Your TR Source
Cover from a collection of poems by Surville J. DeLan, including the inscription “To the President with the fervent respects of the Author Ex Major of Glenwood Springs Colo May 7, 1903.”
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1903-05-07
A notebook with short stories, poetry, and some riddles composed by Theodore Roosevelt, Corinne Roosevelt, and Elliott Roosevelt, and their cousins, John Elliott and Matilda Moxley Elliott, during their time together in Dresden, Germany. The last two pages consist of French conjugations. The front and end pages consist of rough sketched maps.
Entries for July 20, 1873: Morning calls among the dogs, part 1 by T. Roosevelt; Mrs. Doolittle’s adventures in Germany by J. Elliott: My Ghost by E. Roosevelt; Riddles by M. Elliott; and, Criticisms by C. Roosevelt.
Entries for September 7, 1873: The party, part 1 by J. Elliott; Nonsense Verses and Our journey to Samaden by E. Roosevelt; The night by C. Roosevelt; and, Morning calls among the dogs, part 2 by T. Roosevelt.
Entries for September 15, 1873: Adventures in Shopping? by T. Roosevelt; Just my luck by E. Roosevelt; The party, part 2 by J. Elliott; The broken ring by C. Roosevelt; and, Portrait of a quiet man by M. Elliott.
Theodore Roosevelt compliments Louise Morgan Sill on her poem and agrees with her concerning the importance of speaking out.
1915-06-01
President Roosevelt tells his son Kermit about the guests they have been entertaining, including poet Madison Julius Cawein and his wife. Roosevelt adds that he has read more poems by Edwin Arlington Robinson. Other visitors included Prince Louis of Battenberg and his nephew Prince Alexander, who attended a state dinner and sat next to Secretary of the Navy Charles J. Bonaparte.
1905-11-06
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Mary A. Maxwell for her letter and poem, which he returns to her as requested.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-07-09
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary sends Roosevelt’s thanks to Eliza B. Taylor for the verses of poetry, but is unable to help her in publishing them.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-05-28
Theodore Roosevelt sends his thanks and appreciation to Reverend Coote for the poem.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-05-28
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Dr. T. Herbert Warren about his lecture “Oxford and Poetry” and his apprehension about the lack of “literary productivity” in the United States. He expresses concern that the amount of “first-rate work” is significantly less than the “enormous ocean of second, third, and tenth-rate work.” Roosevelt recalls his visit Oxford with pleasure.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-19
Theodore Roosevelt expresses his thanks for the poems and for the kindness in sending them.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-22
Theodore Roosevelt does not think it will be possible to get Carolina Abbott Derby’s poem published. Roosevelt has done everything he can to make the Administration wake up. He believes President Wilson’s conduct toward Mexico has been even more dishonorable than his conduct toward Belgium.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-12-12
President Roosevelt thanks Charles Phillips for the poem, which he will read “with pleasure.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-20
President Roosevelt thinks that Edwin Arlington Robinson’s newest poem, Miniver Cheevy, which Robinson sent to Roosevelt’s son Kermit as a manuscript, represents his “queer genius.” He would like Robert Bridges to come speak with him about Bridges’ brother George Bridges’ situation at the post office, which Roosevelt is unable to assist with.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-16
President Roosevelt tells Lida Keck Wiggins that he only met poet Paul Laurence Dunbar once, but greatly admired his poetry and prose.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-02
President Roosevelt tells his son Kermit Roosevelt that he feels bad about a patronizing remark he made about the poet Madison Julius Cawein, who just had lunch with him. He also discusses Edwin Arlington Robinson’s poems. Roosevelt had Admiral Prince Louis of Battenberg and his nephew Prince Alexander to dinner, where he sat Louis next to Secretary of the Navy Charles J. Bonaparte. This amused Roosevelt, as Bonaparte is a grand-nephew of Napoleon I, and Battenberg is a grandson of a Hessian general who served under, and then deserted, Napoleon.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-06
President Roosevelt sends his thanks for the copy of Alfred Austin’s book A Tale of True Love and Other Poems.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-04-18
President Roosevelt thanks Richard Watson Gilder for a book of poems.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-12-31
President Roosevelt thanks Edmund Clarence Stedman for the poem, and cherishes it because it reminds him of a special day.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-12-07
William C. Willitts details his admiration for all of Theodore Roosevelt’s roles, and he sends him a poem he wrote and dedicated to Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-17
This is a prose poem that describes the will of Charles Lounsbury, a fictional wealthy Chicagoan who went insane and died in a mental institution. Williston Fish writes as if he were Lounsbury and wishes for good things to happen to adults and children.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-22
Robert Bridges thanks President Roosevelt for sending him a poem written by Theodore Roosevelt Jr. Bridges intends to print the poem in Scribner’s Magazine and offers critical feedback for later proofs.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-08