Elephant hunting

President Roosevelt thanks Alfred E. Pease for helping him prepare for his Africa trip. He will follow through with Pease’s suggestions. Regardless of the sizable game, Roosevelt does not want to visit the Congo Free State for fear of controversy. A lion is Roosevelt’s primary goal. Per Frederick Courteney Selous’s advice, Roosevelt will hire “a white man who knows the country.” William C. Judd has been recommended several times. Selous will order all of the equipment.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt has heard that William Northrup McMillan is one of the best resources in East Africa for hunters. He describes his plan to hunt for six or seven months in British East Africa, starting next April, killing only specimens for the National Museum and meat. Roosevelt would greatly appreciate if McMillan could advise him on where he can, with certainty, obtain lion, elephant, buffalo, and eland. He hopes his inquiries do not bother McMillan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells Edward North Buxton that he has never used a peep sight for hunting, and describes the type of rifle sights he likes best, including a hand-drawn sketch. Roosevelt relays some details about the timing of travel for his upcoming African safari, saying he is pleased to be able to start the hard physical part of the trip by degrees at Alfred E. Pease’s ranch. The president hopes to stop over in England on the return trip to see Buxton, Frederick Courteney Selous, and other friends. Roosevelt has ordered the books Buxton recommended, and thanks him for sending an interesting extract from a report by J. H. Patterson.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-08

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt found R. J. Cuninghame’s recent letter “extremely interesting” and was particularly amused at the Swedish scientists’ decision to leave the elephants alone. The description of elephant behavior was intriguing. He is glad the Holland rifle worked and hopes Cuninghame likes Stewart Edward White. Edmund Heller recently wrote about Paul James Rainey’s success hunting lions with dogs and sent his pamphlet about white rhinoceros. However, Roosevelt is irritated that Heller did not describe the giant eland specimens. Roosevelt sends his pamphlet on animal coloration and expresses concern about Leslie J. Tarlton’s and V. M. Newland’s health. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-11

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt believes that Carl Ethan Akeley should be satisfied with getting a bull elephant with tusks that weigh sixty pounds apiece while in Africa. Roosevelt is starting a study of concealing coloration and asks Henry Fairfield Osborn if the American Museum would be interested in publishing such a study. Roosevelt is disappointed that no one in the scientific community has questioned the absurdities in Abbott Handerson Thayer’s book on the subject. Roosevelt adds that he would like to come to the Museum in a few days to see Osborn and Frank M. Chapman.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt shares A. M. Corwin’s concerns about Carl Ethan Akeley, particularly as he has heard reports that Akeley was injured by an elephant and has been suffering from a fever. When he saw Akeley in Africa, Roosevelt tried to convince him to be satisfied with taking an elephant with tusks weighing sixty pounds each and to return home and have his specimen mounted. Akeley, however, would not consent to do so, wishing to travel on to Uganda to pursue gorilla.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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

President Roosevelt thanks John Jay White for the letter and advice about his upcoming Africa trip. Reverend W. S. Rainsford wrote to him along similar lines. Roosevelt has directed R. J. Cunninghame to hire the necessary support staff, and he mentioned the names White suggested. He hopes to begin the hunting expedition very soon after arriving in Africa, and will travel during the rainy season if at all possible. He invites White to come see him in Washington on his return from Richmond.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells his son, Kermit Roosevelt, that he has tried the double-barreled Holland elephant rifle and is very impressed. However, the rifle’s recoil is powerful and he wants Kermit to practice shooting it in Africa before they begin hunting. It will be the best weapon for large game. W. S. Rainsford has warned him that hunting lions, elephants, buffalo, and rhinos is particularly dangerous and they should “take every precaution.” Roosevelt takes this advice seriously.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-31

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt thanks Caroline Kirkland for the copy of her book, and intends to replace the one he already has in his personal library with the autographed copy she sent. He will look forward to seeing Kirkland’s sister, Ethel Kirkland Ennis, if he travels to Entebbe, Uganda. Roosevelt was very interested in what Kirkland said about the sleeping sickness.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt thanks William Stamps Cherry for the letter and talisman of hair from an elephant’s tail. Roosevelt will hunt elephant in Uganda and British East Africa, and he is sure that the talisman will “take off the curse of being a tenderfoot at once.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-30

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt asks F. R. Wingate several questions regarding his upcoming African safari, including where to find the best game, the best way to travel up the Nile, and when the best time would be to start writing to make arrangements for hunters, equipment shipments, and so on. Roosevelt emphasizes that he expects no special favors or treatment and that he is “no game butcher.” He intends to get hunting trophies for the National Museum of Natural History and perhaps a bull elephant of his own if “entirely proper.” Roosevelt is eager to see how the British are governing Egypt and East Africa, having recently read Modern Egypt by Evelyn Baring Cromer, and sympathises with the difficulty of colonial rule.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-29

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt has received a book and manuscript by T. Broadwood Johnson from Edward North Buxton, and thanks Johnson for his courtesy. Roosevelt is unsure if he will be able to get to Uganda on his upcoming African safari, but asks about the likelihood of shooting a bull elephant or water buffalo.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-29

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt sends Ambassador Reid details about his plans for his African safari. Roosevelt discusses the timing and route of his trip, as well as his plans for hunting and gathering scientific specimens for the United States National Museum. Roosevelt is “delighted beyond all measure” that Sir F. R. Wingate has opened the reserves under his command to Roosevelt’s expedition. He assures Reid that he will not take too many trophies or slaughter game without cause. Roosevelt asks Reid to pass along this information to Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes in the hopes that he will open the reserves in British East Africa, Uganda, and Sudan, as well as to relieve the minds of other East African provincial officials about the nature of Roosevelt’s trip. Roosevelt would also like to visit Italy, France, and England on the way home from his safari, but does not want to place undue burden on the governments of those nations. He does not wish for official state functions, but to visit old friends with his family.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt thanks Leigh S. J. Hunt for his friendliness, which he had recently been discussing with Nicholas Murray Butler. He sends his regards to Hunt’s wife and son, Jessie Noble Hunt and Henry L. Hunt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Elmer L. Morey recalls Theodore Roosevelt’s kind treatment of him as Vice Consul and his father, Consul William Morey, during their service in Colombo, Sri Lanka. He sends two articles on big game hunting in Sri Lanka and hopes Roosevelt can publish them in the Outlook. If not, Morey asks for an introduction to another magazine.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-09

Creator(s)

Morey, Elmer L. (Elmer Lake), 1870-1920

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-02-27

Creator(s)

Corbett, Eleanor

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Language

English

President Roosevelt thanks Carl Ethan Akeley for a plaster cast of an elephant’s head, used to determine the best angle at which to shoot an elephant.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Ambassador Reid goes into detail about a recent conversation with Lord Crewe. He just sent a brief telegram on the matter, but Crewe is willing to write to the Ugandan authorities about President Roosevelt’s planned elephant hunting. Crewe also gave the common warning that white rhinoceros will be hard to find. However, Crewe was happy to hear that if Roosevelt gets two he intends to give one to the British Museum. They also discussed the issue of Sir Robert Bond. No one is looking forward to the royal family’s upcoming trip to Berlin.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-04

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912

Ambassador Reid informs President Roosevelt that Lord Crewe will happily write to the Ugandan authorities about the matter they requested.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-04

Creator(s)

Reid, Whitelaw, 1837-1912