Colby, Joseph

Joyce M. Bisso describes the movement to establish a permanent memorial to Theodore Roosevelt in Oyster Bay, New York, which resulted in the production of a bronze bust of Roosevelt by sculptor Gregory Glasson. Bisso reviews Glasson’s planning and work on the sculpture and covers the dedication ceremony for the bust on October 21, 1984. Bisso also examines other events in the fall of 1984 in which citizens of Oyster Bay honored Roosevelt, including the annual pilgrimage to his grave and the launching of the USS Theodore Roosevelt. 

 

Two photographs of Glasson with a clay model of the Roosevelt bust and a photograph of the completed sculpture accompany the article.

The “News and Notes” section returns after a hiatus in the prior two issues. The section opens with a listing of the deaths of seven people in 1985 who had some connection to Theodore Roosevelt or the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA), and this issue is dedicated to them. The deaths of Peter R. Fisher and John E. Roosevelt are discussed at length in the issue while the life of Harold R. Kraft is examined in this section. The section also covers the visit of a delegation from the Netherlands to Oyster Bay, New York, in connection with the establishment of the Roosevelt Study Center in Middelburg, Province of Zeeland, in the Netherlands. The purpose of the Center, some of its leadership, and the role of the TRA in its founding are examined. 

 

A brief on the “Theodore” exhibit at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum and a notice about a lecture given by John A. Gable at Grey Towers, Gifford Pinchot’s home, complete the section. Two photographs of members of the Dutch delegation in Oyster Bay, New York, are found in the section.

William Davison Johnston provides a detailed report on the building of an elaborate playground in Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park in Oyster Bay, New York. Johnston gives a history of the park, describes the work of designer Robert Leathers, and lists the many groups, organizations, and individuals who volunteered to build the new playground. Johnston discusses the complex logistics of building the playground entirely with volunteers in four days.

Six photographs of the playground under construction and one of the dedication ceremony accompany the article.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Joyce M. Bisso describes the parade held on “TR Day in Oyster Bay” on October 30, 1983. Bisso also highlights some of the activities held in Oyster Bay in the week leading up to the parade, notes some of the bands and organizations that marched in the parade, and describes the floats that marked different aspects of Theodore Roosevelt’s life.

Two photographs of marching bands and one of a float accompany the article.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Article about the reconstruction of a bandstand for the Town of Oyster Bay, New York in honor of Ethel Derby Roosevelt and Leonard W. Hall. The article describes the dedication ceremonies of the bandstand, its construction, and lists the individuals and companies that supported the project. The article also gives a history of the original bandstand, highlights Theodore Roosevelt’s speech from it in 1916, and closes with brief biographies of Ethel Roosevelt and Hall.

Three photographs of various dignitaries and others attending the dedication ceremonies accompany the article. The cover of this issue of the Journal is also dedicated to the bandstand with two photographs of the newly built structure and a photograph of Theodore Roosevelt speaking from the original in 1916.

A listing of the officers and members of the executive, finance, and Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace committees of the Theodore Roosevelt Association is found on the second page of the article.