farm in British East Africa once he embarks on his safari. Schellendorf promises Roosevelt that he will be able to do good hunting there. While he fears Roosevelt may be discouraged from visiting, he would be extremely honored if he does so. Schellendorf also mentions the opportunities for photography of a variety of animals. He encloses a picture of lion he took.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-09
Frederick Courteney Selous believes that he has done everything he can to arrange for President Roosevelt’s upcoming trip to Africa, and gives Roosevelt advice on what further steps he may have to take to complete preparations. Roosevelt’s outfits and provisions will be forwarded to Newland, Tarlton and Co. at Nairobi once they arrive at Mombasa. Selous thinks Roosevelt may have to resign himself to meeting the Governor of British East Africa and participating in some ceremonies before leaving on his actual safari, which would have the upside of allowing for final preparations to be completed. Selous has accepted an invitation from William Northrup McMillan to visit Africa at the same time as Roosevelt, and hopes to be able to travel on the same boat as Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-13
Edward North Buxton believes that President Roosevelt is correct in his choice of what firearms to bring along on his safari, but if he wished to make any alterations there is still plenty of time to get a larger bore gun. Buxton has spoken with Ambassador Whitelaw Reid about sending Roosevelt a rifle to test in a sealed Foreign Office Packet. He additionally offers comments on a number of supplies that Roosevelt is bringing or may wish bring on his safari, including types of cartridges, clothing, and food.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-15
Frederick Courteney Selous will write to President Roosevelt again after speaking with William Northrup McMillan, but believes that for the time being all preparations for Roosevelt’s safari that could be made have been made. Selous doubts that Roosevelt will simply be able to travel to Alfred E. Pease’s farm without first showing himself to the citizens of Nairobi, as he is very popular there. Selous promises to go through the camp’s equipment and provisions before they are packed and sent away to ensure that everything is in order.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-29
Whitelaw Reid, ambassador to the United Kingdom, informs President Roosevelt that Winston Churchill’s book describing his trip in East and North Africa was recently published. Reid is uncertain if the book has any information that might be useful for Roosevelt that he has not already gotten from an expert source. However, since Churchill describes the same area Roosevelt will be traveling in during his safari, Reid sends along a copy for perusal.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-02
Alfred E. Pease is forwarding President Roosevelt’s letter regarding the money to Edward North Buxton. Pease hears good things about William C. Judd and thinks he would be a fine man to take on the Safari trip, even if Buxton is negative about a white “head man.” Pease can prepare the mules when Roosevelt arrives.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-20
Lieutenant Governor Frederick John Jackson, of British East Africa, gives President Roosevelt advice on his upcoming safari. He recommends V. M. Newland and Leslie J. Tarlton to outfit and supply Roosevelt, and after speaking with W. S. Rainsford, he recommends Roosevelt take a white man to run the caravan, such as Tarlton or R. J. Cunninghame. To hunt as many specimens as possible, Jackson maps out a route from Alfred E. Pease’s ranch in the Kapiti plains to William Northrup McMillan’s property in Doinya Sabuk, and then to the Vasin Gisha plateau. Jackson would be glad to receive Roosevelt in Nairobi upon arrival if the governor is unavailable. A list of game is included.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-25
William Northrup McMillan had written a letter upon hearing that President Roosevelt would be in British East Africa, but the publications from St. Louis purporting to have information from McMillan about Roosevelt’s travels were not legitimate and he has reached out to The New York Herald to rectify the situation. If it is convenient, McMillan hopes Roosevelt will visit and utilize any of his staff. McMillan details the locations one can likely find various types of game and clarifies his upcoming travel plans so that Roosevelt can reach him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-29
Edgar Huidekoper Wells updates President Roosevelt on Kermit Roosevelt’s course schedule and explains that splitting up the Greek course over two years would need to be approved by the administrative board. Wells thinks Roosevelt might like to know that Theodore Lyman had a successful hunting trip in British East Africa.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-05
Ambassador Reid’s acquaintance Cyril A. Ward went hunting in Africa two years ago. Reid will send President Roosevelt a copy of the book documenting the trip. Ward directs that African Game Ranger Blaney Percival is a useful contact and will give Reid a copy of his supply list. Reid discusses the controversy over King Edward VII’s recent interviews with sovereigns and prime ministers conducted without proper governmental supervision.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-31