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Abercrombie & Fitch will make a khaki waterproof silk tent with seamless telescopic steel tent poles and forward them to President Roosevelt if William Loeb will provide shipping directions. Ezra H. Fitch asks Loeb to ask Roosevelt if, in the company’s new catalog, the new tents can be called “Roosevelt Tents.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-21
Ezra H. Fitch of Abercrombie & Fitch informs William Loeb that the company has made several improvements in the design and materials of some items that President Roosevelt ordered for his African trip. Fitch thinks that Roosevelt might be interested in their new waterproof tent, telescopic tent poles, and sleeping bag. He encloses a sample of the tent’s material.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-19
Leslie Simson, Superintending Engineer of the Consolidated Gold Fields of South Africa, has experience hunting big game in Africa, and offers President Roosevelt advice on the merits of various rifles. He also suggests other gear and supplies that Roosevelt should bring on his trip to British East Africa.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-31
Edward North Buxton assures President Roosevelt that he enjoys planning Roosevelt’s trip to Africa, and that there is no need to thank him. He discusses the supplies, including boots, that he is arranging for Roosevelt. Buxton has nothing more to say about Roosevelt’s decision to hire a white man to lead his trip, although he expresses his concerns about having too many white men in the party. He also suggests limiting the number of guns and shooters to two. He discusses which native guides Roosevelt should hire, and the merits of Roosevelt hiring them himself, rather than delegating it to his head man.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-13
Frederick Courteney Selous visited the offices of Lawn & Alder after receiving President Roosevelt’s last letter, and reports on the details of the visit, as well as other preparations for Roosevelt’s upcoming African safari. Selous gives details and advice on several topics, including: types of preserved food to bring; tents; the hiring and pay of “native” porters; medical supplies and health concerns; sun protection; climate; where to store gear during expeditions; and shipping. Selous advises Roosevelt to allow Lawn & Alder to take care of every detail, so that the trip is more of a holiday for him than a chore, and recommends William C. Judd as a manager for the “native” guides and porters. Finally, Selous reports that Edward North Buxton is seeing Lord Crewe about any other assistance Roosevelt might need.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-08
Frederick Courteney Selous apologises for the delay in answering President Roosevelt’s letter, but he has been preparing lists of equipment and supplies and will write more fully once he has heard from outfitters Lawn & Alder. Selous says the best rifles for hunting “very heavy game” are made in England and hopes to acquire one for Roosevelt and a smaller one for Kermit Roosevelt. Selous thanks Roosevelt for the copy of National Geographic magazine.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-26
Percy C. Madeira sends detailed notes about the people President Roosevelt should contact regarding his upcoming African Safari, and includes details on equipment, personnel, and the best routes to take.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-24
Commandant of Cadets Howze recommends President Roosevelt implement a requirement for military officers to undertake a three-day riding expedition with overnight camping twice a year. Howze thinks this will be an important motivator for officers to stay in shape, as well as give them a reason to be familiar with being in the field. Howze believes the vast majority of current officers are not currently experienced in the field, recounting a recent excursion to Fort Myer. Howze asks Roosevelt not to forward this letter to the War Department, as it will not lead to positive results.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-10-26
Photograph of Theodore Roosevelt’s party’s camp under the cottonwood trees at Montezuma Well.
1913
Photograph of Theodore Roosevelt, three Navajo men, and other members of Roosevelt’s party at camp near Rainbow Bridge. Several horses are in the background. Jesse Cummins is likely on the left of the photograph.
1913
Photograph of Theodore Roosevelt and four other unidentified men in a camp in the forest on the North Rim. Roosevelt is the second man from the right, facing away from the camera. Camping equipment can be seen throughout the area.
1913
Photograph showing Theodore Roosevelt, Jesse Cummins, and several horses in a camp near Rainbow Bridge in Utah. Cooking and camping gear is seen throughout the camp.
1913
Frederick Courteney Selous has sent the provisions lists for President Roosevelt’s African expedition to Lawn & Alder. He has increased the number of boxes from 10 to 12, and included D. H. biscuits, which he believes Roosevelt will find very good. Selous spoke with Mr. Leakey, a district commissioner in Uganda, who has advised against taking a big medicine chest. If Roosevelt wants to make any changes to the provisions, he can contact Selous, who will contact Lawn & Alder.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-09
Frederick Courteney Selous assures President Roosevelt that, in spite of the advice he has heard from Hubert Silberrad and Mr. Buchon, R. J. Cunninghame and William Northrup McMillan will be able to provide him with very good Somali hunters, trackers, and gunbearers for the trip. Buchon and Silberrad had suggested that Roosevelt should use natives who are familiar with the area, but Selous believes that the native tribes in British East Africa are not good hunters and trackers. Selous also suggests storing Roosevelt’s provisions and camp gear in Nairobi while he and Kermit are staying at Alfred Pease’s ranch.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-03
Edward North Buxton sends President Roosevelt some equipment for the trip he will take to Africa, along with some instructions for their use. He hopes that Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt will not worry, and trusts that Roosevelt has taken all due precautions. Buxton also writes to say that the supplies and provisions have been sent to Mombasa.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-28