Your TR Source
President Roosevelt asks James R. Mann if he can bring Carl Ethan Akeley and Delia J. Akeley to see him, and they can all have lunch together.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-16
President Roosevelt writes his son Kermit regarding arrangements for their hunting trip to Africa. He talked with Carl Ethan Akeley and Colonel J. H. Patterson on the matter. He also mentions the Harvard-Yale football game, Kaiser Wilhelm II angering the German people, and finishing two speeches.
1908-11-22
Fragment of a report detailing the process of choosing a design for the Theodore Roosevelt memorial. A proposed design, created by Carl Ethan Akeley and James Brite, is discussed as well as locations for the memorial.
Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial
Unknown
Theodore Roosevelt wants to go to the dinner for Carl Ethan Akely as he is a fine fellow, and “every American owes” him for his work in Africa. He invites John T. McCutcheon to lunch next Friday.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-17
Theodore Roosevelt tried to have Stewart Edward White out for lunch with Carl Ethan Akeley and Delia J. Akeley. He asks if he can share White’s comments about the sable antelope with Edmund Heller. Roosevelt feels naturalists have gone to extremes in creating new species without evidence.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-08
Theodore Roosevelt tells Leslie J. Tarlton that D. T. Abercrombie will attend to the cartridges and send him some from Tritton. Tarlton is to let Roosevelt know if they are satisfactory, as he experienced some issues with the Holland and Springfield cartridges on his African trip. Roosevelt has just written to Kermit who is at Harvard and will be interested to know what Karitura’s language was. He believes Kermit is homesick but growing up at Harvard. They speak often of the Africa trip, and Roosevelt would like to face another big-maned lion. He is irritated with William Bailey Howland for not going to England as it was fair to no one. Roosevelt sympathizes with Tarlton for having so many shooting parties to attend at once.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-28
Theodore Roosevelt believes that Carl Ethan Akeley should be satisfied with getting a bull elephant with tusks that weigh sixty pounds apiece while in Africa. Roosevelt is starting a study of concealing coloration and asks Henry Fairfield Osborn if the American Museum would be interested in publishing such a study. Roosevelt is disappointed that no one in the scientific community has questioned the absurdities in Abbott Handerson Thayer’s book on the subject. Roosevelt adds that he would like to come to the Museum in a few days to see Osborn and Frank M. Chapman.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-21
Theodore Roosevelt shares A. M. Corwin’s concerns about Carl Ethan Akeley, particularly as he has heard reports that Akeley was injured by an elephant and has been suffering from a fever. When he saw Akeley in Africa, Roosevelt tried to convince him to be satisfied with taking an elephant with tusks weighing sixty pounds each and to return home and have his specimen mounted. Akeley, however, would not consent to do so, wishing to travel on to Uganda to pursue gorilla.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-21
Theodore Roosevelt apologizes for “bothering” Leslie J. Tarlton, but he is concerned by his most recent letter. He assumes Tarlton is better now and is glad to hear about V. M. Newland. Roosevelt grew attached to Tarlton, Newland, and their wives while in Africa and wants them to be healthy and happy. The news about Carl Ethan Akeley is also concerning, and Roosevelt wishes he would leave Uganda for his health. Working and hunting in Africa is dangerous, as evidenced by the death of George Grey and many other friends.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-25
After speaking with Edmund Heller further, Theodore Roosevelt has concluded that it is not wise for Heller to travel to Africa at the current time. He notes that there is a history of collectors collecting many specimens for museums and then not studying them further. He thinks it will be more valuable for Heller to remain in the United States and finish writing a full report on the specimens collected during Roosevelt’s African expedition.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-06
Theodore Roosevelt responds to a letter from James Stevenson-Hamilton, noting that it came when he was discussing Stevenson-Hamilton’s book with Carl Ethan Akeley and Charles Sheldon. They all agree it “is one of the very best books” they know. Roosevelt does not believe that the United States ought to be pardoned for failing to defend Belgium against Germany. If he had been president, Roosevelt would have taken action regarding Belgium and believes the public would have supported war after the sinking of the Lusitania. His book, Fear God and Take Your Own Part, will soon be published and will cover his views on the war. The conduct of the Turks towards Armenians has been dreadful but, unlike the Germans, the Turks can behave “in civilized fashion in a war with the antagonists they respect.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-02-07
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Charles C. Adams for the review of Life Histories of African Game Animals, which Roosevelt co-authored with Edmund Heller. Roosevelt acknowledges Adams’s criticism and admits he should have read the two books on elephants which Adams named. His only defense is that someone who could have written a better book – in this case, Carl Ethan Akeley – did not do so, so Roosevelt was compelled to write, even though he did not have sufficient time to devote to the work.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-03-18
President Roosevelt thanks Henry Fairfield Osborn for the notes and suggestions, and is sure that he will incorporate them into his lecture. He wishes that Osborn and his wife, Lucretia Thatcher Perry Osborn could attend an upcoming gathering, but is glad that two of Osborn’s children, Fairfield Osborn and Josephine Adams Osborn, will be there. Roosevelt suggests several options of people who could deliver Osborn’s address on conservation, including Senator Knute Nelson of Minnesota and Senator William Edgar Borah of Idaho. He suggests writing to Chief Forester Gifford Pinchot for further suggestions. Roosevelt understands what Osborn says about Carl Ethan Akeley’s trip, and says that if he can meet him without disrupting his own safari plans, he would like to do so.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-17
President Roosevelt thanks Edmund Heller for the letter, which he has forwarded to Edgar Alexander Mearns. Roosevelt invites Heller to come see him and discuss their upcoming Africa trip.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-04
President Roosevelt provides Frederick Courteney Selous with an excerpt of a letter from Governor Frederick John Jackson which outlines a potential itinerary for his African safari. Jackson suggests starting at Alfred E. Pease’s ranch and staying close to Nairobi before going further afield. Roosevelt plans to amend the itinerary to make a loop into hunting grounds where J. H. Patterson hunted. Roosevelt expresses concern that reporters might try to arrange a caravan to follow him on his trip, and wonders if Jackson can prevent them from doing so.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-25
President Roosevelt celebrates Harvard’s victory over Yale in the football match. He tells his son Kermit that J. H. Patterson, who killed the man-eating lions of Tsavo, spent Friday at the White House. Carl Ethan Akeley, who has hunted elephants and rhinoceros, came to lunch the next day. Both gave valuable advice, and Roosevelt tells Kermit that they must be extremely cautious in Africa until they are used to what is being done. The arrangements are all made. Roosevelt also says that Kaiser William II has “come an awful cropper,” and been a “perfect fool.” The German people are finally angry about it. Roosevelt has finished the lectures he will be giving at Oxford and the Sorbonne. He hears that Senator Joseph Benson Foraker is preparing an attack against him, but he is indifferent.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-22
President Roosevelt is pleased to hear that Frederick Courteney Selous has written to R. J. Cunninghame about being head man on his upcoming trip to Africa. He is also glad to hear that William Northrup McMillan is willing to provide him with hunters for the trip. However, Roosevelt wants it made clear that Cunninghame has the final say on personnel on the trip. Roosevelt is glad he will have the opportunity to try to kill buffalo, but wants to make it clear that he is more focused on acquiring the main big game. He also clarifies that he does not aim to get record specimens but simply good ones.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-09
Leslie J. Tarlton updates Theodore Roosevelt on his much better health condition since his last letter and on the safari trip that he took in Nairobi, Kenya. Carlton describes lion hunting and appreciates Roosevelt for his gifts that he sent to him and others. Carlton then seeks Roosevelt’s advice regarding his coming to America and hopes he can direct him any way.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-20
Henry Fairfield Osborn, president of the American Museum of Natural History, is concerned that biologist Carl Ethan Akeley is concealing his illness. Osborn also expresses his interest in Theodore Roosevelt’s study of concealing coloration and has referred his letter to the Committee on Publication. The museum also welcomes the donation of Egyptian birds and Osborn hopes Roosevelt will lunch with him soon.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-26
A. M. Corwin heard that taxidermist Carl Ethan Akeley is in Africa with a fever. Akeley’s condition is serious. Corwin is contacting Henry Fairfield Osborn, the American Museum of Natural History president, to help get Akeley out of Africa. He asks Theodore Roosevelt to contribute to the endeavor.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-06