Sullys Hill National Game Preserve key moments in history
A timeline of major milestones and events at Sullys Hill National Game Preserve from 1867 to 1995.
Collection
White Horse Hill
Creation Date
1995
Your TR Source
Antelopes
Letter from Charles D. Walcott to Theodore Roosevelt
Charles D. Walcott updates Theodore Roosevelt on the progress of the specimens being preserved by James L. Clark from the Smithsonian-Roosevelt African Expedition. A number of white rhinoceroses and different types of antelopes are in the process of being quoted by the taxidermist. Walcott thinks the Smithsonian will be able to publish Roosevelt’s article soon as well.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1911-06-16
Sagamore Hill, President Roosevelt’s country home, the office
Photograph of the interior of President Roosevelt’s library at Sagamore Hill with a bookcases, fireplace, several photographs, sculptures, mounted animal heads, a stuffed badger, a bear skin rug, and chairs.
Collection
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Creation Date
1905-09-14
Notebook of animal descriptions
Handwritten draft of life history descriptions of African game animals. The descriptions were published in Life Histories of African Game Animals.
Collection
Creation Date
1914
Antelope grazing
Photograph of antelope grazing in an open field near the east boundary fence in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Collection
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Creation Date
Unknown
Letter from Edmund Heller to Theodore Roosevelt
Edmund Heller spoke with Charles D. Walcott, Secretary of the Smithsonian, and decided at the last minute to join Paul James Rainey’s expedition to Africa on behalf of the National Museum. He did not realize that Theodore Roosevelt had intended to write to Walcott requesting that Heller not go so that he could focus on writing reports on the specimens collected from his own African expedition. Heller explains that no other qualified man is available to go, and lists the ways that this expedition will assist him in finishing his work with Roosevelt’s collection. The paper on the white rhinoceros will be published before Heller goes, and he assures Roosevelt of his dedication to the work.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1911-02-09
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to W. P. Pycraft
Theodore Roosevelt appreciated W. P. Pycraft’s letter and is embarrassed he did not acknowledge receipt of Pycraft’s book. Since returning from a trip to London, Roosevelt has read Pycraft’s book multiple times and was very impressed. Roosevelt questions why, in his previous letter, Pycraft was concerned Roosevelt would have objections to his book. Roosevelt is frustrated by “pretentious shame,” because he believes that anyone, not just trained scientists, can make important discoveries if they are curious and observant. And there are many scientists who would benefit from listening to these discoveries, including Alfred Russel Wallace. Roosevelt considers Wallace a great scientist, but found the argument of his most recent book completely ridiculous. Roosevelt explains the flaws in Wallace’s arguments about antelopes and rabbits. Roosevelt wants to impress upon all naturalists that observation is more valuable than collection. Roosevelt considers Pycraft’s book to be an excellent example of the importance of observation. Roosevelt invites Pycraft to visit his home.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1911-09-29
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edmund Heller
Theodore Roosevelt is obliged to Edmund Heller for the interesting letter. Roosevelt discusses the hunting abilities and experience of Charles Jesse Jones, Paul James Rainey, and R. J. Cunninghame. Roosevelt also discusses his article Concealing and Revealing Coloration in Birds and Mammals.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1911-07-28
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Northrup McMillan
President Roosevelt thanks Sir William Northrup McMillan for his letter, and the invitation to stay at his ranch while on safari in British East Africa. Roosevelt outlines his initial travel plans and arrangements, and believes he will stay with McMillan after he visits Alfred E. Pease’s ranch. He discusses the different types of big game he would like himself and his son Kermit to shoot, but clarifies that his intent is to collect specimens for the National Museum, rather than to butcher game.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1908-11-02
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Fairfield Osborn
President Roosevelt asks Henry Fairfield Osborn to send The Book of Antelopes by Philip Lutley Sclater and Oldfield Thomas. He appreciates what Osborn said about Edgar Alexander Mearns and the interest Osborn is taking in Roosevelt’s safari planning.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1908-07-23
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to S. B. M. Young
President Roosevelt tells S. B. M. Young, superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, that he does not think that any more cougars should be killed in the park, as game is abundant and it is a mistake to kill off all predators.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1908-01-22
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cephas F. Clapp
President Roosevelt agrees with Cephas F. Clapp, both about railroad trusts and nature faker writers. Roosevelt discusses the characteristics of antelope and giraffe horns.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1907-06-21
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Gardner F. Williams
President Roosevelt looks forward to receiving the springbok from Gardner F. Williams. He plans to admire the head and eat the venison. He wishes he could go to South Africa someday.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-02-28
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous
President Roosevelt is most interested in what Frederick Courteney Selous wrote about the cheetahs. Roosevelt hopes that Selous will take a hunting trip to India and advance the knowledge of big game.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1906-01-22
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous
President Roosevelt has very much enjoyed Frederick Courteney Selous’s articles and hopes he will write a book about the natural history of big game. Roosevelt appreciates Selous’s ability to describe sights vividly and accurately.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1905-12-18
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Bird Grinnell
President Roosevelt sends George Bird Grinnell the piece and the photographs. Roosevelt wants all of the photographs included in the piece. He emphasizes that grizzlies and black bears are shown in the photographs. Roosevelt urges Grinnell to be cautious in calling sheep animals of the plains, as this is a misrepresentation of the animal’s real character.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1903-09-27
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles S. Thomas
Governor Roosevelt writes to Governor Thomas of Colorado on behalf of the New York Zoological Society, which wishes to ship a number of animals from Colorado to New York. The animals will be put in the society’s zoological park. Roosevelt hopes that this will be permitted.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1899-09-23
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt writes to Frederick Courteney Selous about big game hunting and authors of the sport. Roosevelt was disappointed by the inaccuracies in Percy Selous’s book, which he bought because it was co-authored with Henry Anderson Bryden. Roosevelt offers congratulations to Selous and his wife on the upcoming birth of their first child and talks about his own family life and the obstacles it produces for getting away despite being fond of his wife and six children. He longs for an extended hunt but will settle for reading of other wildernesses like those in Selous’s book. Roosevelt presumes they would both count Fitzwilliam Thomas Pollok a fake based on his writings since he includes some experiences “that are all nonsense,” much like the writing of Henry Astbury Leveson, the Old Shikari. Roosevelt says that both Pollok and Leveson’s work would “have done credit” to the adventure writer Mayne Reid. Roosevelt also thinks William Henry Drummond “was not always an exact observer” based on what Selous wrote. Roosevelt mentions the black rhinoceros attacks William Astor Chanler and Ludwig Ritter von Höhnel experienced when in Africa and that he has just finished the book by John Guille Millais that Selous sent him.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1898-02-15
Letter from Edward William Nelson to Theodore Roosevelt
Edward William Nelson was pleased by the note Theodore Roosevelt sent accompanying the copy of the letter that Roosevelt wrote to Charles A. Kofoid regarding coloration of antelope. Nelson agrees with Roosevelt regarding the case, and believes that Abbott Handerson Thayer’s theory is “absurdly overworked” and in error. He regrets that he was unable to be present at the recent dinner of the Boone and Crockett club where he heard the matter was discussed.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1911-03-01
Letter from Edward Cave to Theodore Roosevelt
Edward Cave encloses an article by James A. Coll and a resolution by the Douglas, Arizona, Chamber of Commerce and Mines for Theodore Roosevelt. He explains that he wanted to speak with Roosevelt to get his suggestions about how to proceed in getting protection for antelope in Arizona. They will go extinct soon if not protected by law.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1911-02-03