No fear of race suicide
Postcard featuring a drawing of a mosquito carrying a sleeping child over a body of water.
Collection
Creation Date
Unknown
Your TR Source
Children
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Sarah Elizabeth Griggs Stultz
Theodore Roosevelt praises Sarah Elizabeth Griggs Stultz on her accomplishment of having 14 children. Roosevelt deems her an American mother who has done her duty.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1911-12-13
Letter from Emma Virginia Mount McCullers to Theodore Roosevelt
Emma Virginia Mount McCullers sends Theodore Roosevelt photographs of her 20 children. Emma McCullers and her husband have been married for 28 years and are farmers. A friend of Roosevelt’s in Anniston suggested Emma McCullers send a photograph of her 20th child to Roosevelt, so she is sending photographs of all 20 children.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1911-12-18
Letter from Adam J. Sembower to Theodore Roosevelt
Adam J. Sembower tells Theodore Roosevelt that God places responsibility where it belongs and asks Roosevelt to read the attached.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1911-10-24
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt writes to his sister Anna about his and Edith’s recent visit to the Wadsworths. The children are doing well and Roosevelt is still enjoying playing polo as is cousin Emlen Roosevelt. Edith is expecting another child.
Collection
Creation Date
1888-07-15
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt writes to his sister Anna Roosevelt about her recent trip to Ireland. He says Ireland is a terrible problem for the English. He also updates her about happenings in Oyster Bay, New York. Daughter Alice has returned home from a visit with her late mother’s family. There is some trouble with the servants. The polo club is doing well, as is baby Ted.
Collection
Creation Date
1888-06-10
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt writes to his sister Anna Roosevelt with greetings from his daughter Alice. Alice has been doing well and recovered from a brief illness. Roosevelt reports Cecil Spring Rice is pleased with Roosevelt’s invitation.
Collection
Creation Date
1887-08-04
Theodore Roosevelt and his family
This photograph of Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt and Eleanor Butler Roosevelt, with their children, Grace, Cornelius, and Theodore Roosevelt III was taken ten days after Ted’s return from France. This copy was clipped from a magazine.
Collection
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
Creation Date
1918
Photograph of Theodore Roosevelt Jr. as a child
A black and white photograph of Theodore Roosevelt Jr. as a child in a studio shot.
Collection
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
Creation Date
1888-1889
Watercolor of Theodore Roosevelt
Watercolor portrait of Theodore Roosevelt Jr. as a baby.
Collection
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
Creation Date
1888
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Archibald Roosevelt
President Roosevelt writes to Archie Roosevelt that the New York plan is set with Dr. Oscar Carrabine. He tells Archie that winter in Washington, D.C., will be strange with no children around, but that it is good to have Ted Roosevelt there. During tennis a ball hit Roosevelt’s eye, making him stagger, but he continued the game. In a postscript Roosevelt says the dentist will instead come to Groton.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1908-09-17
Letter from Charles S. Clark to Theodore Roosevelt
Charles S. Clark sends Theodore Roosevelt a copy of the St. Johns News highlighting an article about a family with thirteen children since he knows Roosevelt prefers large families to avoid “race suicide.”
Comments and Context
Race suicide was a 20th century fear that professed preferable races or ethnic groups would see their death rate outpace their birthrate. In response to lowering birthrates in the United States, Theodore Roosevelt was outspoken in his views that families should have many children.
Collection
Letter from Mrs. A. S. Reed to Theodore Roosevelt
Mrs. A. S. Reed asks Theodore Roosevelt to speak to and support the Hope Day Nursery in October or November.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1911-10-10
Letter from Maxie Owen to Theodore Roosevelt
Maxie Owen heard of Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt’s accident, and shares with Theodore Roosevelt that her son is named for him.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1911-10-10
Letter from John W. Pilger to Theodore Roosevelt
John W. Pilger writes to Theodore Roosevelt about the birth of his eleventh child, who he has also named Kermit. Pilger lists all his children, three of whom are named after Roosevelt’s.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1911-09-26
Letter from Daglan Hogan to Theodore Roosevelt
Daglan Hogan informs Theodore Roosevelt that his nineteenth child was recently born.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1911-09-26
Letter from William Phillips to Theodore Roosevelt
William Phillips sends Theodore Roosevelt a picture of his nine children, and Phillips hopes the picture will bring Roosevelt pleasure.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1911-09-25
Letter from Spencer P. Hawkins to Theodore Roosevelt
Spencer P. Hawkins asks Theodore Roosevelt for a donation to Louisburg Normal and Industrial School for orphans.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1911-09-19
Letter from Robert Reid to Theodore Roosevelt
Robert Reid thanks Theodore Roosevelt for his and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt’s kind letters and updates him on the children.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1911-09-15
Letter from Charles G. Bikle to Theodore Roosevelt
Charles G. Bikle asks Theodore Roosevelt for an autographed photo to include in a group picture for the Children’s Room at St. Paul’s Church. He hopes Roosevelt will agree, noting his love for children.
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1911-09-12