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Edgar Alexander Mearns writes to Theodore Roosevelt to request his help in obtaining a permit for the collection of moose, caribou, and beaver for the U.S. National Museum. Kermit Roosevelt will obtain the specimens while he is in New Brunswick.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-1919
Theodore Roosevelt explains to Le Baron Russell Briggs, the dean of Harvard College, that his son Kermit Roosevelt has been asked by the Smithsonian to gather certain specimen of moose, caribou and beaver in New Brunswick for the National Museum. In order to fulfill this request, Kermit will need to be a few days late in reporting at Harvard, so Theodore Roosevelt asks Briggs if he can excuse his son’s absence.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-01
Theodore Roosevelt thanks H. Hesketh-Prichard for the interesting letters and photograph. Roosevelt is interested in Prichard’s statement that the “tame barrenground Norwegian deer interbred freely with the woodland wild deer of Newfoundland at St. Anthony.” Roosevelt writes this bears out his belief that “caribou is a genus which is in process of differentiation inter-species.” Roosevelt is interested in the number of deer in Quebec versus Labrador and the new sub-series of West Coast eland, a pygmy form, found off the West Coast of Africa.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-29
President Roosevelt addresses the entire editorial board of The Outlook, as he is unsure which particular editor “had his mind all turned askew” by the writings of William J. Long. Roosevelt appreciates The Outlook’s coverage of topics such as the Brownsville Incident, race relations in San Francisco, and railroad rate legislation, but he takes strong exception to The Outlook describing his distaste for Long’s writing a “controversy.” Roosevelt condems Long’s writings and describes him as a “cheap imposter” who does not observe nature but fabricates nature stories that could not possibly happen. Roosevelt takes issue with The Oulook’s assertions about his comments on Long’s writing, and discusses in detail the “mechanical”—not “mathematical”—impossibility of a wolf killing a caribou with a single bite as Long describes. Roosevelt suggests several naturalists in New York the editors can consult in matters of “nature fakers,” and offers to go page by page through one of Long’s books with The Outlook special nature editor.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-03
Theodore Roosevelt believes he was correct about the passenger pigeons he saw. He includes evidence in the form of a letter written by Joseph Wilmer, whose place Plain Dealing is near Roosevelt’s Pine Knot. Roosevelt also includes an excerpt from George Shiras discussing various topics, including the timber wolf and how lynx hunt, and disagreeing with William J. Long’s texts on the subjects.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-08
Although he enjoyed William J. Long’s book, President Roosevelt takes issue with the fact that Long presents several anecdotes about animal behavior as absolute fact, when they are not so. Roosevelt highlights a passage about a wolf killing a caribou in an improbable fashion as an example.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-27
President Roosevelt greatly admires Warburton Pike’s caribou photographs and wishes he could do photography. He compliments Pike’s descriptions of animals and hopes he will write more books.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-18
President Roosevelt thanks Colonel Sanger for his recent letter and wishes him good luck in his caribou hunt. Roosevelt also believes that Ambassador Charlemagne Tower will have to stay with Roosevelt until after the dedication of the statue of King Frederick II of Prussia for the St. Louis World’s Fair.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-10
President Roosevelt looks forward to seeing Alexander Lambert and will consider the medical man proposition. He envies Lambert’s two caribous and the elk.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-11-23
President Roosevelt found the caribou head “magnificent” and has had it hung.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-11-12
Theodore Roosevelt encloses the edited version of Pierce’s article. He has cut the article drastically, while noting that Pierce “has a genuine eye for scenery.” Roosevelt also sends George Bird Grinnell the books on big game and asks to see the proofs of articles he sent to Grinnell.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-08-28
Commissioner Roosevelt has taken Robert Harry Munro Ferguson’s letter to the United States Geological Survey. However, they do not have any plans to enter into Arctic exploration. Roosevelt shared Ferguson’s letter with many people and is eager to hear more.
1895-01-30
Matthew Stanley Quay alerts President Roosevelt that Quay has sent a promised Alaskan caribou head to the White House. Quay discusses the bleak business outlook, particularly as seen in the railroad companies, which are laying aside cars for want of business. Quay will be in Washington soon, and he plans to “have a scrap” with Ethan Allen Hitchcock, United States Secretary of the Interior, and to talk to A. J. Cassatt, president of the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-10-25
Alexander Lambert has sent the two caribou heads to President Roosevelt. He relates the hunting activities of himself and several acquaintances, as well as discussion of taxidermists. He hopes that Roosevelt can make it out to hunt after Congress adjourns and wishes the Roosevelt family a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-23
The two caribou heads should arrive before Sunday and Dr. Lambert will continue to search for a “first-class black tail head or white tail head.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-23