Children of presidents

Theodore Roosevelt at the Library of Congress

Michelle A. Krowl of the Library of Congress presents twenty items from the library’s Theodore Roosevelt Collection. The material, consisting of twelve letters, four other documents, three political cartoons, and a campaign poster, encompass the years 1884 to 1934. Twelve of the documents were penned by Roosevelt, and Krowl provides context and background for each item while including quotes from the document in her description. The twenty items are preceded by a short introductory essay by Krowl which includes two photographs of the Library of Congress.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2021

Creator(s)

Krowl, Michelle A.

Letter from William Loeb to Albany Savings Bank

Ted Roosevelt would like to open an account at the Albany Savings Bank. William Loeb encloses a $1,000 check to be credited to the new account.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-12

Creator(s)

Loeb, William, 1866-1937

Letter from William Loeb to Riggs National Bank

William Loeb encloses a draft and pass-books belonging to Ted, Kermit, and Ethel Roosevelt. He requests the draft be credited their accounts and the books to be returned.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-29

Creator(s)

Loeb, William, 1866-1937

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Corinne Roosevelt Robinson

President Roosevelt describes the family’s “ideal” Christmas celebrations to his sister, Corinne Roosevelt Robinson. He asks Robinson to find out how her son, Monroe Douglas Robinson, could bear being seen with Roosevelt’s son, Ted Roosevelt, when Ted was wearing “such as cap as he seems to have carried.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Emily Tyler Carow

President Roosevelt thanks his sister-in-law Emily Tyler Carow for the book that Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt got him on her behalf. The Roosevelts have had their “usual type of Christmas,” though with fewer toys as the children get older. Soon they will go to the Pine Knot cabin with friends. Roosevelt has much to worry him in his work, but the incidents “will all go downstream.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Frank C. Smith to Theodore Roosevelt

Frank C. Smith, clerk to Douglas Robinson, advises President Roosevelt to give Theodore Douglas Robinson the power to sign checks since Douglas Robinson is away. Smith encloses the power and provides instructions. He is glad to hear that Archibald B. Roosevelt is better.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-14

Creator(s)

Smith, Frank C.

Letter from Andrew Carnegie to Theodore Roosevelt

Andrew Carnegie accepts President Roosevelt’s invitation and sets a date for their luncheon. Carnegie congratulates Roosevelt on Archibald B. Roosevelt’s recovery. Roosevelt now has time for other matters. Issuance of capital stock to finance railroads needs to be regulated. Carnegie will show Roosevelt his speech for the Peace Conference and hopes to receive suggestions. He thinks that he will have greater success if Elihu Root goes to the Hague with him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-12

Creator(s)

Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919

Letter from William Emlen Roosevelt to Theodore Roosevelt

William Emlen Roosevelt is glad that Archibald B. Roosevelt is recovering and understands the anxiety President Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt suffer. He wants to visit Washington, D.C., to talk about his dispute with a treasury official and the Harriman incident. Christine Roosevelt is nervous about the idea of William staying where a person has diphtheria, so he may sleep at his in-laws to calm her. He visited Russell in the hospital. The superintendent of Roosevelt Hospital is dying. William hoped that spring was arriving, but a recent snow storm crushed his hopes of riding.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-11

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, William Emlen, 1857-1930

Letter from William Emlen Roosevelt to Theodore Roosevelt

William Emlen Roosevelt tells President Roosevelt that he and Edith have been on his mind since hearing of Archibald B. Roosevelt’s sickness. He has enclosed a survey of Cove Neck as promised, and despite several errors, the layout is “very interesting” for them to have. He tells Roosevelt of the dire situation on Wall Street and the effect that the panic has had on himself and his colleagues. He discusses his visit from Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. and the dispatch he received from his son George Emlen Roosevelt, who was remorseful not speaking to Roosevelt when he was visiting Harvard. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, William Emlen, 1857-1930

Letter from Endicott Peabody to Theodore Roosevelt

Endicott Peabody thanks President Roosevelt for his letter. Peabody is greatly encouraged to know that Roosevelt is pleased with Kermit Roosevelt’s development and that he feels Groton has been a help to his son.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-24

Creator(s)

Peabody, Endicott, 1857-1944

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to August Belmont

Theodore Roosevelt discusses with August “Augie” Belmont potential travel plans to the Panama-Pacific International Exposition with one of his sons.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-07-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles

Theodore Roosevelt asks that his sister Anna Roosevelt Cowles tell Mathilda Ridout Edgar that he cannot speak in Canada, as he is “not in sympathy with my own government.” He remembers Edgar’s distinguished father Thomas Gibbs Ridout. Archie Roosevelt and Quentin Roosevelt had a great time at Cowles’s house and are just starting on another trip.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-07-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Endicott Peabody

Theodore Roosevelt tells Endicott Peabody about Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt’s recovery after an operation. Roosevelt is pleased with what Peabody has said about Quentin Roosevelt and agrees that he is maturing. Roosevelt believes that both Quentin and Archie Roosevelt are good boys.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-04-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Endicott Peabody

Theodore Roosevelt tells Endicott Peabody that Quentin Roosevelt is “pretty miserable” at the moment, due to pain caused by treatment. Roosevelt also expresses gratitude for the friendship of Peabody and his wife, Fanny.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-04-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William R. Castle

Theodore Roosevelt appreciates William R. Castle’s letter. Roosevelt invites Castle to visit and notes that his son Ted Roosevelt would also enjoy seeing Castle.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-02-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Archibald B. Roosevelt

President Roosevelt is concerned about Archibald B. Roosevelt’s foot, but is sure that it will get better when he is home. Archie’s younger brother, Quentin Roosevelt, has gone hunting recently and caught three rabbits. Quentin likes his current school, although he will go to Groton before too long.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Theodore Roosevelt

President Roosevelt was glad to read what his son, Theodore Roosevelt, wrote about his brother Kermit Roosevelt. He sympathizes with Ted’s opinion about work, and says that he will eventually reach the point where he can have both work and leisure, but agrees that having only leisure would be worse than only work. Roosevelt had received a copy of Wind in the Willows, but had not read it yet. He plans to do so now, based on Ted’s recommendation. Roosevelt’s schedule is as busy as ever, both with his usual presidential work, as well as his preparations for his safari and the lectures he will be giving abroad. Roosevelt hopes to be able to save the money he makes by writing after leaving the presidency to help his children until they are all able to earn their own livings.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-03, 1908-12-06

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Archibald B. Roosevelt

President Roosevelt agrees with his son Archie that it is good that “Taft, Hughes, and Groton” were victorious. He updates Archie on his brother Quentin, who is doing very well at football and tennis, and is doing well in school. Kermit Roosevelt is home now. Roosevelt took a fall on a “scramble walk” in Rock Creek Park but was uninjured.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ethel Roosevelt

Although President Roosevelt is proud of his daughter Ethel, he tells her that he cannot help but feel nervous when he thinks of her taking risks. He updates her on the goings-on at the White House, including tennis with the French Ambassador J. J. Jusserand, a visit from Alice and Nicholas Longworth, and some of Quentin’s exploits.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Endicott Peabody

President Roosevelt is glad that Endicott Peabody took the actions he did regarding his son Archibald B. Roosevelt’s teeth. He hopes that now Archie will be all right, now that the strain from the trouble with his teeth is passed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919