Your TR Source
John Watkins writes to Edith Roosevelt about trial flying with Quentin Roosevelt at Mineola and France. He expresses sorrow at Quentin Roosevelt’s death. Pen notations by sender of letter. Envelope included.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1922-12-21
Mairetta Norris Bailey writes to the Roosevelts to express her sympathy on the death of Quentin Roosevelt in combat during World War I. Bailey’s son was in training under Quentin, and she encloses a letter her son wrote about Quentin’s leadership in France.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1918-07-22
Irene M. Givenwilson writes to Edith Roosevelt to express her sympathies on the loss of Quentin Roosevelt and to share her memories of Quentin at the aviation school. She details the impressive reputation Quentin had for a good teacher of pilots and a teacher the men trusted. She also reveals the commanding officers of the school sent Quentin to the front very reluctantly and he was only to stay for a short time before returning to the school; he was considered too valuable as a teacher of pilots to lose.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1918-07-20
Quentin Roosevelt writes to his mother about how, despite the weeks of heavy rain, his education in flying has progressed well.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1918-01-23
Hamilton Coolidge writes to Edith Roosevelt to describe how he and Quentin Roosevelt are doing at the aviation school and their hopes that they will soon be sent up to the front together.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1918-05-19
Quentin Roosevelt writes to his mother about life at Air Service School, his brother Archibald Roosevelt, his friend Cord Meyer and also encloses the copy of a poem his mother had given him two years before.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1918-04-15
Quentin Roosevelt writes to his father discussing his attempts to see a hospitalized Archibald Roosevelt at the front but that he was denied until Archibald is in a Paris hospital. Quentin is eager to move to the front and see action.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1918-03-29
Quentin Roosevelt writes to his father and mentions Theodore Roosevelt’s recent ill health and his hope for his father’s quick recovery. He discusses his military training in France.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1918-03-07
Wallace writes to his family about his work at the French air field where he has been sent to train. Quentin Roosevelt is his roommate, and Wallace talks about what they do on their time off from training such as listening to music or exploring the French countryside.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1918-03-05
Quentin Roosevelt writes to his father about the need to be trained on the mechanics of firing machine guns, flying the old rickety air planes and parachuting.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1918-03-03
Quentin Roosevelt writes about Theodore Roosevelt’s ill health and flying airplanes.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1918-02-22
Quentin Roosevelt writes to his mother that he is not too pleased by the cold winter weather, since it makes flying in an open cockpit biplane unpleasant. He mentions being sore about his friend Cord Meyer getting to fight at the front before him.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1918-02-17
Quentin Roosevelt writes home thankful for receiving packages of gifts such as books and a sweater. He discusses how he is trying to finish up his flight training but keeps getting sidelined with illnesses.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1918-01-29
Quentin Roosevelt writes to his father about his regrets for writing dull letters and describes his flying skills. Pages 2, 3, and 4 have paragraphs crossed out by hand in pencil mark, possibly by military censors.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1918-01-22
Quentin Roosevelt writes to his mother about his tardiness in letter writing and his mild case of pneumonia that had him hospitalized.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1917-12-18
Quentin Roosevelt describes his ill health and being put in charge of a squadron and having 600 recruits from the United States arrive in France where they are not prepared to train them. Also mentions how he is trying to see “action” on the front. Evidence of military censor on pages 5 and 6. The document is half typed, half handwritten.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1917-12-17
Quentin Roosevelt writes to his father about his busy daily activity as supply officer at the American Aviation School.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1917-08-22
Theodore Roosevelt has been receiving letters from all his sons, except Quentin Roosevelt. However, Quentin’s movement have been tracked through the use of outside sources and information from Flora Whitney. Roosevelt is pleased that Quentin will be near Tommy Hitchcock and he dined with Hitchcock’s parents yesterday. Ethel Roosevelt Derby and Richard Derby will be returning at the end of the week. Richard is fretting at his inability to get overseas and Roosevelt is going to speak with Surgeon General Gorgas to see if anything can be done. Roosevelt has been kept busy with speeches and articles but feels that now is a time when only action counts.
1917-09-10
Theodore Roosevelt is glad that Quentin Roosevelt passed through the French training school as he will be available for the front when American forces receive aircraft. Roosevelt has difficulty restraining himself when those responsible for American military shortcomings lie about their complacency and even boast that being unprepared was meritorious. However, many people are learning of the situation and are humiliated at the limited role the United States has been able to play. Dr. Mason, who has seen Archibald Roosevelt, will be visiting and letters have been received from Archie and Ted Roosevelt.
1918-04-14
Theodore Roosevelt is unsure if Quentin Roosevelt has been able to get to the front but is pleased that he passed through the course at the French shooting school. American shipbuilding and aircraft production are speeding up, but Roosevelt is bitter when he thinks of the men who had to “pay with their blood” because the government was not prepared for war. He continues to advocate for action and preparedness for the future. However, the government is more interested in combating protesters against government inefficiency than those who are indirectly aiding Germany. Archibald Roosevelt’s wound has attracted wide attention.
1918-04-08