Derby, Richard, 1914-1922 | - Theodore Roosevelt Center

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Richard Derby

Ethel Roosevelt Derby and her children are all well and will be leaving Sagamore Hill today. Richard Derby’s letters to Ethel have been “absorbingly interesting” and Theodore Roosevelt feels that he can see Richard’s life and work before his eyes. Roosevelt is pleased that the United States now has “600,000 fighting soldiers” which he is sure are first class. He has been writing and speaking occasionally; a small effort at “speeding up the war.”

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-07-01

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Richard Derby

Ethel Roosevelt Derby and her children will be leaving Sagamore Hill in a few days, and Theodore Roosevelt enjoyed spending time with them. Everyone enjoys receiving Richard Derby’s letters as they are the most consistent source of overseas information. Roosevelt is proud of the work of the 1st and 2nd divisions and is glad they have crossed the Rhine River. He hopes that everyone will be brought home as soon as peace is assured.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-12-30

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Richard Derby

Theodore Roosevelt updates Richard Derby on his family who are staying at Sagamore Hill. They are all doing well. Roosevelt can do little regarding public affairs but speaks out occasionally when something needs to be said. He feels that the Wilson administration was flanked into “reluctant, dilatory, and too often inefficient, action.” Roosevelt believes that the troops are being sent abroad haphazardly and that General Wood is being sidelined out of spite. However, America’s resources are so vast that intervention will prove decisive despite the “folly” and partisan politics which absorb the Wilson administration.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-06-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Richard Derby

Theodore Roosevelt appreciates Richard Derby’s letter, which provided the first full information on Archibald Roosevelt’s condition. Everyone is very anxious as it appears that General Pershing has agreed to assist the Allied generals, which will place Richard, Ted Roosevelt, and Quentin Roosevelt at the front. Roosevelt is proud of their service and would not want them anywhere else. Spending time with Ethel Roosevelt Derby and the children over the winter has meant a great deal to Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-04-01

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Richard Derby

Theodore Roosevelt is afraid that it will not be a happy New Year for much of the world but he is glad that his sons were equal to the “mighty days.” It has been very cold at Sagamore Hill but the children’s rooms are warm and one bathroom remains unfrozen. Roosevelt describes waking up the children in the morning, and Richard Derby Jr. helping him prepare breakfast. Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt and Ethel Roosevelt Derby are feeling better.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-01-01

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Richard Derby

Due to the weakened condition of Ethel Roosevelt Derby’s health, Theodore Roosevelt wonders if it is wise for her to return to Oyster Bay, New York, where the “paralysis plague” has already killed one young woman her age. Roosevelt provides Richard Derby with an update on Richard Derby, Jr., who is particularly enjoying Roosevelt’s “Dance of Old Man Kangaroo.”

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1916-08-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles

Theodore Roosevelt describes Christmas with the family; he especially enjoyed his grandchildren’s first Christmas festivities. Roosevelt wishes that William Sheffield Cowles were coming to see them, but he is happy that Quentin Roosevelt is going to visit the Cowles house. Roosevelt himself will probably visit in the spring.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1915-12-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles

Theodore Roosevelt discusses Anna Roosevelt Cowles’s recent telegram, her letter to Edith Roosevelt, and the health and activities of their family members.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1915-10-29

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Marjorie Sterrett

Theodore Roosevelt writes “little Miss Marjorie” on behalf of his four grandchildren to donate $1.00 to help Marjorie and her school fellows “put our country in shape to ‘Fear God, and Take Her Own Part’.” He says a dime a piece is for his grandchildren: Gracie Roosevelt, Richard Derby II, Theodore Roosevelt III, and Cornelius Van Schaak Roosevelt. He goes on to describe each child. The remaining 60 cents are for his grandchildren yet to be born.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1916-02-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Richard Derby

Theodore Roosevelt writes his son-in-law Richard Derby and thanks him for the nice things he wrote about Archie Roosevelt. He adds that he does not agree that Derby is a “mediocre soldier.” He describes rowing and riding with Edith Roosevelt and the antics of Derby’s son, Richard, Jr.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1916-08-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ethel Roosevelt Derby

Theodore Roosevelt reminisces about the two weeks spent at his daughter Ethel’s house in the wake of his son Quentin Roosevelt’s death. He details his time with his grandchildren, Richard, Jr. and little Edith. He closes by talking of Quentin and saying there is no use pretending his death is anything but a calamity.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-08-13

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Archibald B. Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt is enjoying visiting family. Ted Roosevelt agrees with Archie about the French. Roosevelt discusses how the U.S. draft army is learning the basic skills with inadequate equipment.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-12-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Archibald B. Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt writes that he hopes Grace Stackpole Lockwood Roosevelt does not feel obligated to visit. Richard Roosevelt is still ill and Ethel Roosevelt Derby is visiting. Roosevelt is sending his latest book to Archie and Gracie.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-09-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt, Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt and Richard Derby Jr.

Theodore Roosevelt stands with his wife, Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, and grandson Richard Derby Jr.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1916-1917

Creator(s)

Unknown

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Archibald B. Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt writes that Grace Stackpole Lockwood Roosevelt is visiting and understands the possible promotion Archie Roosevelt may receive. Roosevelt hopes Russia continues to make war. He also recently returned from a trip out west and bought a new horse.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-10-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919