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President Roosevelt asks Maurice Francis Egan if he may still accept the bronze sculpture by John Boyle if the artist commission is chosen by competition instead of selection.
1907-06-11
President Roosevelt informs Maurice Francis Egan that he is interested in the bronze sculpture by John Boyle. However, Roosevelt notes that he cannot accept it as he has written a letter endorsing Boyle for a commission, which he encloses. He asks Egan to inquire about the price of the sculpture.
1907-06-08
Two articles regarding Theodore Roosevelt’s “crowded hour,” his experience during the Battle of San Juan Hill. James Edward Kelly’s article describes how he came to create his bronze sculpture of this title, being introduced to Roosevelt by their mutual friend Francis V. Greene. Theodore Roosevelt’s article is an excerpt from his book, The Rough Riders, published in 1899.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1899-1902
Kelly, James Edward, 1855-1933; Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Photograph of Frederick William MacMonnies’s bronze sculpture of Theodore Roosevelt as a Rough Rider on horse.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
Unknown
Photograph of James Edward Kelly’s statuette of Theodore Roosevelt as he may have looked riding up San Juan Hill. Kelly called the work “The Crowded Hour at San Juan.” An inscription on the photo reads: To Mrs. Edwin A. Abbey. With the high regard of Theodore Roosevelt.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1918-10-15
Photograph of the James Edward Kelly statuette of Theodore Roosevelt at San Juan Hill. Kelly titled the piece “The Crowded Hour at San Juan.”
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
Unknown
Report by an unknown third person of James Edward Kelly encountering Theodore Roosevelt at his New York City Studio.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1912-04-15
President Roosevelt thanks Frederic Remington for the photographs, and remarks that Remington makes very good bronze sculptures. He does not think, however, that any bronze that Remington makes will appeal to him more than The Bronco Buster, a copy of which his regiment, the Rough Riders, gave him after the Spanish-American War. Roosevelt also prizes his copy of the man of the stone age (Paleolithic Man) which Remington sent him, and which Roosevelt thinks looks like “a certain high personage.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-29
President Roosevelt tells Maurice Francis Egan that he wants to accept the bronze sculpture that John Boyle sent him. However, he does not feel that it would be fair to the competition, so he cannot accept it. Roosevelt wants Egan to contact Boyle to know how much the bronze figure costs so Roosevelt might discretely purchase it later.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-08
President Roosevelt changed his mind and tells Maurice Francis Egan that if John Boyle’s entry is selected for the John Barry monument then he would like to accept the statuette that Boyle sent him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-11
President Roosevelt looks forward to seeing the bronze and regrets he cannot attend the dedication.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-11-07
Maurice Francis Egan writes to President Roosevelt regarding the competition to produce a bronze sculpture of Commodore John Barry. John Boyle has sent Roosevelt a bronze model already and is attempting to sway the competition in his favor.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-07
Maurice Francis Egan is delighted by President Roosevelt’s response. Egan has always been a fan of John Boyle’s work because he “does not mistake virility for brutality.” The John Barry commission was to be decided by a contest, and therefore, the statuette should not have been sent to Roosevelt. Boyle has insisted that if Roosevelt will not accept the statuette he sent to him, then he will not sell it. Egan will hold onto it and if Roosevelt wants to buy it later, he may.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-09
The bronze statuette is finished and James Edward Kelly needs to know if it should be delivered to Washington, D.C., or Oyster Bay, New York. Kelly asks if an inscription, “The ‘Crowded Hour’ at San Juan,” should be added to the base.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-06-20