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Standard of honors for the Camp Fire Club of American which lists big game animals from Africa divided into Honor and High Honor classifications. To be considered for an honor, applicants must submit proof and a committee will consider will take into consideration the difficulties overcome, any risk involved, the rarity of the species, and the location the animal was killed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-16
A handwritten table of contents for Theodore Roosevelt’s book, Life Histories of African Big Game. A typed copy is also included.
1914
Although initially reluctant, President Roosevelt tells Edward North Buxton that he will hire a white hunter as advised by Frederick Courteney Selous. He agrees with Buxton about taking shorter trips, but he does want to go where J. H. Patterson went and see “scores” of diverse game. Roosevelt inquires if three months is enough time for the trip.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-24
President Roosevelt is familiar with Arthur Donaldson Smith’s book and has most of the books on African big game animals. He heartily agrees with Henry Wellington Wack regarding wolves.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-22
President Roosevelt finds the letters sent by William T. Hornaday to be interesting and has never seen anything like it, but doubts their veracity due to the connection with W. J. Long.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-12
Henry P. Curtis describes a recent publication on European natural history that he believes Theodore Roosevelt might be interested in. He explains how many towns were named after the animals that once resided there, such as Wolverhampton (wolves).
Curtis also shares with Roosevelt that his father was a Whig, while Curtis is a Republican. He expresses admiration for Senator John Sherman, discusses his political adversaries, and wishes that Sherman, Alexander Hamilton, and Daniel Webster could have been presidents.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-15
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Nancy Neff to confirm his interest in writing a preface for Captain Stigand’s book, The Game of British East Africa and offers to contact publishers on his behalf.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-07-08
Theodore Roosevelt suggests his “young friend” Robert S. La Follette have his father get a copy of his book African Game Trails to see pictures of the animals he saw in Africa.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-08
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Edmund Heller that he and Kermit Roosevelt read everything with great interest, but he is concerned that the two pamphlets have not come. He worries that Richard Lydekker or someone else will use Frederick Courteney Selous’s specimens for a similar publication, which would allow the British Museum to publish first “simply because they worked it up and we did not.” He asks that the pamphlets be sent now. Roosevelt will begin working on the life histories of big game for Heller’s book and he may use or reject them at will. He will also send Heller the article on concealing coloration when it is completed. Roosevelt mentions that he has received an interesting letter from R. J. Cuninghame and one from Leslie J. Tarlton.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-27
Theodore Roosevelt tells Charles D. Walcott that he is glad James L. Clark will be working on the taxidermy of some of the groups of specimens he brought back from his African Safari. He asks for clarification about the funding from Congress for the work of mounting the specimens, and about whether Edmund Heller has sent the pamphlets dealing with the giant eland and white rhino yet.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-08
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Professor Kofoid of the University of California, Berkeley, regarding articles and pamphlets written by Henry Chester Tracy, Abbott Handerson Thayer, J. A. Allen, and Edward William Nelson on the topic of birds, plumage, and biological research.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-02
Theodore Roosevelt believes that the “blow about the African Game Animals is more to you than to me.” Roosevelt appreciates Charles Scribner’s willingness to publish African Game Animals.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-01-24
Theodore Roosevelt has undertaken a libel suit against a Michigan editor who publicly accused Roosevelt of being a “habitual drinker.” Roosevelt would like Edgar Alexander Mearns to testify to the fact that Roosevelt “practically drank nothing during our African trip.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1913-02-01
President Roosevelt shares with Leigh S. J. Hunt his excitement over the pictures “both as hunter and naturalist.” He asks Hunt to thank Sir William for the photographs of African game animals.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-29
President Roosevelt thanks William T. Hornaday and remarks on how much work still needs to be learned in the field of the natural history of big game. Roosevelt references German hunter C. G. Schillings’s new book.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-17
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-18
President Roosevelt greatly admires Warburton Pike’s caribou photographs and wishes he could do photography. He compliments Pike’s descriptions of animals and hopes he will write more books.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-18
President Roosevelt asks Major Pitcher to arrange for a camping outfit for Edward North Buxton and his daughter who plan to visit Yellowstone Park near the end of March or the beginning of April. Roosevelt informs Pitcher they would like to see the game and asks him to get a hold of Billy Hofer or George Whittaker to take care of the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-03
A.L. Butler, the English game officer of the Sudan, will be visiting Yellowstone and President Roosevelt requests that Pitcher “give him every proper facility for observing matters.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-08-24
Theodore Roosevelt is proud to have a subspecies of elk, “the noblest game animal of America,” named after him. Roosevelt would like to have lunch with C. Hart Merriam to discuss the Smithsonian matter. Roosevelt is also returning Merriam’s manuscript, in which he found little to correct.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-12-09