Your TR Source
W. F. Jackson, president of the Negro Business League, has tried to reach Theodore Roosevelt several ways in the hopes of inviting him to speak to the African American citizens of Oakland and San Francisco.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-23
Theodore Roosevelt has been invited to address the African Americans of Atlanta while he is in town to speak to the Southern Commercial Congress on March 9. President William H. Taft will address the same people on March 10. Various prominent men from Atlanta have endorsed the idea of Roosevelt giving a speech, and Charles H. Davis hopes that Roosevelt will agree.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-06
Fillmore Smith explains that he would like to speak with Theodore Roosevelt to get his thoughts on “the Negro question north of Mason and Dixon line.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-02
Harry Johnston tells President Roosevelt about some of his travels around the southern United States, and his observations of both the people and environment there. Johnston plans to spend some time in Louisiana before traveling to Florida, and thence to Cuba. Johnston also would like to travel to Haiti, but worries that potential unrest there will make it difficult for him to visit. He asks Roosevelt if he would consider writing a letter of introduction allowing him to visit, as “it would be rather disappointing to return to England without some glimpse of Haiti.” Harper’s will be publishing an article of Johnston’s describing his impressions of New York that Roosevelt helped review.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-01
President Roosevelt sent Booker T. Washington a draft of his letter to the Interstate Commerce Commission, which Washington now returns with some suggestions. He would like Roosevelt to emphasize that he wants the same justice done regarding humans as to freight. Roosevelt writes that several roads in the South do right by African Americans, but Washington would like him to work the sentence into the letter in such a way that newspapers cannot cut it out.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-28
This article in The Sun criticizes President Roosevelt’s involvement in the Brownsville Affair and speculates on the political aftermath when Roosevelt returns to the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-23
Clark Howell advises Theodore Roosevelt that it would be good for the country if he make some comment on the issue of race in the United States. However, Howell cautions against making matters of race a political issue.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-07
Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte writes to President Roosevelt that he received a letter from John Hanna about William H. Jackson’s reply to Clarence C. Pusey’s offer. Jackson replied that Pusey ought to take office when Dryden’s commission ends rather than November 15 as offered. Bonaparte believes that Pusey’s offer was a satisfactory effort. Bonaparte reports that the situation in Cuba, from a Navy standpoint, is “as satisfactory as the situation there permits.” He also writes of Samuel Gompers and the American Federation of Labor facing difficulty among local constituents and the African American population.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-24
Booker T. Washington writes President Roosevelt about the Cox family, specifically Wayne Wellington Cox of Indianola, Mississippi. Washington notes that the white residents of Indianola are accepting of Cox as a banker while a disturbance was made over his family’s involvement in the post office. Washington is most likely referring to Minnie M. Cox, and the petition by some of the white residents of Indianola to have Cox resign her position as postmaster of the town.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-19
In an address at Hampton Normal School, President Roosevelt praised the school for making colored men and women better citizens because “in the interests of the white man” it is the “safest and best thing that could happen.” He urged members of his audience to “take up work on the farm” and do “hand work” but “develop his brain to guide his hand work…” “Most important of all is character… to secure their own self respect and the respect of others…” Roosevelt concluded that, “The negro criminal… tends to the bitter animosities, the bitter prejudices for which, not he alone, but his whole race will suffer.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-31
Attorney General Moody writes to President Roosevelt regarding a Chattanooga lynching case that secret service agents are investigating. Moody discusses whether Federal laws or state courts’ powers take precedence in the case.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-24
Booker T. Washington writes to William Loeb in reference to his request for President Roosevelt to write a letter, most likely referring to the anniversary of the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute. Washington notes that he agrees with the president’s decision not to write a letter for the anniversary.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-27
Dr. Washington writes to President Roosevelt and encloses correspondence regarding Charles William Anderson’s appointment.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-25
Francis E. Leupp writes to President Roosevelt to offer his services as a consultant to speak to newspapers about the “Negro question.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-22
Judge Jones forwards a newspaper clipping to President Roosevelt and describes a common sentiment he has encountered in the South that Roosevelt is “the enemy of the South and a disturber of the peace” because of his stance on “negro” voting. Jones suggests that Roosevelt find someone to write an editorial to run in Southern newspapers to counter this opinion.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-22
Booker T. Washington would like to investigate how Thomas Taggart is gaining the support of black voters. Washington would be glad to follow any suggestions from George B. Cortelyou.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-15
Francis R. Pemberton disagrees with Colonel Singleton about President Roosevelt’s “Negro Policy.” He does not like that Roosevelt receives advice from Booker T. Washington. Pemberton asks Singleton to tell Roosevelt that his policy is wrong.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-11
John Singleton Mosby discusses Francis R. Pemberton’s views on what Pemberton calls President Roosevelt’s “Negro Policy.” Mosby compares Roosevelt’s actions to those of William McKinley and Grover Cleveland, noting how Roosevelt invited Booker T. Washington to lunch and Cleveland invited Frederick Douglass to a social event. Mosby believes that the Tammany Democrats in New York will vote for Judge Alton B. Parker because “Cleveland is for Parker and Parker is for the Gold Standard” and not, as Pemberton believes, “because of the President’s Negro Policy.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-02
Reverend Hall believes that more white men in Alabama “would have voted the Republican national ticket this fall if it were not for the negro question.” Hall has heard people say that any attempt at social equality will “result inevitably in conflict” and implies that Roosevelt may not completely understand the sentiment in the South.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-28
Newspaper clipping of cartoon showing William H. Taft cutting firewood. Behind a cord of cut firewood is Theodore Roosevelt holding a big stick and in front of the cordwood is an African American stereotype labeled “Southern Delegation” holding a kettle labeled “Standard Oil.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1909-1913