Deserts

Emily Tyler Carow describes her experiences in Egypt, including her concern about an “undercurrent of hostility” that seems to be present in the Egyptian Arab people. Carow tells Roosevelt about her conversations with Lord Evelyn Baring Cromer and his dinner guests, which have been about topics such as the British occupation of Egypt, the American occupation of Cuba and the insular possession of the Philippines, whether Roosevelt will run for president again, and the natural beauty of the desert.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-01

Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit from his trip to Arizona with Archie and Quentin Roosevelt. He says he agrees with Kermit tearing up the two checks from him as long as he did not need them. He says Kermit will see him and Mother in a month. Roosevelt describes the time he is spending in the Arizona desert.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1913-08-09

Theodore Roosevelt thanks his son Kermit for his letter and says knowing he is hunting with some ranchmen and a former Rough Rider makes him feel better. He says Kermit’s description of the heat reminds him of Africa. Roosevelt gives updates on the family and closes by announcing Kermit’s goddaughter, Ted and Eleanor’s daughter, was just born.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1911-08-17

Alton B. Parker, David B. Hill, John Sharp Williams, Arthur P. Groman, Richard Olney, and Grover Cleveland ride on a camel labeled “Reorganization” crossing the “Desert of Bryanism.” William Jennings Bryan tries to hold back the camel by the tail, and William Randolph Hearst tries to prevent Bryan from being pulled along toward an “Oasis” labeled “Sane Democracy.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Starting around 1902, Puck assayed the Democratic field of possible presidential candidates to run against the incumbent, President Roosevelt. The pack of conservative, “Bourbon,” and “Gold” Democrats — opponents of William Jennings Bryan and a third nomination by him or a follower (such as publisher William Randolph Hearst) — usually included the same faces, reflecting the national political machinations.

President Roosevelt appreciates the letter and shares Louisa Lee Schuyler’s love for the desert. Roosevelt is pleased with the convictions in the post office cases.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-02-27

Isaac B. Mahon describes his ideas for irrigating deserts via the use of pipes connected to dams to Theodore Roosevelt, hoping Roosevelt can give him advice since he wants to bring his irrigation plans to the government.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-16

Philip J. Roosevelt encloses for his cousin President Roosevelt a copy of a poem about Arizona. Philip has never been to Arizona, but thought it would be a good thing to write about. George Emlen Roosevelt has informed him that there are no buttes there. The record includes Philip Roosevelt’s poem “The Arizona Deserts.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-12

Photograph showing three members of Theodore Roosevelt’s party on horseback on a dirt road in the Painted Desert.

Comments and Context

Today, the Painted Desert is a part of Petrified Forest National Park, proclaimed by Theodore Roosevelt as the Petrified Forest National Monument in 1906. However, it is unknown if this photograph was taken within the boundaries of that National Monument.

Collection

Grand Canyon National Park

Postcard showing a group of Arab individuals with camels. Charles C. Myers notes that the individuals are bringing a load of goods for the markets.

Comments and Context

In Charles C. Myers’s own words, “A group of Bedouns [sic] as they are coming from across the desert into the city. Much of the fruit is brought from across the desert and from the manu oasis in the desert where a fine quality of fruit is found.”

Collection

Charles C. Myers Collection

A camel has collasped under the weight of its burden labeled “Amendments,” with Samuel J. Randall riding on top. Concerned travelers include John Kelly, Samuel J. Tilden, Henry Watterson, Sereno Payne, Morrison, Abram S. Hewitt, Grover Cleveland, Carlisle, Charles A. Dana, Thomas Bayard, Benjamin F. Butler, and Samuel S. Cox. Bones labeled “1880 Local Issue, 1876 Fraud, [and] 1872” lie in the sand nearby. A “November Simoom” is approaching in the right background. On the left, an elephant labeled “Republicans” carrying among others James G. Blaine, John A. Logan, and Roscoe Conkling, races toward an oasis. Caption: “If its back is broken, we are lost!”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1884-03-19