Country life

Although President Theodore Roosevelt believes that farmers are better off than before, the increase in their well-being has not kept pace with the nation as a whole. The government has successfully focused resources on crop production but “good crops are of little value to the farmer unless they open the door to a good kind of life on the farm.” To this end, Roosevelt asks Gifford Pinchot if he will serve on a “Commission on Country Life.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Marie Turner Harvey trusts Theodore Roosevelt will appreciate the enclosed as it relates to the Country Life Commission.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-18

Creator(s)

Harvey, Marie Turner, -1952

Philip J. Haag sends Theodore Roosevelt a postcard.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-11

Creator(s)

Haag, Philip J., 1863-1940

A huge triple-decker touring vehicle, with “Dining Hall, Kitchen, Servants Hall, High Finance and Recuperation Apartment, State Rooms, Hair Dressing Studio, Gossip Den, Nursery, [and] “to Gymnasium on the roof”, travels down a dirt road in the countryside.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1905-06-28

Two Irishmen talk in the street of a rural community. The son of one is taking music lessons, to the annoyance of the other, as well as the neighbors. Caption: Hogan — I suppose ye’ve heard me lad, Terry? He do be takin’ lissons on th’ clary-o-nit. / Ryan — He might betther be takin’ lissons on the sthame-dhrill. It’ud be more useful t’ him an’ a dom sight more soothin’ t’ the neighbors.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1904-03-23

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary informs F. H. Bausman how he can obtain a copy of the report by the Commission on Country Life.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-22

Creator(s)

Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary tells J. M. Wingett that he asks many questions and it would take a long letter and many inquiries to answer them all. Roosevelt already has his hands full, but he recommends writing to L. H. Bailey of Cornell University for the information, since he was chairman of the Country Life Commission.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-05

Creator(s)

Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt

President Theodore Roosevelt suggests that Gifford Pinchot and members of the Country Life Commission meet with farmers from across the United States to discuss matters associated with rural living. It is imperative, says Roosevelt, that “the men who actually live on the soil should feel a sense of ownership in the Commission.” Roosevelt suggests a list of topics for these meetings to help the Commission ascertain the conditions of the open country.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Charles J. Dillon asks Theodore Roosevelt to write a foreword for his upcoming textbook on industrial journalism. He feels that Roosevelt’s endorsement will help it sell and that it is a topic he would be interested in. Dillon is teaching a course on the subject at the Kansas Agricultural College.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-06

Creator(s)

Dillon, Charles J., 1865-1936

J. H. Hetley was involved in a previous Commission on Country Life while Theodore Roosevelt was president. He is looking for more information on country life, as he studies the “Rural School Problem,” but has been unsuccessful. He hopes Roosevelt might be able to point him in the right direction. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-22

Creator(s)

Hetley, J. H., 1863-

Wallace Batchelder received Theodore Roosevelt’s letter setting June 7 as the date for his visit to White River Junction, Vermont. Batchelder informs Frank Harper that, ideally, the subject of Roosevelt’s address would be related to “co-operation in country life.” He asks for advice on ensuring Roosevelt’s security without annoying him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-25

Creator(s)

Batchelder, Wallace, 1875-1919

Neil C. Macdonald asks Theodore Roosevelt to speak to the North Dakota Educational Association on November 1 on the theme of country life. Arrangements could be made for duck and goose hunting.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-27

Creator(s)

Macdonald, Neil C. (Neil Carnot), 1876-

Willie S. Delano, Secretary of the Nebraska Farmers’ Congress, informs Theodore Roosevelt that the organization was successful in securing the creation of a state Rural Life Commission. He asks Roosevelt if, because of his interest in the topic, he would be able to attend the Nebraska State Fair and deliver an address.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-22

Creator(s)

Delano, Willie S. (Willie Stevens), 1856-1916

A. W. Kempner wants to send his son to a farm or ranch in the West to recover from anemia so he can return to Yale. He asks Theodore Roosevelt for advice on how to accomplish this.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-09

Creator(s)

Kempner, A. W.

Sir Horace Curzon Plunkett has written a book on the country life problem in the United States and Gifford Pinchot hopes for Theodore Roosevelt’s endorsement. Pinchot is pleased that Roosevelt might be able to speak at the National Conservation Congress and knows other organizations that would be anxious to hear him speak as well. Pinchot believes that the latest developments in the Pinchot-Ballinger controversy show Attorney General George W. Wickersham and President William H. Taft in a poor light.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-05-18

Creator(s)

Pinchot, Gifford, 1865-1946

Gifford Pinchot and Sir Horace Curzon Plunkett wonder whether the death of King Edward VII will make it feasible for Theodore Roosevelt to visit Ireland. Amos Pinchot has written that the controversy surrounding Secretary Richard Achilles Ballinger is looking favorable for them and that Gifford Pinchot should not return yet. Pinchot hopes to have the conservation meeting in either Kansas City or St. Louis, Missouri and urges Roosevelt to make his first speech there.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-05-09

Creator(s)

Pinchot, Gifford, 1865-1946

Gifford Pinchot and Sir Horace Curzon Plunkett believe that Theodore Roosevelt should make a speech on the subject of his country life policy, believing it and conservation to be “really the two great parts of the supreme whole.” Pinchot thinks it would be best if Roosevelt could make the speech in the United Kingdom or Ireland.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-04-23

Creator(s)

Pinchot, Gifford, 1865-1946

J. W. Petavel has written a book about his belief that the proper practicing of Christianity as a “strenuous” faith will solve many of the social questions and problems of the modern day. He believes his views on the faith and society match Theodore Roosevelt’s, and would like Roosevelt to write a preface of the book. He sends various clippings about the book and his work, and will send the book under separate cover.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-10-15

Creator(s)

Petavel, J. W. (James William)

Information about the Sangerfield Country Club, including officers, committees, incorporation, constitution, by-laws, house rules, sportsmanship guide, and member directory. The club seeks to encourage and promote interest in the various pleasures of country life and outdoor sports, study of farm management and wildlife conservation, and breeding of livestock and poultry.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-17

Creator(s)

Sangerfield Country Club

Preliminary newspaper circular sent out before the first meeting of the Illinois Federation for Country Life Progress. It outlines the purpose of the organization and the meeting and lists the three sessions that will take place.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-07

Creator(s)

Illinois Federation for Country Life Progress