Your TR Source
John Willis has been trying to locate bear for President Roosevelt to hunt. Willis’s ranch is at Roosevelt’s disposal and he is welcome to hunt at any time.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-09-20
Musical score and lyrics, written by Silver Dollar Tabor, for a march romanticizing the West. It was written to commemorate President Roosevelt’s Colorado hunt during his 1903 whistle-stop tour of the United States. The song is dedicated to Tabor’s father, the late Senator H. A. W. Tabor. The cover features a photo of young Roosevelt, circa 1898, with pince nez glasses and a mustache.
Gregory A. Wynn Theodore Roosevelt Collection
1908
Lohmann, A. S. (Anthony S.); Tabor, Silver Dollar, 1889-1925
Cartoon of Theodore Roosevelt hunting bear cubs.
Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
Unknown
This color print shows Theodore Roosevelt holding a rifle, hunting a bear that is mauling a dog.
Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
1905
John Milliken Parker sends a copy of Frank H. Tompkins’ book, Riparian Lands of the Mississippi River, and photographs of wild turkeys to President Roosevelt. Parker relays that Holt Collier, Major George M. Helm, Hugh Foote, and John Avery McIlhenny are on a bear-hunting expedition.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-11-24
Seth Bullock provides details of a hunting trip near Belle Fourche, South Dakota, to President Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-09-08
Paul Morton informs President Roosevelt that he has talked to Lyons, who said that Roosevelt is about to try hunting in New Mexico. Morton offers to arrange a bear hunting trip in New Mexico and requests that the military transport to the Philippines remain based in San Francisco, rather than being moved to Seattle, unless it is in the best interests of the country.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-16
Calling card of John Milliken Parker with the handwritten note, “Ursus Pitorinctum, from our first swamp bear.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-15
This memorandum includes measurements of three bears, one male and two females.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-14
Jacob A. Riis thanks President Roosevelt for allowing him to inscribe a book. He will send another edition when he gets it. Riis hopes that President Roosevelt’s bear hunt is going well and requests a meeting for December to discuss some articles Riis might write. He has given up on writing a full life of Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-14
William Emlen Roosevelt reports that his sons are doing well in school and that Ted Roosevelt’s eyes are improving. He mentions President Roosevelt’s recent bear hunting trip, which seems to be unsuccessful from a hunting standpoint, as well as the labor unrest. Emlen Roosevelt complains about the unions for keeping the necessities of life from people.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-18
Ansley Wilcox requests President Roosevelt’s opinion and comments on an article he is writing about Roosevelt’s visit to Buffalo, New York, for the benefit of a teacher’s retirement fund. Wilcox is not sure of some of the little details. He is glad that Roosevelt enjoyed a hunt in Mississippi, but offers condolences that Roosevelt did not get a bear skin. Wilcox’s regular hunts have halted due to rabies in the dogs, although he has had some good hunts in the Genesee Valley.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-20
Memorandum with short descriptions of the animals that were killed, three bears and one deer, on a hunting trip along the Sunflower River in Mississippi.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-26
Newton A. Throop has heard that President Roosevelt is planning a hunting trip to Mississippi and invites the President to hunt on his land. He claims to have plenty of bears, deer, and turkeys for hunting. Also, he says that a group known as the Houston Boys owns much of the land along the river, but that they would probably let Roosevelt hunt on their forest land. They are Republican-leaning on all issues except black suffrage.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-08
Arthur Emmett Randle suggests appointing George B. Cortelyou as Commissioner of the District of Columbia.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-08-05
Paul Morton offers to set up a bear hunt for President Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-07-14
Nathaniel Henchman Davis is sending a .45 caliber Winchester rifle that President Roosevelt had requested. Davis believes this rifle to be perfect for large game. He also suggests that Governor Taft should have a longer vacation from his duties in the Philippines and lose weight due to poor health. Although Taft could probably return safely, his doctor recommends a longer break.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-04-19
Paul Morton encloses a letter from Thomas Lyons who can offer a “first class bear hunt.” He hopes that President Roosevelt can join him for a hunt in April or May.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-01-07
Nathaniel Henchman Davis is sending President Roosevelt a hunting rifle which he believes to be ideal for bear.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-12-27
John Willis has been scouting a large bear that he thought President Roosevelt might be able to hunt. Upon returning to town, he heard of the news of Roosevelt’s succession to the presidency. Willis is sad that the presidency came to Roosevelt under such difficult circumstances. He understands that Roosevelt can no longer make a trip west. Willis is doing well in Montana and has a ranch with a “good start of cattle.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-09-20