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Theodore Roosevelt cannot review Arthur Astor Carey’s book. He agrees that the Boy Scouts should be trained to make them “first-class citizens” in peace and to be available to defend the country during war. No one can defend the right if they are not prepared to “stand up fearlessly against what is wrong.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-12-09
Theodore Roosevelt cannot make a speech on such short notice. Additionally, there are several matters he would like clarified before he could agree to speak. Roosevelt is concerned about the distribution of pacifist literature amongst the Boy Scouts. He states that the effort to prevent boys from being prepared to serve their country is treason. Boy Scouts should be taught to be “eager and willing to bear their part in any war” deemed necessary by their country.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-11-30
Theodore Roosevelt congratulates Chief Scout Executive James E. West upon the success of the meeting in Washington, D.C.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-02-22
President Roosevelt asks Walter P. McGuire to thank Frank L. Coes for the gift of the ax.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-01-21
Theodore Roosevelt congratulates Charles D. Hart on the success of the Boy Scout campaign in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The rapid and widespread fund raising shows that the Boy Scouts have “taken a deep and firm hold upon the sympathies of our people.” Roosevelt views the Boy Scouts as a valuable movement to the country.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-01-04
Theodore Roosevelt thinks that Wallace Benedict has a good plan, but is unable to write such a letter at this time. If Benedict is interested, he can read the letter that Roosevelt wrote for James Edward West’s publication, Boys’ Life.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-11-30
Theodore Roosevelt suggests that Robert D. Towne write to the Director of the Boy Scout movement.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-11-07
Theodore Roosevelt cannot accept General King’s invitation to attend a Boy Scout rally on December 28. Roosevelt will be giving a speech for the American Historical Association then.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-12-02
“Teddy” Crombie writes to Theodore Roosevelt about his desire to join the Boy Scouts and that he wants to see Roosevelt. He missed him on his last trip, because Crombie lives on a ranch five miles from town. Crombie also wishes he could have gone to Africa with Roosevelt. He says, “I hope that you will be President and I will try to grow up into as good and honest a man as you are.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-02-25
William T. Hornaday agrees with James E. West’s newspaper comments about former Chief Scout Ernest Thompson Seton. Hornaday believes that someone who holds such negative opinions of the United States should not lead an organization of American children, and he regrets that Seton is reviving the Woodcraft League of America.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-12-08
Gifford Pinchot will be unable to attend the Boy Scouts meeting and suggests that Theodore Roosevelt be contacted directly.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-12-24
James E. West writes Samuel Gompers regarding the news that the American Federation of Labor plans to review the Boy Scouts of America to determine the influence and affect on labor the Boy Scout movement is having. West offers to provide someone from the organization to answer questions as well as printed or written material and looks forward to the suggestions of the Federation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-01
James M. Davis tells Theodore Roosevelt that forty boys are soon joining a Boy Scout troop and hopes Roosevelt will write a message of “greeting and advice,” particularly if he could make comment on “profanity and the use of tobacco.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-16
James E. West hopes Theodore Roosevelt has had time to review the new Handbook for Boys containing his letter and asks for his opinion of it. He comments on the importance of getting the new manual out to the many Boy Scouts, especially those using the old text or the English Handbook.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-24
James E. West sends Theodore Roosevelt copies of the corrected edition of the Boy Scouts Handbook for Boys. He hopes those interested in the scout movement can obtain the advantageous manual. He thanks Roosevelt for his contribution on Practical Citizenship, which will do much good.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-04
James E. West apologizes for sending the Boy Scout handbook and other materials to Sagamore Hill instead of Theodore Roosevelt’s offices at The Outlook. He sends another book that tells the story of the Boy Scouts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-21
James E. West thanks Theodore Roosevelt for his message on practical citizenship, which will be published in the Boy Scout Manual. West will send Roosevelt a copy when it is printed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-22
James E. West clarifies for Theodore Roosevelt that the Boy Scouts of America is not a military organizations and does not include guns in their equipment. Confusion has arisen because the American Boy Scouts organization was organized with the help of William Randolph Hearst and does military drill with boys.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-15
James E. West would like Theodore Roosevelt to write a few paragraphs about how Boy Scouts can show patriotism and be valuable assets to their communities. He sends Roosevelt a proof edition of the Boy Scout Manual, along with various letters, clippings, and other documents that might help him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-14
Charles E. Cragg tells Theodore Roosevelt of an upcoming excursion he has planned for a troop of Boy Scouts to a location near Roosevelt’s home, and asks either if Roosevelt would be willing to visit them, or if he could lead the boys to visit Roosevelt’s home at Sagamore Hill.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-08