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Theodore Roosevelt writes to his sister Anna about his and Edith’s continuing honeymoon through Italy. They are enjoying the sights, especially Milan and its cathedral, and artwork. They plan to sail home on March 19 and he longs to see Sagamore Hill again.
1887-02-12
President Roosevelt wishes he could be present for the laying of the cornerstone of the new cathedral, but as he cannot, he sends his congratulations to Bishop Carroll.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-01
Theodore Roosevelt continues to write to his sister Anna on honeymoon in Italy with Alice Lee Roosevelt. He describes the pigeons in Venice, the gondolier and the cathedral. He also tells her that he has been practicing his Italian and seems not to be having too much trouble communicating. They head to Como next.
1881-06-23
President Roosevelt offers his congratulations and best wishes to Archbishop Glennon and everybody involved in laying the cornerstone at the Cathedral of St. Louis.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-18
Madrid newspaper El País reports on the installation of Thomas Augustine Hendrick as Bishop of Cebu at Cebu Cathedral on the morning of March 11, 1904. The article includes a description of the opening remarks, attendees, and the ceremony.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-12
Postcard showing the interior of a neoclassical chapel with columns, archways, and a painted ceiling. Charles C. Myers identifies it as the chapel next to the Palace of Versailles. He comments on the various artistic details.
In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “We saw an exterior view of the small chapel or cathedral, now here is an interior view of the same place. Notice the beautifully designed floor which looks like costly rugs, but it is only mosaic work, colored stones or tiling so artistically arranged as to represent very finely woven rugs. The paintings overhead are among the leading paintings of one of the leading painters of the 17th century. It is said that there is a lost art in painting as was done in those days as their brilliancy increases with age instead of fading as paintings of modern times. These paintings are over 200 years old and yet they seem as fresh as if they were only finished and hardly dry.”
Postcard showing a close-up view of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France. Pedestrians are visible in front of the cathedral. Charles C. Myers discusses the dimensions of the cathedral and the pipe organ. He comments on the stained glass depicting the life of Christ and the statues of Adam and Eve.
In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Here is the Notre Dame at closer range. It is one of the oldest Cathedrals in the world being founded in 1182. The foundation was laid by Pope Alexander 3rd then a refugee in France. The inside measurements of this building is 417 ft long, 156 ft wide and 112 ft high. The roof is supported by 75 large stone columns 4 ft in diameter and 112 ft long and also 108 smaller ones of different lengths. The two rows of large columns are set farther apart at the top so that when you look up they seem to be parallel. The great pipe organ was built in 1750 and has over 6000 pipes and 5 key boards. It was the largest in the world at the time it was built. On either side of the chapel are two circular windows 42 ft in diameter. These windows are of stained glass and representing scenes during the life of Christ and are of note as they are the only circular windows of the kind and size in the world. The Notre Dame is also the only church in the world having life size statues representing Adam and Eve. This church is built entirely according to the old Gothic style of architecture and is indeed very interesting.”
This postcard shows a very busy street in Paris, with a profusion of pedestrians, carts, and busses. In the background stands the Cathedral of Notre Dame, as well as other large buildings. Charles C. Myers explains that this is one of the principal rendezvous points of many bus and street car lines, and describes Parisian public transit.
In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “This shows a busy square in Paris, on the east bank of the River Sein, and the principle rendezvoux [sic] of many omnibuses and also a transfer point of several street car lines. The street cars of Paris are of the double deck type–one penny if you ride above and two pennies if you ride below. In the distant [sic] is the twin towers of the famous Notre Dame Cathedral, one of the most noted church buildings in the world.”
Postcard showing the interior of a cathedral with rows of chairs. Charles C. Myers identifies it as St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, England. He notes the seats are under the cathedral’s dome.
In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “St Pauls [sic] Cathedral is one of the most noted buildings in London and said to be the fourth largest church building in the whole world. This church is 500 ft long and 250 ft wide and was built in the latter part of the 16th century at a cost of $3,700,000, this money being raised by an extra tax on coal that came into the harbor at london [sic]. The large dome is 102 ft in diameter and by going up a stairs of 260 steps from the floor of the church you are far up inside the dome and in what is called the whispering gallery where you can distinctly hear the whisper of a person on the opposite side of the gallery 102 ft away. It is quite equal to the hall in the Tabernacle at Salt Lake City where you can distinctly hear the drop of a pin in the far end of the hall 250 ft away. While in this whispering gallery in the dome of St Pauls [sic] Cathedral you can look below and see these seats in the main chapel 260 steps below. This is the main chapel of the church and situated in the center of the building. The seats for the choir and the High Altar are seen in the distant [sic].”
Postcard showing a cathedral. Charles C. Myers identifies it as St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, England, and describes the building’s dimensions and how the money was raised to construct it. He comments on the cathedral’s “whispering gallery” and compares it to the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, Utah.
In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “St Pauls [sic] Cathedral is one of the most noted buildings in London and said to be the fourth largest church building in the whole world. This church is 500 ft long and 250 ft wide and was built in the latter part of the 16th century at a cost of $3,700,000, this money being raised by an extra tax on coal that came into the harbor at london [sic]. The large dome is 102 ft in diameter and by going up a stairs of 260 steps from the floor of the church you are far up inside the dome and in what is called the whispering gallery where you can distinctly hear the whisper of a person on the opposite side of the gallery 102 ft away. It is quite equal to the hall in the Tabernacle at Salt Lake City where you can distinctly hear the drop of a pin in the far end of the hall 250 ft away. While in this whispering gallery in the dome of St Pauls [sic] Cathedral you can look below and see these seats in the main chapel 260 steps below. This is the main chapel of the church and situated in the center of the building. The seats for the choir and the High Altar are seen in the distant [sic].”
Postcard showing a cathedral. Charles C. Myers identifies it as St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, England, an important feature of the city.
In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “St Pauls [sic] Cathedral is one of the most noted buildings in London and said to be the fourth largest church building in the whole world. This church is 500 ft long and 250 ft wide and was built in the latter part of the 16th century at a cost of $3,700,000, this money being raised by an extra tax on coal that came into the harbor at london [sic]. The large dome is 102 ft in diameter and by going up a stairs of 260 steps from the floor of the church you are far up inside the dome and in what is called the whispering gallery where you can distinctly hear the whisper of a person on the opposite side of the gallery 102 ft away. It is quite equal to the hall in the Tabernacle at Salt Lake City where you can distinctly hear the drop of a pin in the far end of the hall 250 ft away. While in this whispering gallery in the dome of St Pauls [sic] Cathedral you can look below and see these seats in the main chapel 260 steps below. This is the main chapel of the church and situated in the center of the building. The seats for the choir and the High Altar are seen in the distant [sic].”
A postcard showing a gothic-style cathedral with a statue visible in the foreground. Charles C. Myers notes that it is St. Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney, Australia.
In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “St Marys Cathedral is one of the finest buildings in the city and also among the finest small cathedrals in existence.”
Postcard showing inside the cathedral in Santiago, Chile. Charles C. Myers describes the decorations in the interior of the cathedral.
In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “Here is the first view you get when entering the cathedral and you are quite likely to stop and gaze with astonishment at the beauty and grandeur of this place, being finished in white marble it is indeed very fascinating. In this picture, all those parts that you would think are paintings are colored mosaic work which is a more wonderful piece of art than many of the great paintings of the Louvre Art gallery in Paris.
The costom [sic] of ‘hats off’ is rigidly enforced in this cathedral and the only head dress allowed worn by either sex is the black veil or the National Head Dress, called the ‘manto’ and it is very fascinating with its flowing classical folds, especially when it frames a pretty face; but it requires a great deal of knack in its arrangement. There are as many as 15 different ways of adjusting this peculiar head gear and it is really only those Chilean born that defy criticism in this matter.
In the interior of a cathedral filled to capacity, an enormous “$” is illuminated in the place of a rose window.
Anticipating Art Young’s famous center-spread cartoon in Puck a few years later (“Holy Trinity,” scoring New York’s Episcopal Church for its opulence even as it was a slumlord of tenements), this Carl Hassmann cartoon aims its scatter-shot at American culture and organized religion in general.