Animals--Color

Letter from Frederick Courteney Selous to Theodore Roosevelt

Frederick Courteny Selous apologizes to Theodore Roosevelt for not responding to his last letter, but Selous wanted to read Roosevelt’s pamphlet on coloration first, and has been very busy. He is taking the pamphlet with him to Africa to read on the ship. Selous will first stop in Paris, France to receive a medal from the French Academy of Sports in recognition of his big game hunting, and then travel with friends to Kenya. Selous would like to go back to Bahr el ghazal and study the Kob and the ways it changes color each year.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-12

Creator(s)

Selous, Frederick Courteney, 1851-1917

Letter from Wilfred Hudson Osgood to Theodore Roosevelt

Wilfred Hudson Osgood congratulates Theodore Roosevelt on Roosevelt’s interesting paper, “Revealing and Concealing Coloration,” and Osgood appreciates it’s wider implications into natural selection and evolution. Osgood agrees with Roosevelt that protective coloration does not explain why colors and characteristics might exist on specific animals.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-12

Creator(s)

Osgood, Wilfred Hudson, 1875-1947

Letter from Charles Sheldon to Theodore Roosevelt

Charles Sheldon thanks Theodore Roosevelt for his letter. Sheldon describes his second book Scribner will publish next spring including several hunting experiences on Pacific Coast Islands and Alaska. Sheldon shares his opinions on Roosevelt’s Concealing Coloration pamphlet and what other’s have written to him about it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-03

Creator(s)

Sheldon, Charles, 1867-1928

Letter from Thomas Barbour to Theodore Roosevelt

Thomas Barbour conveys his satisfaction upon reading Theodore Roosevelt’s “coloration-paper.” He is delayed in reading and remarking on the paper because he has been visiting his family’s park in the Adirondacks. Barbour has great pleasure in remembering time he spent at Oyster Bay. He hopes Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt’s fall is not serious.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-03

Creator(s)

Barbour, Thomas, 1884-1946

Letter from John Burroughs to Theodore Roosevelt

John Burroughs gives Theodore Roosevelt feedback on his book. Animal coloration is discussed. Burroughs mentions another book he is reading that he thinks Roosevelt would enjoy. Burroughs and his wife left Pasadena and arrived safely to their destination.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910

Creator(s)

Burroughs, John, 1837-1921

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Burroughs

Theodore Roosevelt would like to know if John Burroughs got the pamphlet on concealing coloration. Roosevelt hopes that Burroughs will include in his coming volume of sketches an account of the time they spent together at Pine Knot, including the birds they spotted.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles A. Kofoid

Theodore Roosevelt argues against some of Abbott Handerson Thayer’s conclusions regarding the protective coloration of animals. Roosevelt believes that Thayer pushed his theory to extremes and he would like a competent scientist to conduct a serious study of coloration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to C. Hart Merriam

Theodore Roosevelt would like C. Hart Merriam to come to New York with Edward William Nelson and spend a night with Roosevelt. Roosevelt could invite Charles Sheldon and others, and they could discuss concealing coloration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Douglas Dewar and Finn Frank

Theodore Roosevelt finished Douglas Dewar and Frank Finn’s “delightful and illuminating book.” He sends his pamphlet, which criticizes Abbott Handerson Thayer’s “preposterous work” and uniquely examines the theory of concealing coloration. Roosevelt agrees with Dewar and Finn’s points of over-theorizing and their emphasis on experiments and first-hand field observations. Additionally, he sends his article addressing Alfred Russel Wallace’s “preposterous theory” about antelope horns. He cautiously dissects several of the authors’ points, including dark coloration’s relation to aggression and the inheritance of acquired characteristics.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Abbott Handerson Thayer

Theodore Roosevelt would like to see Abbott Handerson Thayer’s experiments while in New York City during the first week of December. However, he wishes Thayer would view his experiments from the practical standpoint that depending on the weather to prove them is contrary to what animals do. Additionally, animal coloration and concealment theories cannot go against established behavior patterns. Roosevelt elaborates on these and other points in his pamphlet. Thayer is welcome to visit Roosevelt at Oyster Bay. Record contains two copies of the letter, the final one and the original with edits.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. H. Patterson

Theodore Roosevelt thanks J. H. Patterson for the interesting clipping. He thinks a uniform coloration provides the best concealment for animals, whereas white is conspicuous.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

Theodore Roosevelt sends Frederick Courteney Selous an article he wrote for The Outlook and directs him to the footnote about Alfred Russel Wallace’s statement about antelope horns. He finds Wallace and naturalists like him absurd in their writings about protective coloration and similar notions. They develop theories without having practical knowledge. Kermit Roosevelt’s hunts were successful.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Stewart Edward White

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Thomas Barbour

Theodore Roosevelt looked up the Auk as Thomas Barbour suggested and was amused by Abbott Handerson Thayer’s allusion to Barbour and John C. Phillips. Thayer has likely seen Roosevelt’s pamphlet and is welcome to turn his wrath towards him. Roosevelt does not understand how naturalists continue to take Thayer seriously and hopes Barbour and Phillips will make a serious attack against him and his dishonesty. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to C. H. Stigand

Theodore Roosevelt sends C. H. Stigand a pamphlet he wrote on protective coloration in animals. He hopes Stigand enjoyed his trip with Frederick Courteney Selous and that the latter got good specimens of the giant eland. He discusses the differences between the ordinary eland and the giant eland and contemplates the coloration of Mrs. Gray’s waterbuck. Roosevelt makes “a special plea” to Stigand, asking him to write another book that includes his personal experiences, such as the time a lion mauled him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

Theodore Roosevelt has not heard from Frederick Courteney Selous for some time and wants to hear how his safari in the Lado Enclave went. He hopes Selous killed a giraffe as he is curious about what species is in the area and that he solved the questions of Mrs. Grey’s waterbuck. Roosevelt encourages Selous to write a book on his experiences and praises his previous works, especially as other hunter-naturalists’ books are “utterly dry.” He sends a copy of his pamphlet on protective coloration in animals and his follow-up article. Kermit Roosevelt misses Africa and is currently hunting in Mexico, with a trip to New Brunswick planned for September. Roosevelt wants Selous and his wife, Marie Catherine Gladys Selous, to visit him at Sagamore Hill.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alfred E. Pease

Theodore Roosevelt sends Alfred E. Pease a pamphlet he wrote on protective coloration in animals, which he also sent to Frederick Courteney Selous, C. H. Stigand, and Edward North Buxton. “Homesick for the wilderness,” Kermit is out hunting in the Mexican desert and will soon finish his course at Harvard. Edmund Heller wrote Roosevelt about Paul James Rainey’s lion hunt using bear hounds. Unfortunately, Leslie J. Tarlton and V. M. Newland are in poor health. Roosevelt has “settled down into a perfectly quiet life” and does not “intend ever again to go away from Sagamore Hill.” He shares his recent rowing trip with Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to R. J. Cuninghame

Theodore Roosevelt found R. J. Cuninghame’s recent letter “extremely interesting” and was particularly amused at the Swedish scientists’ decision to leave the elephants alone. The description of elephant behavior was intriguing. He is glad the Holland rifle worked and hopes Cuninghame likes Stewart Edward White. Edmund Heller recently wrote about Paul James Rainey’s success hunting lions with dogs and sent his pamphlet about white rhinoceros. However, Roosevelt is irritated that Heller did not describe the giant eland specimens. Roosevelt sends his pamphlet on animal coloration and expresses concern about Leslie J. Tarlton’s and V. M. Newland’s health. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-11

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Fairfield Osborn

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary notifies Professor Osborn that he would like to have lunch with him and talk to him about his work on concealing coloration. If it is possible, he would like to talk with J. A. Allen as well that day.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-25

Creator(s)

Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Fairfield Osborn

Theodore Roosevelt is working on the article, but is not sure if Henry Fairfield Osborn would care to publish it. Roosevelt is not doing much research in other books, because he would like it to be based on what he has observed. Roosevelt also believes there have been facts on the cougar that have been overlooked.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919