Cunninghame, R. J. (Richard John), 1871-1925

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward North Buxton

President Roosevelt is grateful for Edward North Buxton’s letters, especially in regard to the reserves. He discusses his plans for shipping money and supplies to Africa for his trip. Roosevelt notes that he intends to hire an Englishman to manage the caravan because he will be too busy hunting and working with field taxidermists to manage it himself. Roosevelt also discusses several places he would like to visit and hunt in, including German territory.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-12

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Carl Ethan Akeley

President Roosevelt tells Carl Ethan Akeley that he is thinking of hiring an Englishman named Judd to manage his caravan for the African safari, but that if he does not, he may hire R. J. Cunninghame. He asks for Akeley’s opinion of Cunninghame.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-06

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt thanks Frederick Courteney Selous for helping him prepare for his African trip, and reviews the supplies that have been arranged. Although hesitant at first, Roosevelt agrees with Selous on hiring “a reliable white man to manage the caravan and the like.” He requests that Selous hire William C. Judd for the position. Arrangements have been made for shipping the ammunition.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward North Buxton

President Roosevelt asks Edward North Buxton if his letter to Alfred E. Pease was clear on specific points relating to his Africa trip. He has been advised to hire an Englishman but would rather have a native guide. Roosevelt continues to gather supplies and equipment, agreeing that footwear is too important to consider the expense. He shares his travel plans and ideas with Buxton.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt encloses the revised lists of supplies for Frederick Courteney Selous. He discusses his reasoning behind the revisions and provides Selous with his travel itinerary. Gerrit Forbes recently visited Roosevelt and recounted his recent hunt in Africa. Roosevelt is reluctant to hire a white man for the trip but will do so if Selous suggests it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Steward Edward White to Theodore Roosevelt

Stewart Edward White expresses to Theodore Roosevelt his sympathy regarding Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt’s recent accident, mentions R. J. Cunninghame’s recurring fever and his own mild symptoms, and confirms plans to lunch with Roosevelt at The Outlook office.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-11

Creator(s)

White, Stewart Edward, 1873-1946

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Stewart Edward White

Theodore Roosevelt shares with Stewart Edward White the complimentary words that R. J. Cuninghame wrote about White. He hopes to see White’s wife, Elizabeth Colvert Grant White, the next time they come out East.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edmund Heller

Theodore Roosevelt expresses to Edmund Heller the need to quickly document big game specimens from Africa and urges him to return to Washington to finish his reports, sharing news from Frederick Selous and sending regards to friends.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-11

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edmund Heller

Theodore Roosevelt is obliged to Edmund Heller for the interesting letter. Roosevelt discusses the hunting abilities and experience of Charles Jesse Jones, Paul James Rainey, and R. J. Cunninghame. Roosevelt also discusses his article Concealing and Revealing Coloration in Birds and Mammals.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Leslie J. Tarlton

Theodore Roosevelt apologizes for “bothering” Leslie J. Tarlton, but he is concerned by his most recent letter. He assumes Tarlton is better now and is glad to hear about V. M. Newland. Roosevelt grew attached to Tarlton, Newland, and their wives while in Africa and wants them to be healthy and happy. The news about Carl Ethan Akeley is also concerning, and Roosevelt wishes he would leave Uganda for his health. Working and hunting in Africa is dangerous, as evidenced by the death of George Grey and many other friends.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William E. Coffin

Theodore Roosevelt sends William E. Coffin the list. However, he is confused by the question of guides and professional hunters. He describes how during the kills on his safari, he was usually alone or had another amateur, white hunter with him. The native gun-bearers typically found the game. As such, Roosevelt does not feel he deserves “high honor” in these cases. The same is mostly true for his American hunts, although sometimes he did have guides.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward North Buxton

President Roosevelt discusses various matters regarding provisions, hunting rifles, and ammunition for his upcoming African safari. He would like them to be sent to Mombasa and Alfred E. Pease’s ranch for him to pick up when he arrives. Roosevelt informs Edward North Buxton that he has decided to take Frederick Courteney Selous’s advice and hire a white man to manage his caravan; this will allow Roosevelt to focus on hunting and not on the logistics of the caravan. While Roosevelt and his son Kermit are staying with Pease, the manager and taxidermists and naturalists that are coming along can stay nearby. Roosevelt discusses the areas he would like to hunt and the animals that he hopes to shoot.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-12

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt discusses the various supplies, including food and drink, that he should bring on his safari. He tells Frederick Courteney Selous that he does not want the trip to be too luxurious, and does not want to bring very much alcohol. He also discusses the type of guns he should use and when he intends to leave for Africa. Selous’s friend Charles Sheldon recently visited Roosevelt and told about his hunting experiences in Alaska. Roosevelt has been invited to give the Romanes lecture in Oxford in 1910, and will be going to England after he leaves Africa.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward North Buxton

President Roosevelt discusses whether to employ locals or Englishmen as safari guides on his upcoming trip. He has started engaging shikaris, and notes that he would rather not employ white guides unless absolutely necessary. Roosevelt has amended the list of supplies that Frederick Courteney Selous suggested he bring, cutting down on alcohol and luxuries. He discuses the itinerary and logistics of the trip, particularly in relation to ensuring that he is able to shoot good specimens for the Smithsonian Institute, which can easily be transported.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt is happy to have Lawn & Alder outfit his entire safari and send the supplies to Alfred E. Pease’s ranch. He is particularly glad to hear that they can get certain provisions that he wanted, such as Boston baked beans. After much thought, he agrees with Frederick Courteney Selous’s suggestion that he should hire a white man to manage the caravan, and will take Selous’s suggestion of William C. Judd.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alfred E. Pease

President Roosevelt tells Alfred E. Pease that he intends to take Frederick Courteney Selous’s advice and hire a white man to manage his caravan on his upcoming safari. Edward North Buxton disagrees with this decision, but Roosevelt feels that this will allow him more time to study the habits of animals and enjoy his holiday. The guide can arrange for the rest of the party, with taxidermists and naturalists, to camp nearby when Roosevelt and his son Kermit stay at Pease’s ranch. Roosevelt also might like to travel into German or Belgian territory.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-12

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt has decided to take Frederick Courteney Selous’s advice and hire a white man to manage the caravan on his African safari, despite objections from Edward North Buxton. Roosevelt asks Selous to hire either R. J. Cunninghame or William C. Judd for the job if they are available. He provides a list of provisions that he would like to bring on the trip.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-12

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward North Buxton

President Roosevelt discusses the naturalists and taxidermists, including Edgar Alexander Mearns, who will accompany him on his African safari. He assures Edward North Buxton that he will make it clear that neither the white safari guide, nor the other white naturalists on the trip will do any hunting. He and Kermit will be the only two guns. He hopes that if they can get some samples close to the railway lines, the naturalists can take the trophies to Nairobi and preserve them there, while Roosevelt and Kermit take a longer trip, similar to J. H. Patterson’s, by themselves. Roosevelt is concerned that he will not be in good enough physical condition to have a successful trip.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-23

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt is pleased that Frederick Courteney Selous was able to hire R. J. Cunninghame to manage his upcoming safari. He agrees with Selous about how to engage Shikari guides, and thinks it wise to ship most of his supplies to Nairobi and leave logistics to Cunninghame’s judgment. Roosevelt tells Selous that he likely will not go straight to Nairobi when he arrives in Africa, as he wants to avoid press and public attention.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-12

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt thanks Ambassador Reid for speaking to Lord Crewe. He accepts a special license for shooting and entering game reserves in Africa, which he will only use if it is unclear that he is on land belonging to a reserve. Roosevelt outlines his plans for procuring supplies for his safari. He makes passing references to the situation in the Balkans, and his thoughts on women’s suffrage. He is amused by a cartoon and article that Reid sent, and shares his feelings about caricatures. The one by Thomas Nast as “an absolute outrage.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-17

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919