Your TR Source
President Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit to tell him what he is reading and discusses playing with Archie, Quentin, and Archie’s new puppy. Roosevelt got a new horse and has been playing a lot of tennis. Roosevelt describes the birds he sees on his walks. He adds that he is satisfied that everyone enjoyed their trip to Havana.
1906-04-12
President Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit that John Hay is ill and Frank Travers has died. He also mentions going to New York to give away Eleanor Roosevelt in marriage. He has been riding a lot with Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt and has been playing tennis with Matt and Ted. The birds have returned and Archie and Quentin played with friends.
1905-03-20
Theodore Roosevelt describes for his daughter Ethel Roosevelt the heavy rain at his camp near Santiago, Cuba, and how a bad night storm ruined his hammock and tent. He also describes the birds in the area and a particularly funny little lizard.
1898-07-15
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Quentin Roosevelt describing a mother bird feeding her babies and himself feeding an elk at the zoo (he includes a drawing of both).
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1904-06-12
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-22
Theodore Roosevelt thanks William Beebe for the “Hoatzin pamphlet” and hopes Beebe will be able to come visit on a night Nelson is also able to visit.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-15
Theodore Roosevelt gives Frederic A. Lucas, Director of the American Museum of Natural History, consent for a case to be given to the Brooklyn Children’s Museum. Roosevelt mounted the Egyptian birds in winter 1873 and 1874 and an owl at the time it was shot.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-28
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Cherry Kearton in order to introduce Edward B. Clark, a newspaper writer and ornithologist, whom Roosevelt calls a “fine fellow.” Roosevelt asks if Kearton might advise Clark on the best places to observe the various birds of England. Roosevelt also asks Kearton to tell his brother, Richard Kearton, how pleased Roosevelt was by his African pictures, which he hopes will be reproduced in book form.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-05
Theodore Roosevelt is glad that Frank M. Chapman is interested in documenting the bird and mammal life of the marshes in Paraguay. Roosevelt is also glad Chapman’s Colombian book is coming along well and looks forward to reading it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-02-01
Theodore Roosevelt is happy to accept an invitation to visit John Milliken Parker in New Orleans. His sons Archie and Quentin will not be able to come, but Roosevelt will have his wife, Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, as a traveling companion. Roosevelt and Parker will spend three or four days visiting bird refuges along the gulf and in the delta before rejoining Mrs. Roosevelt in the city.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-03-31
Theodore Roosevelt writes Benjamin Ide Wheeler that he is glad to see the list of birds on the Berkeley campus. Roosevelt also wonders why California is resistant to making defense preparations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-03-01
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Frank M. Chapman about the criticism he has received on a recent article, although Chapman did like the article. Roosevelt also discusses future writing projects with Scribner and an article proposal for Nelson.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-02-06
Theodore Roosevelt compliments Louis Fuertes on his ornithology pamphlet, noting that he had it clothbound and put in his library. He encourages Fuertes and Fulson to write an ornithology of American birds as Fulson’s previous account was of Argentinian birds.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-02-03
If Theodore Roosevelt comes across a copy of a pamphlet he wrote entitled “The Birds of Oyster Bay,” he will send it to Harry M. Tod.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-12-19
Theodore Roosevelt is delighted that Thomas Barbour will respond to Francis H. Allen’s article about “concealed coloration” in The Auk that attacked Roosevelt. Roosevelt is upset by Allen’s omission and misrepresentation of facts, including on the topics of “counter-shading” and natural selection. Roosevelt wishes Barbour could come to Oyster Bay for experiments regarding colors for concealment at night.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-12-03
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Witmer Stone, editor of The Auk, regarding a recent article that inaccurately criticized Roosevelt’s prior work on “concealing coloration” and “counter-shading” in response to Abbot Handerson Thayer, including in African Game Trails. Roosevelt also defends photographs he had taken of birds.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-11-22
President Roosevelt thanks Irene F. G. Wheelock for the book on Californian birds and expresses enthusiasm at increasing the knowledge base of western birds.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-23
President Roosevelt thinks that if a permanent waterways commission were to be created, then Allen W. Thurman would be a good person to be a part of it. He knows that Thurman would not expect him to commit himself out of hand or without evaluating all options though. Roosevelt agrees with Thurman about migratory birds and spring shooting, but says that if he mentions federal action on the subject he would simply “incite a yell about [his] desire for centralization.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-16
President Roosevelt sends Frank M. Chapman a check to reimburse him for the amount he spent. Roosevelt is very grateful for all the help Chapman has given, and has forwarded his letter to his son Kermit Roosevelt. Roosevelt would be delighted to see the slides and movie that Chapman has of birds, and will try to find out if there is a time when the entire Roosevelt family is free to watch them.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-04
Theodore Roosevelt writes John Burroughs about the practical application of the term “species” to different animals. Roosevelt is also interested in Burroughs’ account of the woodchucks and thistle-finches, and updates Burroughs on the birds he has seen throughout the season. Roosevelt hopes that “the spirit” will move Burroughs to write about his visit to Pine Knot.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-28