Africa--German East Africa (Burundi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania)

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to David Jayne Hill

President Roosevelt thanks Ambassador Hill for the write-up of the funeral of his good friend and former German Ambassador, Hermann Speck von Sternburg. In the future Roosevelt may ask Hill to enquire about accommodations for hunting in German East Africa, in case his safari brings him to that region. While he is abroad Roosevelt will likely be presented, as a private citizen, to King Edward VII of Great Britain while visiting Oxford University. Should the German Emperor William II expressly request a visit, he would also visit Berlin.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to T. St. John Gaffney

The picture sent by T. St. John Gaffney, the Consul General at Munich, amuses President Roosevelt. While he grieves the loss of his friend Ambassador Hermann Speck von Sternburg, he mourns for Lillian May Speck von Sternburg’s situation. If he makes it into German East Africa, he will contact Gaffney’s son-in-law, Hans Heinrich von Wolf. Roosevelt agrees with Gaffney regarding the navy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edmund Heller

Theodore Roosevelt expresses to Edmund Heller the need to quickly document big game specimens from Africa and urges him to return to Washington to finish his reports, sharing news from Frederick Selous and sending regards to friends.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-11

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to C. G. Schillings

Theodore Roosevelt writes to C. G. Schillings to agree with what he has said about the fauna of East Africa, but also tells him that it is unwise for Roosevelt to send the pamplets to the German Emperor since he would be a non-German interfering in German affairs.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward North Buxton

President Roosevelt writes to Edward North Buxton about his upcoming safari, including details about the outfitting of his trip, as well as his travel plans. Roosevelt will accept Alfred E. Pease’s invitation to visit his ranch to begin his journey and get acclimated. He then plans to make several trips from the railway to get into good game-country. Roosevelt plans to get Kermit Roosevelt a camera to do photography on the trip, and hopes to have a couple field taxidermists accompany him as well, as the trip will have a naturalist purpose behind it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Emperor William II

President Roosevelt sends German Emperor William II a note of good will, and thanks him for the friendship he has shown during the years that Roosevelt has been president. Roosevelt reflects that he would have liked to have continued to be president, but that he is satisfied with his accomplishment while in office, and is looking forward to his African safari. He does not expect to hold office again, but if America is ever involved in another war would like to lead a division of cavalry. Ambassador Hermann Speck von Sternburg’s death saddened Roosevelt, and he praises Sternburg’s conduct and service as a diplomat.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt has had a nice letter from William Northrup McMillan; he hopes that Frederick Courteney Selous will visit McMillan while he is in Africa, and that perhaps they can take the same steamer there. He will receive maps and itineraries from J. H. Patterson, Lieutenant-Governor Frederick John Jackson, and a German officer, all suggesting different trips and routes he can take. He sends Jackson’s and the German’s itineraries to Selous. Roosevelt will decide which exact trips he wants to take when he gets to Africa.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. H. Patterson

President Roosevelt would like J. H. Patterson to tell him when he and his wife can visit the White House. He is glad that Patterson is sending an itinerary of the journey he took, and that he can arrange for a native guide who knows the country. Roosevelt will ask his son Kermit about flashlights. Roosevelt is sending Patterson itineraries from Uganda Governor Frederick John Jackson, as well as from a German officer, for trips in Uganda and German East Africa.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick John Jackson

President Roosevelt thanks Lieutenant-Governor Jackson for his letter and advice on which outfitters to use on his trip to Africa. Roosevelt outlines his initial travel plans, and encloses an itinerary from a German officer, on which he asks Jackson’s opinion. He discusses the many kinds of animals that he and his son Kermit Roosevelt would like to shoot, and assures Jackson that the majority of the trophies will be for the National Museum. Roosevelt asks advice on the types of formal clothes to bring to Africa.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to David Jayne Hill

President Roosevelt would like Ambassador Hill to thank Lieutenant Walther von Wiese und Kaiserswaldau for the paper and map he sent. He would like Hill to inform the German Imperial Government that he would like to visit German East Africa next year, although he is not sure when it will be possible. He wonders if it would be wise to write von Wiese himself.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-30

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick John Jackson

President Roosevelt consults Frederick John Jackson, Lieutenant-Governor of British East Africa, about his upcoming safari. Roosevelt plans to spend at least six months in British East Africa, and perhaps German East Africa, to collect specimens for the Smithsonian Institution. Roosevelt does not want to be a bother, but ventures to ask Jackson if he has any recommendations about where he should go to get porters, or which stores he should use for supplies. Roosevelt does not want any undue consideration when he is in Africa, as he will be a private citizen.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt writes to Frederick Courteney Selous to discuss his plans and hopes for the safari he will take after leaving the presidency. Roosevelt mentions his preferences for outfitting the expedition, his planned route and timetable, and what sorts of animals he would like to hunt. He plans to partner with the National Museum of Natural History, so most of the animals he hunts will be preserved and donated to them.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles D. Walcott

President Roosevelt writes to Charles D. Walcott, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, to explain his plans for his African safari. Roosevelt plans to depart around April 1, which he says will put him in Mombasa by May 1. He plans to spend about ten months in Africa, and hopes to collect specimens for the Smithsonian Institution, not only of big game animals, but also of birds and smaller game. Roosevelt will make arrangements to publish a book chronicling his travels which should pay for his travels, but he would also like to bring along field taxidermists and naturalists to assist with the collection of animals, and he does not have the means to pay the way for their accompaniment. Roosevelt wonders if the Smithsonian would be able to hire the services of a field taxidermist. If it will not, Roosevelt says, he may be able to try to get a congressional appropriation, or see if the Carnegie Institute would be able to help.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Hermann Speck von Sternburg

During his African hunting trip, President Roosevelt plans to go to Mombasa, and after hunting in British East Africa may want to go into German East Africa. He asks if it is proper for Baron von Sternburg to speak to the authorities and perhaps give him “the customary privileges that are shown to people who behave themselves.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-23

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Patrick McDermott to Theodore Roosevelt

Patrick McDermott, of the College of the Holy Ghost in Pittsburgh, informs President Roosevelt of the extensive number of missions the college runs throughout different regions of Africa. He lists the locations of missions in British East Africa and German East Africa, and invites Roosevelt to visit any of them while on his African safari.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-14

Creator(s)

McDermott, Patrick, -1921

Letter from Johann Heinrich Graf von Bernstorff to William Loeb

German Ambassador von Bernstorff responds to a letter German Secretary of Colonial Affairs Bernhard Dernburg sent to Berlin regarding President Roosevelt’s trip to Africa. East African Governor Albert von Rechenburg requests Roosevelt’s East Africa travel itinerary so Rechenburg can meet the special instructions Bernhard requested. Bernstorff is willing to meet with Roosevelt to discuss any questions about visiting East Africa. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-29

Creator(s)

Bernstorff, Johann Heinrich, Graf von, 1862-1939

General information about hunting expeditions in the German territory of Victoria Nyanza

Lieutenant Von Wiese und Kaiserswaldau describes his experiences hunting in German East Africa. He suggests the best places for hunting are the military posts Schirati and Ikoma and the Kagera River country. He explains how a European traveler should bring hunting supplies to Africa, prices for some goods, and his belief that the best time for hunting is between February and March. While the hunting is good from Schirati to Ikoma, the Kagera River country is even more fruitful with prospects. The author lists specific opportunities to hunt big game and details the days that such a journey would take, stating that the Kagera River country “commends itself more to the ethnographer.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908

Creator(s)

Von Wiese und Kaiserswaldau, Walther, 1879-

General information about hunting expeditions in the German territory of Victoria Nyanza

Lieutenant Walther Von Wiese und Kaiserswaldau of the Imperial Colonial Military in German East Africa details the best areas for hunting in the Victoria Nyanza, with a map appended. He outlines potential trips with supplies, routes, and bureaucratic details, with corresponding routes drawn on the map.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10

Creator(s)

Von Wiese und Kaiserswaldau, Walther, 1879-

Letter from David Jayne Hill to Theodore Roosevelt

Ambassador Hill brings the enclosed map to President Roosevelt’s attention. It was created by Walther von Wiese und Kaiserswaldau at the request of the late Baron Hermann Speck von Sternburg. Von Wiese und Kaiserwaldau serves in the military in German East Africa, and is also an avid sportsman. The map indicates conditions and locations of game in German East Africa. Hill notes that if Roosevelt ends up going into German East Africa, he should give him sufficient time to allow the Imperial Government to extend the appropriate courtesies.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-15

Creator(s)

Hill, David Jayne, 1850-1932

Letter from Hermann Speck von Sternburg to Theodore Roosevelt

Hermann Speck von Sternburg congratulates President Roosevelt on the nomination of William H. Taft as the Republican candidate for president. He also reports that he has made some preparations for Roosevelt’s proposed trip to German East Africa. Sternburg tells Roosevelt about some of internal politics of the German foreign service, says that there appears to have been some pressure for his removal, and worries about possible troubles for him in the future.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-15

Creator(s)

Sternburg, Hermann Speck von, Freiherr, 1852-1908