Your TR Source
Ted Roosevelt and his cousin, George Emlen Roosevelt, will be reaching Deadwood, South Dakota, on August 20 for a trip to the Black Hills with Seth Bullock.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-07
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt writes to Frederick Courteney Selous about big game hunting and authors of the sport. Roosevelt was disappointed by the inaccuracies in Percy Selous’s book, which he bought because it was co-authored with Henry Anderson Bryden. Roosevelt offers congratulations to Selous and his wife on the upcoming birth of their first child and talks about his own family life and the obstacles it produces for getting away despite being fond of his wife and six children. He longs for an extended hunt but will settle for reading of other wildernesses like those in Selous’s book. Roosevelt presumes they would both count Fitzwilliam Thomas Pollok a fake based on his writings since he includes some experiences “that are all nonsense,” much like the writing of Henry Astbury Leveson, the Old Shikari. Roosevelt says that both Pollok and Leveson’s work would “have done credit” to the adventure writer Mayne Reid. Roosevelt also thinks William Henry Drummond “was not always an exact observer” based on what Selous wrote. Roosevelt mentions the black rhinoceros attacks William Astor Chanler and Ludwig Ritter von Höhnel experienced when in Africa and that he has just finished the book by John Guille Millais that Selous sent him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1898-02-15
Edward North Buxton’s greets Theodore Roosevelt and tells him that his daughter, Theresa Buxton, plans to be traveling in North America soon and would like to camp in Yellowstone National Park. He asks if Roosevelt might be able to write a letter of introduction to whoever the commandant of the park may currently be. Buxton and his family are recovering from the business of the recent coronation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-10
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
As a member of the Sierra Club, James H. Parkinson has suggestions for the Department of Agriculture to ensure the safety of visitors to national parks and campers in the mountains. These suggestions, which he hopes James Wilson will consider, include more obvious signage on trails about distance to landmarks, the circulation of fire notices, and clear communication with visitors. Parkinson has enclosed examples of some of the signage he believes will benefit the parks.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-22
John Muir enjoyed showing John Burroughs the Petrified Forest and Grand Canyon in Arizona. He also hopes to guide him through Yosemite National Park. Muir tells Theodore Roosevelt that the country seems lonesome since Roosevelt left Washington.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-03-11
Frank Ross McCoy reports on activities in Yosemite National Park, hoping to remind President Roosevelt of the “fine work and sport of the summertime.” John Muir, Joseph N. LeConte, and other members of the Sierra Club have said that the change in the valley has been very positive since it became part of the national park this year. The superintendent, Harry Coupland Benson, knows the park well and is popular with the Sierra Club. McCoy describes the park rangers and some encounters with grizzly bears, noting he found the instinct to shoot very strong but felt “stern duty’s restraining hand.” McCoy says Interior Secretary James R. Garfield came and went in a flurry, mentioning that he finds Roosevelt’s cabinet officers showing up everywhere to be “inspiring,” now that he has experienced it in the Philippines, Cuba, and the United States. McCoy offers his thoughts on race relations between the Californians and Japanese, as well as the attitudes of people on the West Coast regarding the Great White Fleet. McCoy regrets he cannot conduct Roosevelt and his family personally through the park.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-07
James R. Sheffield invites President Roosevelt and First Lady Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt to stay with his family at their camp in the Adirondack Mountains. He explains the amenities, accommodations, and activities of the area. He believes that Secretary of War William H. Taft could easily visit so Taft and Roosevelt could privately discuss “Panama, Cuba, spelling reform or Harvard’s chances in England or any other equally important question.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-31
George Shiras is glad that President Roosevelt has taken an interest in his wildlife photography, and he describes the circumstances under which a large number of his recent prints were acquired by National Geographic Magazine. Shiras tells Roosevelt that his previous appeal did not “fall on deaf ears,” and he will decline to be nominated for Congress this year. Shiras hopes that Roosevelt will “keep within reasonable distance of the eight hour law.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-28
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson reports to President Roosevelt on grazing fee policies in National Forest reserves, especially in light of cattlemen protests. Wilson informs Roosevelt that grazing fees are only a third of their value, and that there is a fee reduction this year from home-builders and small stock owners. Wilson notes that Department of Agriculture will allocate the limited number of reduced fee permits to small stock owners, reserve range occupants, and transient cattle owners, in that order. Wilson also touches on policies related to reserve land division, improvements, and law enforcement.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-20
Richard Harding Davis requested two lines from President Roosevelt about camping. Roosevelt gave more, and Davis requests Roosevelt allow him to share those lines.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-10
St. George Littledale writes to President Roosevelt to describe a hunting trip to Alaska where he saw moose and bears and camped with Indians.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-05
Stewart Edward White has written to Gifford Pinchot concerning “a reserve matter which should be taken up at once” and notes that affairs have been much better since the retirement of Mr. Newhall. White outlines possible plans for the summer involving Ted.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-26
Albert J. Beveridge discusses his canoe and camping trip.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-20
Photograph of Theodore Roosevelt’s party’s camp under the cottonwood trees at Montezuma Well.
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 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 Benjamin W. Wetherill, John Wetherill, and Loco with horses at a desert camp. The party is preparing to start for Rainbow Bridge.
1913
Photograph of a camp on Black Mesa. Several men in the photograph are sleeping or sitting. The man in the center, sitting up and writing, is likely Theodore Roosevelt.
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