Your TR Source
President Roosevelt tells John Lewis Childs that he recently shot a yellow-throated or Dominican warbler for purposes of identification and gave the skin to the American Museum of Natural History. Roosevelt also came across a recently hatched spotted sandpiper the other day while riding.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-20
Theodore Roosevelt cannot determine what bird James Maples’ described.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-26
President Roosevelt has found corroborative evidence for his sighting of passenger pigeons at Pine Knot in Albemarle County, Virginia. Dick, the foreman of Joseph Wilmer’s farm, saw two small flocks and his description of the birds match the passenger pigeon described in the fifth volume of Audubon. Roosevelt believes that Dick is reliable and views him as a “singularly close observer.” He requests that John Burroughs write to Lyman Abbott about the Long controversy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-08
John Burroughs’s letter has raised some doubt in President Roosevelt regarding his sighting of a small flock of passenger pigeons. However, he saw around a dozen pigeons, both in the air and perched on a tree, with a “characteristically pigeon like attitude.” The other possibility is doves but the birds Roosevelt saw were larger and in a flock. He will write and see if there were other sightings.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-27
John Lowell sends Theodore Roosevelt four specimens of the bird they discussed during his visit. He describes their appearance, vocalization, and nesting habits.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-16
James Maples describes a bird he saw and asks Theodore Roosevelt if it was a Carolina Wren.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-23
John Burroughs is glad that President Roosevelt has decided that his sighting of a passenger pigeon was correct. Burroughs recently investigated another sighting and concluded that a large flock of passenger pigeons had been seen. He has written to The Outlook regarding the legitimate use of imagination in nature writing. Burroughs directs Roosevelt to several periodicals where he comments on William J. Long and the nature fakers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-13
John Burroughs believes President Roosevelt’s account of seeing passenger pigeons in Virginia. He suggests that a trustworthy local attempt to obtain a specimen or having Dr. Merriam send someone to investigate. Burroughs continues to fight William J. Long and the nature fakers. Several pretend interviews with Burroughs have appeared in the newspapers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-30