Children

Six policemen labeled “Chafin, Taft, Debs, Watson, Hisgen, [and] Bryan” gather around a young boy labeled “Reactionary Voter” standing on “Radical Ave.” The boy appears confused by all the political parties represented by the various candidates – Eugene W. Chafin of the Prohibition Party, William H. Taft of the Republican Party, Eugene V. Debs of the Socialist Party of America, Thomas E. Watson of the Populist Party, Thomas L. Hisgen of the United States Independent Party, and William Jennings Bryan of the Democratic Party. Caption: Chorus of Kindly Cops — Don’t you know where you belong, little boy? / The Waif — No-o-o! I’m a-all turned round. Boo-hoo!

comments and context

Comments and Context

“The Lost Child” is a curious cartoon in the Puck Magazine canon, and in its portrayal of the contemporary political situation. S. D. Ehrhart, who had been moonlighting or freelancing for a small radical publication The Square Deal, presents an unusual scenario in the double-page cartoon.

Benjamin F. Butler spreads ashes labeled “Censure, Exposure, Desire for Reform, [and] Criticism” on a slide in the snow labeled “Slide of Public Mismanagement” to the dismay of a group of children labeled “Factory Employee, Sup’t. of Charitable Institution, Prison Supt., Army Snob, Matron of Infant Asylum, Manager of Insane Asylum, [and] Superfluous Gov’t. Employee” on “Beacon Hill.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1883-01-17

A young boy shows his younger siblings a Santa Claus suit in a wardrobe to convince them that Santa Claus does not exist.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1913-12-24

A young woman stands in the snow with two young children in a sled. One is holding an American flag.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1914-12-26

An automobile driver tries to negotiate workmen in the roadway, children playing ball in the street and darting in front of automobiles, absentminded pedestrians stepping off the curb, and people exiting streetcars into oncoming traffic. Includes a lengthy caption about the hazards an automobile driver faces on city streets.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1913-01-29

William Jennings Bryan offers a bowl of “Anti-Injunction Cream” and William H. Taft offers a sprig of “Anti-Injunction Catnip” to a cat labeled “Labor Vote” that has the face of Samuel Gompers. Bryan and Taft are dressed as children learning how to get along with cats without getting scratched. Includes eight lines of verse.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Samuel Gompers, the founder of the American Federation of Labor and immigrant (British, born Shmuel Gumpertz) cigar-maker, prodded his movement to be more and more politically active, especially in 1906 when a list of legislative reforms was presented to Congress. None was adopted, but Gompers had his hearings, and the AFL was marked as a player in electoral contests, not only in labor or union disputes.

Quentin Roosevelt is shown riding the pony Algonquin.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site

Creation Date

Unknown

Theodore Roosevelt updates Richard Derby on his family who are staying at Sagamore Hill. They are all doing well. Roosevelt can do little regarding public affairs but speaks out occasionally when something needs to be said. He feels that the Wilson administration was flanked into “reluctant, dilatory, and too often inefficient, action.” Roosevelt believes that the troops are being sent abroad haphazardly and that General Wood is being sidelined out of spite. However, America’s resources are so vast that intervention will prove decisive despite the “folly” and partisan politics which absorb the Wilson administration.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-06-02

Ethel Roosevelt Derby and her children are all well and will be leaving Sagamore Hill today. Richard Derby’s letters to Ethel have been “absorbingly interesting” and Theodore Roosevelt feels that he can see Richard’s life and work before his eyes. Roosevelt is pleased that the United States now has “600,000 fighting soldiers” which he is sure are first class. He has been writing and speaking occasionally; a small effort at “speeding up the war.”

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-07-01

After Quentin Roosevelt’s death, it has been a great comfort for Theodore Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt to visit Ethel Roosevelt Derby and the children. Roosevelt relates an incident where Richard Derby, Jr., angled to get a new toy and he describes Edith Roosevelt Derby as a “fairy princess.” Flora Whitney will be visiting tomorrow and Quentin’s death has been very difficult for her. The Derby’s neighbors have been friendly, and Roosevelt gave them a speech in response.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-08-05

An old woman labeled “Monopoly Tariff” sits next to an old shoe labeled “Special Privilege,” around which a number of children are playing. The children all represent a “Trust” and are labeled “Tool, Steel, Copper, Lumber, Sugar, Rubber, Beef, Coal, Tobacco, Clothing, Watch, Leather, Paper, [and] Linen.” Caption: There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, / Whose progeny here are presented by Pughe. / She petted and pampered and coddled the brats, / And guarded her brood from the bad Democrats.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Puck‘s turn on the traditional nursery rhyme could have been published a quarter-century earlier — and was, in variant forms — so standard were the realities and criticisms, with allowance for satirical hyperbole, through the years. In 1908 the trusts surely were in retreat, or at least defensive mode, thanks to awakened public attitudes, revelations by muckraking journalists, and the effect of governmental lawsuits, regulations, and legislation.

Governor Roosevelt asks for advice about the nurses’ bill. Roosevelt states that he is taking care of the children while Edith Roosevelt is away, and describes them as being “really very cunning.” He also discusses the daily business of governing New York.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1900-03-14

Two little children labeled “Taft” and “Sherman” are crying because they have lost their way. Vice President Sherman, as a little girl, is holding the string to a pull-toy which is an elephant on a base with wheels. Caption: Pitiable plight of little Willie and Jamey.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1912-10-09

Assistant Secretary Roosevelt updates Anna Roosevelt Cowles on the family’s health and activities, including how his new son Quentin Roosevelt is fitting in with his siblings.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1897-11-29

Two children are surrounded by broken toys. The toys are pointing fingers at the children and complaining to Santa Claus about the treatment they’ve received from them over the past year. Santa is sitting on the right, reading a large book labeled “Condition of Last Years Toys.” Caption: Indignant Chorus of Last Year’s Toys — Do they deserve anything more, Your Honor? Just look what they did to Us!

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1911-12-06

Theodore Roosevelt is dressed as an elderly woman, wearing furs, and holding on to a strap labeled “The Outlook” on a crowded streetcar. He is addressing the Republican elephant labeled “G.O.P.” sitting on a seat next to a small child labeled “Taft” who is holding a toy dog labeled “Tariff Board.” Caption: “Madam, are you going to permit that child to keep his seat and let ME stand?”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1912-03-27

A young boy jumps with joy as a battleship is blown up. His father is reminding him that the explosive display is his gift for being a good boy. “Fourth of July number” is written in the lower-left corner. Caption: Multi-Millionaire — There, Reginald! Didn’t papa say if you were a good boy he’d blow up an old battleship for you? That battleship cost papa twenty thousand dollars!

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1911-06-28

Governor Roosevelt thanks General Johnson on behalf of his family for the animals Johnson forwarded and their recent meeting in Maryland. Roosevelt also informs Johnson that he was able to obtain a commission for Johnson’s son.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1899-10-30

Governor Roosevelt thanks General Johnson for the possum Johnson gave the Roosevelt family and describes his sons’ reaction to the new pet. Roosevelt also mentions a recent Harvard football game he enjoyed.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1899-11-21

Governor Roosevelt thanks General Johnson for the Baltimore Sun article he forwarded and sends a photograph of the Roosevelt children in return.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1900-03-15