African Americans

Despite having just written to Harry Johnston, President Roosevelt finds his letter interesting and writes again. He is delighted Johnston is visiting America in the fall and invites him to stay at the White House. Like Johnston, Roosevelt “loathe[s] mere sentimentalism…but I abhor scoundrelism, iniquity, injustice in all its forms, even more.” Concerning African Americans, Roosevelt wants the truth and “how to expound and apply” it “in the interests of practical statesmanship.” Roosevelt is amused that Johnston similarly prefers simplified spelling.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt writes Attorney General Bonaparte regarding the federal prison employment situation of Joseph L. Merrell. Merrell was the Sheriff of Carroll County, Georgia in 1901 when he stopped a white mob from lynching a black prisoner, and subsequently lost his reelection bid as a result. Georgia Representative Charles William Adamson brought the situation to Roosevelt’s attention. Roosevelt secured Merrell a position for “$1200 a year as custodian of the grounds of the Federal Prison at Atlanta,” and hopes to get him a raise if he has done well at his job.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-17

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Mary F. L. Suydam writes to Theodore Roosevelt about articles she’s enjoyed in the Outlook. She also expresses displeasure over showings of the opera Salome in Philadelphia from a few years prior and how the mayor of Philadelphia, John E. Reyburn, did not stop the performances. She claims that the literate African American population in Philadelphia agrees with these views. She hopes Roosevelt will visit soon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-12

Creator(s)

Suydam, Mary F. L. (Mary Frances Ludwig), 1837-1916

Secretary of War Taft tells Senator Foraker that he has correctly stated Taft’s initial suggestion, but he now believes it is unwise to recommend the adoption of the proposed amendment to the statute. He is anxious not to delay the settlement of the unfortunate controversy, referring to the Brownsville matter, which has interfered with the discipline of the Army.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-01

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Williams has read the extract and comments that “no sensible Negro would ask for a better statement of our case.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01

Creator(s)

Williams, S. Lang

William Morrow asks Assistant Attorney General McReynolds to convince President Roosevelt to tour the South. Morrow does not believe that Roosevelt is advocating social equality with African Americans. Morrow claims that he and others happily associate with African Americans without the question of social equality being raised.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-09

Creator(s)

Morrow, William, 1839-1910

Cecil Andrew Lyon congratulates President Roosevelt on his victory and updates him on the situation in Texas. Although the Republican vote was light in Texas, the typically enormous Democratic majority did not exist. When Lyon visits Washington, D.C., he plans to show Roosevelt what the Republican Party was able to accomplish in Texas. He also wants to know when Roosevelt is planning to visit Texas, how much time he plans to spend hunting, and if he would be willing to address two or three meetings in Texas.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-10

Creator(s)

Lyon, Cecil Andrew, 1869-1916

As he says, “I mean, help me fight Roosevelt!” Joseph Benson Foraker holds up a mask of his face, which says, “Your race has been outraged!” and looks at an African American man. Foraker holds a knife labeled, “Hatred of Roosevelt.”

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-27

President Roosevelt rides “the political Negro” and stands outside “the South’s back-yard.” A young girl—”the South”—has a letter at her feet that reads, “‘I am half a southerner myself. . . .’ The South interests are as dear to me as the interests of the North. Teddy.” Caption: “Miss South”—You may come in, but you must tie your horse outside!

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-20

Creator(s)

Gregg, Lewis Crumley, 1880-1957

Several articles from the Commercial Advertiser are highlighted. They discuss the “terrible” precedent that President Roosevelt set by inviting the African American educator Booker T. Washington to dinner, and criticize Congress for its conduct during the most recent legislative session.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-03-04

Creator(s)

Unknown

“Copy of a letter from Thos. Jefferson on negro question.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-09-27

Creator(s)

Unknown

A collection of articles about the status of race relations in the United States and the prospect of equal rights for African Americans.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-05-17

Creator(s)

Unknown

This article discusses a quote from Henry S. Barker, a prominent African American in Washington, who lauds how African Americans were treated at the Republican Convention and says that if Theodore Roosevelt is elected president, African Americans will demand that Booker T. Washington be the Republican candidate for vice president in 1908. The article says that Democrats will resent the “threat” made in the letter and that the South should stand together for white supremacy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-28

Creator(s)

Unknown

A thin, tattered “Pullman Sleeping Car Porter” holds a piece of paper “Tips Daily Average on each Trip” which shows a 70% reduction in tips between 1890 and 1900. At the bottom it states “Pullman Porter’s Labor Union.” He is appealing to the president of the railroad company to become a salaried employee. An insert shows the Pullman porter “As we used to know him,” plump, with his pockets stuffed with cash and with rings on his fingers. Caption: “Say, Boss, if the public won’t pay me my wages any longer I guess the company ‘ll have to do it!”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1901-09-04

Creator(s)

Ehrhart, S. D. (Samuel D.), approximately 1862-1937

At a meeting in a Chinese mission, a collection is being taken up, “Contributions received here to save the foreign devils.” Five accompanying vignettes show how the United States is viewed by the Chinese, including “Kentucky feuds,” “Burning Negros at the stake,” “Labor riots,” “Anti-Chinese riots,” and “New York City government” where the Tammany Tiger is shaking down a citizen. A sign on a wall in the mission states, “Help the Heathen.”

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1900-11-21

A cavalry of African American troops marching in the Inaugural Parade.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1905-03-20

Creator(s)

Rau, William Herman, 1855-1920

Illustration showing an African American family on a small farm. In the background, a group of men, carrying rifles and a length of rope, are heading into a wooded area. Caption: Pete. — Am dis much bettah dan de ole slav’ry days, Uncle Tom? Uncle Tom. — I dunno, zac’ly. In dem times we wuz too valy’ble to be lynched!

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1900-04-11

10th Cavalry at Crawford, Nebraska

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1903-07-28

Creator(s)

American Stereoscopic Company

10th Cavalry at Crawford, Nebraska, attending the arrival of President Roosevelt’s train

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1903-07-28

Creator(s)

Underwood & Underwood

President Roosevelt holds the Door of Hope open with Dr. Crum preparing to walk through it holding his federal appointment. A large firecracker is going off, letting out social equality and “negro supremacy” as two men skip away from the explosive, one labeled Rockefeller and the other T. C. P. Item is regarding the appointment of African Americans to federal posts.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-03-04

Creator(s)

Bush, Charles Green, 1842-1909