Your TR Source
President Roosevelt tells General Howard that he is not familiar with the Peabody Fund and is unable to advise him. What is certain is that he believes in Lincoln Memorial University, which Howard founded.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-05
President Roosevelt informs Frederick J. Ranlett that he found his article on “College Rank and Studies” to be interesting and shares a few thoughts on his own education. Namely, although he had wanted to be a naturalist, his professors had thought poorly of field work, in favor of working only with a microscope, and after entering politics he found that “the ‘economic man’ of most text books simply did not exist,” and classic works such as Plato’s Republic were of next to no practical use.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-24
President Roosevelt sends Henry S. Pritchett, President of the National Society for the Promotion of Industrial Education, an excerpt from an address he will be giving regarding the lack of development for industrial schools. The speech covers how the federal government has protected American citizens from paupers through anti-immigration legislation. However, the government needs to do more to train Americans in the industrial arts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-24
President Roosevelt explains to Reverend James O’Brien that although he approves of his educational ideals and thinks O’Brien’s choice of poems is “excellent,” he cannot write a preface for his collection as he would be inundated with such requests.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-11
President Roosevelt wishes President of Berea College William G. Frost luck. He expounds on the virtues of “those mountain people,” and believes that through educational institutes such as Berea College, “all of Appalachian America will prove a storehouse of national vigor and patriotism.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-25
President Roosevelt wishes to see President of Harvard Eliot to talk over the “many interesting points” raised in his letter. He discusses General Leonard Wood’s leadership during the Spanish American War, currents attempts to avoid intervention and occupation in Cuba, the conceit of educated men, and dealing with the “negro problem.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-09-28
President Roosevelt shares Edgar Huidekoper Wells’s hesitation about Kermit Roosevelt’s plan to compress two years of schooling at Groton into one but does not want to stop him from trying to do it. Roosevelt feels that both his older son, Theodore Roosevelt, and Kermit “have felt it a point of honor to enter college at the age I did,” but says that he will try to remove the notion from his younger sons before they start at Groton.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-06
In a personal letter, President Roosevelt tells University of Illinois President Edmund James that the only present problem with the educational commission is “the ticklish condition of affairs in China” and the Chinese tendency “to interpret as weakness anything we do in the direction of treating them well.” He will take the matter in question up with Secretary of State Elihu Root to see if they can forward James’s scheme.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-03-03
Although George C. Cutler’s offer was nice, President Roosevelt informs him that Alice and Nicholas Longworth will be in Europe in July. Cutler’s son John is “a good boy,” but Roosevelt notes that “his lack of thirst for book knowledge seems at the moment to be conspicuously shared by Ted.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-02-19
President Roosevelt is happy to hear that his son Ted is having fun and doing well in his first semester at Harvard despite a rocky start. In particular, Roosevelt is glad that Ted’s studies are going well and is surprised that he made the freshman football team. He offers his son advice about gaining popularity and good standing in his class.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-10-10
President Roosevelt encourages Kermit Roosevelt at the start of a new year at Groton School, confident that he will do well but reminds him that it is important to play football alongside his studies if he can. He updates his son on the activities of the Roosevelt family and reflects on the upcoming three and a half years as president, which he anticipates will not be easy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-27
President Roosevelt wants Archibald B. Roosevelt to attend Groton School the following fall and asks Principal Sidwell of Friends’ Select School if he believes Archie will be able to pass the entrance exams.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-08
President Roosevelt asks Bishop Worthington to write to Commissioner of Indian Affairs Francis E. Leupp about the matter. Roosevelt supports Leupp’s idea to allot the funds currently held for the tribes to individuals, as that would help alleviate the question of money either being provided or not provided for various religious schools.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-10
Theodore Roosevelt is concerned about an apparent misunderstanding regarding the education of Filipino students at Catholic colleges. Filipino students interested in studying certain subjects which are not offered at Catholic colleges will be directed to the institutions that best fit their needs. Otherwise, Catholic Filipinos should be given the chance to go to Catholic colleges, and they should be boarded with Catholic families that are willing to receive them.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-11
President Roosevelt wishes Arthur W. Peirce success with his schoolwork. Roosevelt stresses the importance of training young people “in body, in mind, and above all in character.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-14
President Roosevelt sends his congratulations to the students, teachers, and Board of Education of Virginia, Minnesota. A photograph of Roosevelt is enclosed for the school.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-06
President Roosevelt has received a report from the Board of Directors of the Liceo de Manila and congratulates Enrique Mendiola on his work for education in the Philippines.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-06-21
President Roosevelt was not surprised by Bishop Rooker’s letter since he had already heard of the conflict between Rooker and the Filipinos, as well as the American government officials. Many people have contradicted what Rooker said and Roosevelt hopes that the Catholic prelates in the Philippines can convince the Filipinos that they are their friends and not their enemies like the friars who preceded them. Roosevelt has taken steps to create a special tribunal regarding the Aglipayan quarrel, disregards Rooker’s “groundless” claims against Commissioner Smith and is committed to increasing Filipino independence.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-06-22
President Roosevelt commends William W. Justice on establishing civics teachings originating from Wilson L. Gill in the city of Philadelphia. President Roosevelt feels that “nothing could offer higher promise for our future” than for students to learn the ideals of citizenship.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-05-27
President Roosevelt congratulates incoming President of Howard University John Gordon through interim President Hamlin. Roosevelt appreciates all that Howard University is doing to educate and uplift “our colored fellow-Americans.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-29