Clothing and dress

Secretary of War Taft reports that President Roosevelt has heard “severe criticism” of the Igorrote and “wild tribe” exhibit about the Philippines at the St. Louis World’s Fair. Roosevelt does not want to give the impression that the government is making “the savageness and barbarism of the wild tribes” prominent, and suggests that they wear more clothing.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-22

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary explains travel arrangements to Curtis Guild and advises what to wear to dinner.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-25

President Roosevelt wears Uncle Sam’s clothing as he stands on “Panama.” Meanwhile, Uncle Sam wears a short coat and shivers in the background.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-11

In the cartoon on the left, Uncle Sam holds “Panama” in his hands and walks into a room where “England,” “Germany,” “Russia,” and “France” are all dressed as pirates seated around a table with a globe and are holding up their glasses to toast. Caption: Toasting the Recruit. But Uncle Sam is doubtful about the company he is getting into. —Taylor in the Denver News. In the cartoon on the right, Uncle Sam watches the “Philippines,” “Puerto Rico,” and “Hawaii” leave the “Uncle Sam Complete Outfitter” store dressed up in Stars and Stripes clothing. “Panama” is dressed in rags and looks on. Caption: A Possible Customer. Panama—”Those are mighty fine lookin’ clothes he sells.” —Satterfield in the Omaha News.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-11

A Republican elephant wears a “postal scandal” jacket, and the words “Grafting Old Party” can be seen underneath. Uncle Sam holds up a prison uniform with ball and chain handcuffs at his feet.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-12-01

President Roosevelt does not want a map printed showing his prospective travel in Africa. He asks that Albert Shaw communicate in the future with Clark, and rejects a suggestion that he take a new photo in hunting gear. Roosevelt would like Shaw to reuse a previously taken photo if possible.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-02

President Roosevelt holds an old shirt labeled “discarded policy” as William Jennings Bryan comes to the door with a bag of old clothes: “cast-off Roosevelt policy” and “old populist doctrines.” Caption: Mr. B.—”Any old clothes to-day, gentleman?” Mr. R.—”Go ’round to the back door.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Nelson Harding’s typically perceptive cartoon about current political realities illustrates the fact that the famous French saying, Plus ca change, plus c’est la meme chose (The more things change, the more they stay the same) is not always true. His political cartoon’s accurate depiction of the relative positions, and relationships, between the two party leaders Theodore Roosevelt and William Jennings Bryan, would have seemed incredible to readers and politicians four years earlier, or at the beginning of the Roosevelt administration.

This catalog of goods advertises the new products Abercrombie & Fitch Co. is carrying for the winter 1908-1909 season. As part of the advertisement, the catalog reports on and reproduces letters between William Loeb and Ezra H. Fitch, one of the founders of Abercrombie & Fitch Co., regarding the purchasing of goods for President Roosevelt’s African safari.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-02

This travel magazine provides information about planning a trip to British East Africa, including booking a trip, scheduling shipments, game laws, transportation, and all other details associated with a trip to Africa. The magazine includes pictures from British East Africa and a list of game animals in the area.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07

Advertising postcard for the Hastings Clothing Company. The front of the postcard features a “this day in history” calendar for December 1912, and a black and white portrait of Theodore Roosevelt with a short biography highlighting his focus on conservation issues. The reverse of the card encourages people to visit Hastings Clothing Company at Post and Grant Avenue, San Francisco.

Collection

Fritz R. Gordner Collection

Creation Date

1912-12-04

An unknown writer sends a postcard to Fred Hargreaves in Oregon, confirming receipt of his note, congratulating him on buying new clothes, and wishing him well. The front of the postcard is red, with a white line drawing of spectacles and a cowboy hat, as well as large block letters which spell out the word, “Delighted.”

Collection

Fritz R. Gordner Collection

Creation Date

1907-11-18

Kermit Roosevelt had a grand time at the Bandbox and thanks Isabella Ferguson for taking him in. He asks Ferguson to tell Robert Harry Munro Ferguson about the saddle, which Roosevelt is anxious to see. Roosevelt conveys that Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt wishes the Fergusons could come along on their upcoming spring trip down the Mississippi River on the Mayflower.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

Unknown

Kermit Roosevelt thanks Robert Harry Munro Ferguson and Isabella Ferguson for the stockings and the picture of Martha Ferguson. Roosevelt describes his travels to New York, Ethel Roosevelt’s dance, and travel plans for the African safari with President Roosevelt.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1908-12-28

Nelson P. Hulet provides advice on what clothes to bring for a lunch and banquet.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1902-09-23

Theodore Roosevelt is home safe and well again. Roosevelt is very busy and their house is thronged by the press. Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt instructs Patty Selmes what clothes to bring if she finds the money to visit.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1898-1899

William E. Chandler appears as a store clerk at the “Republican Misfit Clothing Company” helping David B. Hill purchase some new clothes. Hill is trying on a new coat that has a large golden medal labeled “McKinleyism” hanging from the lapel. The coat is too big for him, though Chandler tells him it fits perfectly. Hill’s old coat, with a ribbon that states “D.B.H. I am a Democrat,” is lying on a chair between them. Caption: Mister Chandler–Mein cracious, Meester Hill; it fits you like de paper on de vall!

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1894-05-16

Members of the upper class are making efforts to cut back during the business panic of 1893. Vignettes show a clothing auction of dresses worn by socialites, former streetcar-horses finding a second life as polo ponies, club men drinking from the “growler,” and theatergoers abandoning the orchestra pit for upper-level boxes. Others depict the upper class opening up their yachts for “sailing parties of the plain people” and hopping freight cars in the absence of “local express trains.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1893-08-30

Two governesses, each with a child, visit in the park. One woman is having trouble controlling a little boy who is frightened of a policeman standing in the background. Caption: Miss Dolan–Oi’m a-goin’ to lave me place! / Miss O’Toole–Don’t yer loike th’ choild? / Miss Dolan–Yis; but he’s thot afeared av a policemon thot Oi can’t get him near wan!

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1894-01-10

A group of well-dressed people greets the sun at Easter. On the right, an old woman carrying a sack labeled “Hard Times” is overshadowed and forgotten.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1894-03-21

Puck, holding a lithographic pen, greets the New Year, a young woman labeled “1898” riding on a bicycle and spilling flowers from a cornucopia strapped to her back. An old woman labeled “1897” rides off on a bicycle into a dark and dismal background, stirring up a cloud of dust encircling two furies labeled “Bryanism” and “Hard Times.” Caption: “Good luck to you! No punctures, no breakdowns, and easy roads!”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1898-01-05