Diphtheria

Letter from William Wingate Sewall to Theodore Roosevelt

William Wingate Sewall is relieved to hear that Archibald B. Roosevelt is doing well. Sewall’s family has lost many members to diphtheria. Sewall recommends burning all clothes, toys, and books that Archie may have touched, to avoid a later outbreak of the disease in the Roosevelt family. Sewall enjoyed a presentation delivered by Jonathan P. Dolliver. He alerts President Roosevelt that his friend Henry R. Colesworthy’s son will be visiting Washington soon. The young man hopes to shake Roosevelt’s hand, and Sewall hopes Roosevelt will oblige him. Sewall also hopes that some of the Roosevelt family might visit in the summer.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-23

Creator(s)

Sewall, William Wingate, 1845-1930

Letter from William Emlen Roosevelt to Theodore Roosevelt

William Emlen Roosevelt is glad that Archibald B. Roosevelt is recovering and understands the anxiety President Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt suffer. He wants to visit Washington, D.C., to talk about his dispute with a treasury official and the Harriman incident. Christine Roosevelt is nervous about the idea of William staying where a person has diphtheria, so he may sleep at his in-laws to calm her. He visited Russell in the hospital. The superintendent of Roosevelt Hospital is dying. William hoped that spring was arriving, but a recent snow storm crushed his hopes of riding.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-11

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, William Emlen, 1857-1930

Letter from Endicott Peabody to Theodore Roosevelt

Endicott Peabody informs President Roosevelt that they are interested in Archibald Roosevelt’s recovery and have had prayers for him in Chapel. The newspaper coverage of his illness has been sensational. He assumes that not having received a telegram from Kermit is good news. Peabody comments that Kermit is handling his brother’s illness well.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-09

Creator(s)

Peabody, Endicott, 1857-1944

Letter from William Roscoe Thayer, 1859-1923

William Roscoe Thayer disagrees with President Roosevelt’s opinion that “doer” and “thinker” should be separated, with the concern that students will believe that “doing” without “thinking” is efficient.  Thayer hopes the newspaper reports about Roosevelt’s son’s condition are inaccurate. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-05

Creator(s)

Thayer, William Roscoe, 1859-1923

Letter from Frances M. Wolcott to Theodore Roosevelt

Frances M. Wolcott updates President Roosevelt about the comings and goings among her friends and family in Paris, many of whom are ill with Diphtheria. She also explains the gift she sent him, a thermos.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-13

Creator(s)

Wolcott, Frances M. (Frances Metcalfe), 1851-1933

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

President Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit to report that Archie has diphtheria and Roosevelt is working so much during the end of Congress’ session he barely gets to see him.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1907-03-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Stead

President Roosevelt agrees with Illinois Attorney General Stead regarding government policy toward corporations. Roosevelt thanks Stead and Governor Charles Samuel Deneen for being willing to review corporation and railroad matters with him. He hopes by conferring with several state governors and attorneys general to get a good understanding of the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-23

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Silas McBee

President Roosevelt sends Silas McBee, editor of The Churchman, details regarding a planned lunch meeting. Unfortunately, Roosevelt needs to rescind his offer to allow McBee to stay with him because there is a case of diphtheria in his house. If McBee can stay and have dinner, they can discuss matters that will not be talked of during the lunch.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-17

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from William Loeb to Frank C. Smith

William Loeb sends President Roosevelt’s power of attorney declaration to Frank C. Smith. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-15

Creator(s)

Loeb, William, 1866-1937

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Dudley Foulke

President Roosevelt assures William Dudley Foulke that he and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt “have known all thru how deep and sincere the sympathy of you and Mrs. Foulke was.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-14

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Raphael A. Dimayuga

President Roosevelt thanks Raphael A. Dimayuga and the members of the Filipino Club for their sympathy for Archibald B. Roosevelt’s illness. He is improving.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-12

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

President Roosevelt updates his son Kermit Roosevelt on the condition of his brother Archibald B. Roosevelt, who has been ill with diphtheria, and all the gifts and good wishes he has received from his classmates and brother Quentin Roosevelt. Roosevelt does not think it is a good idea for Kermit to come to Washington to visit, as he may not be allowed to return to Groton School because of exposure.  

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Endicott Peabody

President Roosevelt informs Endicott Peabody, Rector of Groton School, of Archibald B. Roosevelt’s diphtheria diagnosis and has sent his son Kermit Roosevelt to stay with his sister in order to curve further infection.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Theodore Roosevelt

President Roosevelt advises his son Theodore Roosevelt to schedule his eye operation now ahead of the Easter holiday, suggesting he stay with Dr. William Sturgis Bigelow or his Aunt Rosie for several days afterwards. He updates Roosevelt Jr. on Archie’s condition and how the rest of the children are doing.  In a postscript, Roosevelt believes it would be better for Roosevelt Jr. to stay at a hospital for a few days following the operation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-06

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to the USS Sylph Crew

Archibald B. Roosevelt was very pleased by the violets sent to him from the USS Sylph Crew. President Roosevelt believes he is getting better after his bout with diphtheria and thanks the crew for their thoughtfulness.  

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to Theodore Roosevelt

President Roosevelt tells his son Theodore Roosevelt that his brother Archibald B. Roosevelt is improving from his bout of diphtheria. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

President Roosevelt informs his son Kermit about Kermit’s brother Archie’s illness and how the family has dealt with it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Leonard Eckstein Opdycke to Theodore Roosevelt

Leonard Eckstein Opdycke forwards President Roosevelt an article that is generally favorably towards Roosevelt as well as the response Opdycke has written regarding some of the policy recommendation made in the article with which he disagrees. Opdycke’s son and daughter have both been ill, but are making recoveries. Opdycke is especially happy to see his son Leonard getting along well with Roosevelt’s son Archibald B. Roosevelt and has also enclosed a pencil drawing made by both boys.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-22

Creator(s)

Opdycke, Leonard Eckstein, 1858-1914

Letter from Kermit Roosevelt to John Wallace Riddle

Kermit Roosevelt has a year of hard work ahead of him with his Harvard examinations. He is also trying out for the rowing crew in spite of the bad weather and had a good holiday riding and jumping horses every day. Roosevelt visited Robert Harry Munro and Isabella Ferguson in New York twice. The Roosevelts had plans to take the Mayflower down the Mississippi River, but Archibald B. Roosevelt is developing diphtheria, so it is out of the question.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1909-04-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Kermit, 1889-1943

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Patty Selmes

Commissioner Roosevelt is very busy and describes his reform work with the New York Police Department. Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt does not enjoy living in New York City and one of the Roosevelt children is ill with diphtheria.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1896-03-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919