African Americans--Politics and government

Letter from Richard Wilson Knott to John Robert Procter

Richard Wilson Knott discusses the uproar in the South over the appointment of African Americans to office. He believes that the outrage is largely fueled by newspapers and leaders of both parties who are upset about losing offices held by political machines. He says that President Roosevelt believes in the equality of all men and is unjustly criticized.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-02-03

Letter from Booker T. Washington to Theodore Roosevelt

Booker T. Washington has met with Silas McBee, Lyman Abbott, and Lawrence F. Abbott about appointing African Americans to office in the South. Washington’s position is that even though there are less African Americans holding office in the South compared to the McKinley administration they are of higher quality. McBee agreed not to write any more articles against the president’s policy and the Abbotts feel that they have always supported the Roosevelt administration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-02-03

Letter from Booker T. Washington to George B. Cortelyou

In honor of Lincoln’s birthday, African Americans are planning several large meetings in Northern cities. Washington fears that they will pass resolutions endorsing Roosevelt’s policy in the South which will place the Roosevelt administration in an awkward position. If the president wishes, Washington believes he can control these meetings to prevent such an outcome.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-02-03

Letter from Rufus B. Bullock to the Editor of the Churchman

Rufus B. Bullock defends the appointment of African Americans to office by President Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-01-20

Negro office-holders

Magazine article on President Roosevelt’s appointments of African Americans to government positions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-01-24

Letter from Booker T. Washington to Theodore Roosevelt

Booker T. Washington has been following events and believes that President Roosevelt acted properly. He also claims that no President has ever had such extensive African American gratitude and support. Washington is also interested in assisting with the search for a Minister to Liberia.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-01-24

Letter from J. Henry Esser to Theodore Roosevelt

J. Henry Esser is a member of the Columbia University debating team and will be debating President Roosevelt’s policy of appointing African Americans to public office in states where public sentiment is opposed. Esser would like to fully understand Roosevelt’s position and asks for information on literature that represents Roosevelt’s arguments.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-01-27

Letter from Thomas Nelson Page to Theodore Roosevelt

Thomas Nelson Page believes the agitation in the American South comes from white fears over the potential recognition of social equality. President Roosevelt has either misunderstood the implications of appointing African Americans to political posts or he has an agenda to promote social equality. Either way, the white South is upset over the “race question.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-01-28

Letter from Franklin Carter to George Frisbie Hoar

Franklin Carter supports the candidacy of Major Adams as U.S. Marshal in South Carolina, and he asks Senator Hoar to assist in attaining Adams’ appointment. Adams has won the confidence of both the colored people and “all the respectable whites,” and his appointment would be well received.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-01-01

Letter from James S. Clarkson to William Loeb

Clarkson sends enclosures from H. L. Johnson and William A. Pledger supporting Mr. Wimbish.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-01-02

Letter from James Sullivan Clarkson to William Loeb

James Sullivan Clarkson would like to speak with President Roosevelt about a prominent Iowa newspaper and other newspapers that he believes are attempting to divide the Republican Party. Clarkson also encloses clippings from Timothy Thomas Fortune’s New York Age, the most prominent African American paper, which he finds to be doing good work for the Roosevelt administration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-27

Letter from Marcus Alonzo Hanna to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Hanna approves of Dr. Lyon for appointment as Minister to Liberia. Senator Scott had another man in mind when speaking of opposition.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-27

Letter from Henry Lincoln Johnson to James Sullivan Clarkson

Henry Lincoln Johnson supports the reappointment of Christopher C. Wimbish as Surveyor of the Port of Atlanta and he hopes that Clarkson can speak with President Roosevelt on the issue. Johnson argues that the people of Atlanta have a good deal of respect for Johnson, and that the only complaint against him is his race. A white man, Marcellus O. Markham, is being pushed by his brother-in-law Captain Lowry. Newspapers and politicians attest to the ability of Wimbish.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-29

Letter from Edgar S. Wilson to Theodore Roosevelt

Edgar S. Wilson is working to support President Roosevelt’s administration in Mississippi. He quotes Major Lynch, an African American politician, in saying that “the colored people are being treated with marked consideration and perfect fairness” and have “no fault to find with the Administration.” For that reason, his delegation will support the nomination of Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-30

Letter from Edgar S. Wilson to Theodore Roosevelt

Edgar S. Wilson, manager of the Mississippi Bureau of the New Orleans Daily Picayune, writes during a crisis at Indianola, Mississippi, involving African American Postmaster General, Minnie M. Geddings Cox, who is being forced to resign from office by violent citizens due to her race. Wilson recommends that President Roosevelt discontinue the Postmaster General’s office in Indianola, Mississippi, and pursue indictments through the Federal Grand Jury. Wilson believes that the uproar has been incited by Democratic gubernatorial candidate James Kimble Vardaman. The majority of citizens have no problem with her work.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-30

Letter from William H. Brawley to George B. Cortelyou

William H. Brawley provides further information regarding William Demos Crum’s alleged inconsistencies at the 1892 Republican National Convention. Brawley is concerned that President Roosevelt believes that he just parroted unfounded rumors. He gives the name of his informant, Abiel Lathrop, regarding Crum’s short-lived defection to the Blaine camp.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-16

Telegram from Booker T. Washington to George B. Cortelyou

Booker T. Washington asks George B. Cortelyou to tell President Roosevelt that he will send his final opinion of William Demos Crum tomorrow via Whitefield McKinley. They are going into every aspect of Crum’s character very carefully.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-16

Letter from James Sullivan Clarkson to George B. Cortelyou

James Sullivan Clarkson wishes to call Colonel Pledger to President Roosevelt’s attention as a potential Minister to Liberia. Roosevelt has had some difficulty in filling this position. Pledger is an African American lawyer, and Clarkson believes he is a very capable candidate and loyal Republican.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-23

Letter from Lyman Abbott to Theodore Roosevelt

Lyman Abbott supports efforts to assist African Americans in the South and wants to see equal justice for African Americans. However, he fears intensifying white prejudice by taking drastic action and does not believe the time is right to appoint an African American as Collector of the Port in Charleston, South Carolina.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-04

To the white voters and the wives and daughters of Richmond

Election pamphlet supporting the Democratic Party and white supremacy. The primary focus of the pamphlet is to repudiate President Roosevelt for having dinner with Booker T. Washington at the White House.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902