Cowles, William Sheffield, 1898-1986

Letter from Anna Roosevelt Cowles to Theodore Roosevelt

President Roosevelt’s sister, Anna Roosevelt Cowles, writes to him expressing her wish that she were at Chicago in person, rather than trying to get news of what was going on from newspapers. She thinks that a stampede for Roosevelt is close. Her visit to Groton has been pleasant, and she enjoyed seeing Kermit Roosevelt while she was there. She thanks Theodore Roosevelt for being good to her “very much better better half,” William S. Cowles, as Roosevelt is making it possible for him to fly his flag again before he retires. Cowles also comments on other political events, including the appointment of someone to the Senate, and mentions upcoming travel plans.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-16

Letter from William S. Cowles to Theodore Roosevelt

William S. Cowles thanks President Roosevelt for the opportunity to represent the United States at the Québec celebration, and says he will take both Anna Roosevelt Cowles and their son William with him. He is looking forward to flying his flag again, even if it is only for a couple days. Cowles appreciates the chance to remain in his office as Chief of Bureau of Equipment for the Navy Department until the end of Roosevelt’s term, and for the good report of him that Roosevelt gave to Secretary of War William H. Taft.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-10

Letter from William S. Cowles to Theodore Roosevelt

Rear Admiral Cowles sends his thoughts regarding a paper by Rear Admiral H. N. Manney to his brother-in-law, President Roosevelt. Cowles was surprised by the paper, but notes that “one can’t do everything well,” and points out that Manney could handle a ship perfectly while Rear Admiral A. T. Mahan was no good handling ships, but was a great writer. Cowles adds his thoughts on Senators Henry Cabot Lodge and Joseph Benson Foraker and the verdict in the Big Bill Haywood trial.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-29

Letter from Anna Roosevelt Cowles to Theodore Roosevelt

Anna Roosevelt Cowles asks President Roosevelt if he would give Captain Frank E. C. Ryan a signed photograph. Ryan is being reassigned and is worried that he will not see Roosevelt again.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05-16

Letter from Anna Roosevelt Cowles to Theodore Roosevelt

Anna Roosevelt Cowles asks President Roosevelt if he is allowed to autograph a few of his books for sale at a fair in Hartford, Connecticut. Cowles discusses her interest in local political matters and describes a finger injury her son, William Sheffield Cowles Jr., suffered at the expense of a bicycle chain.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-17

Letter from Anna Roosevelt Cowles to Theodore Roosevelt

Anna Roosevelt Cowles apologizes for taking so long to return a deed to her brother, President Roosevelt, but explains the difficulty she had in getting a notary. She is glad to be able to gift him something that will be of use. Cowles promises to write Roosevelt about possibly visiting at Oyster Bay later in the summer, after the upcoming Naval Review. Her vacation has been pleasant so far, but she comments that sometimes “it is difficult being your sister to stay in a hotel and not be made too conspicuous just on account of the relationship.” She heard good things about the honeymoon Roosevelt’s newly married daughter, Alice Longworth, and her husband Nicholas Longworth were able to take to England, and hopes they had a good time. Cowles also shares a humorous story where her son, William Sheffield Cowles, shared that he hoped President Roosevelt could find something to do in Farmington, Connecticut, after leaving the presidency so that they could see him often.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-19

Letter from Anna Roosevelt Cowles to Theodore Roosevelt

Anna Roosevelt Cowles is glad President Roosevelt is at Sagamore and done with all of the hand shaking. Her husband William S. Cowles was home for the Fourth of July but has returned to Washington, D.C. Cowles recommends to her brother the volume Heretics by G. K. Chesterton. The Chinese minister mentioned while visiting that he plans to give suffrage to land owners based on a conversation he had with Roosevelt. Cowles’s son William Sheffield Cowles Jr. has been homebound much of the summer to avoid catching the whooping cough which is being passed around children in town, although he is canoeing, playing tennis, and vegetable gardening. The Chinese minister and Cowles both agree that horses are preferable to automobiles, as she is “in deadly terror of running into some one.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-08

Letter from Anna Roosevelt Cowles to Theodore Roosevelt

Anna Roosevelt Cowles writes to President Roosevelt about two appeals that have been sent to her recently. Sallie Pickman Loring Dwight is concerned that her husband may be assigned to a German consulate rather than Vevey, Switzerland, as they had expected. General Henry Clark Corbin’s wife, Edythe, is distressed that Corbin may not be appointed to succeed General Adna Romanza Chaffee as Chief of Staff of the United States Army. Cowles also discusses other political and family news.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-09-13

Letter from Kermit Roosevelt to Theodore Roosevelt

Kermit Roosevelt discusses President Roosevelt’s hunting trip and tells him that he is looking forward to his trip with Seth Bullock next summer. He also discusses current matters, including the trouble he is having in school and the cold weather they are having.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-23

Letter from Robert Harry Munro Ferguson to Theodore Roosevelt

President Roosevelt’s nephew, William Sheffield Cowles, son of his sister Anna, had surgery for mastoids yesterday. Robert Harry Munro Ferguson says that the boy is resting well, and that Anna is stressed and exhausted, but will “pull together quickly” as things improve.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-06

Telegram from Anna Roosevelt Cowles to William Loeb

Anna Roosevelt Cowles asks William Loeb to arrange a special train. She is unsure whether her son, William Sheffield Cowles Jr., will be well enough to be moved until she speaks to the doctor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-30

Letter from Anna Roosevelt Cowles to Theodore Roosevelt

Anna Roosevelt Cowles tells her brother, President Roosevelt, about a recent visitor she had, who gratified Cowles by emphasizing Roosevelt’s integrity in a speech. She also tells a story about her son, William Sheffield Cowles, asking an endearing question about whether “all the ladies [will] vote for Aunt Edif.” Cowles plans to visit Washington, D.C. around election day, and will write to Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt about it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-16

William Sheffield Cowles

William Sheffield Cowles, son of Admiral William S. Cowles and Anna Cowles, died in Farmington, Connecticut, on May 2, 1986. Cowles was a nephew of Theodore Roosevelt, who praised his military service in World War I. In addition to his military service, Cowles worked as an investment banker and in Connecticut state politics. Cowles is remembered as “a man of charm, hospitality, wit, and intelligence.”

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1986

Letter from Corinne Roosevelt Robinson to John Campbell Greenway

Corinne Roosevelt Robinson expresses her gratitude to John Campbell Greenway for his note and flowers. She also acknowledges the comfort that Greenway brought her, talking about her brother, Theodore Roosevelt. Robinson compliments Greenway’s siblings and is leaving two books with Sara Irvine Greenway Keller for Greenway.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

Unknown

Letter from Corinne Roosevelt Robinson to John Campbell Greenway

Corinne Roosevelt Robinson is not sure whether her letter will reach John Campbell Greenway, but sends “warm, affectionate greetings.” She reminisces about their last visit at Hot Springs, Arkansas, and discusses the death of Anna Roosevelt Cowles’s husband, William S. Cowles. Robinson inquires about where to send a volume of poems called Roosevelt as the Poets Saw Him.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1923-06-11

Letter from Anna Roosevelt Cowles to John Wallace Riddle

Anna Roosevelt Cowles invites John Wallace Riddle to visit. The visit will be quiet as Admiral Cowles will be in Washington, D.C.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1911-05-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Robert Harry Munro Ferguson

President Roosevelt is concerned about William Sheffield Cowles, who underwent a recent operation. Roosevelt enjoyed his recent trip and wishes Robert Harry Munro Ferguson could have accompanied him to San Antonio, Texas.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1905-04-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Dora Watkins

President Roosevelt wishes Dora Watkins a merry Christmas and encloses a check for her to use on a gift. He wishes that Watkins could see his children play at the White House and describes their recent “romps in the snow.”

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1905-12-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Quentin Roosevelt

Ethel Roosevelt Derby and Richard Derby have returned home after a month’s absence. Edith Roosevelt Derby was christened last Sunday and Theodore Roosevelt represented Archibald Roosevelt as godfather. Mr. Monroe is “behaving admirably” but wants to get to the front. Roosevelt wishes his son a happy twentieth birthday. William Sheffield Cowles hopes to join the armed forces in March and Roosevelt thinks that Cowles should join the Marines.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-11-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Richard Derby

Archibald Roosevelt is recovering and appears well. He might be able to return to active service in the spring. Archie believes that Richard Derby takes too many chances, and at his request, Theodore Roosevelt asks Derby to avoid unnecessary risks and not to jeopardize his life. Douglas Robinson has passed away but Roosevelt’s grief has been blunted with so many young people losing their lives in the war. William Sheffield Cowles has sailed to join the Marines and may be in Derby’s division.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-09-12