Elephant hunting

Photograph shows Theodore Roosevelt with a dead elephant at Meru, Kenya.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1919-05-14

Photograph showing Theodore Roosevelt and African men with dead elephant.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1919-05-14

Photograph shows Theodore Roosevelt and others including African men with a dead elephant at Meru, Kenya.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1919-05-14

In the “Book Notes” column, John A. Gable reviews Bully: An Adventure With Teddy Roosevelt which consists of the script of the play of the same name, complemented by eight pages of photographs. Gable quotes from a review of the play and from Theodore Roosevelt IV’s introduction to the book. Gable, as he did in the case of the play and film adaptation, praises the book and author Jerome Alden because he “does not tailor T.R. to fit current social or ideological fashions.”

Marvin R. Morrison reviews The End of the Game: The Last Word from Paradise which deals with the plight of the African elephant. Theodore Roosevelt’s hunting and his African safari of 1909 figure in the book and review. Morrison quotes Roosevelt, lists some of his fellow hunters, and argues that hunters are conservationists.  

Edward North Buxton informs President Roosevelt that the elephant rifle is ready, and that he hopes to send it to Roosevelt for any adjustments. Buxton has spoken with Ambassador Whitelaw Reid, who believes he will be able to send the gun as a foreign office parcel. He sends Roosevelt a list of the people who donated to have the gun made for Roosevelt, and says that they all wish Roosevelt a good time on safari in British East Africa.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-20

Postcard is part of the Roosevelt Tour series. Image shows a fallen elephant in a forest. Description on the reverse: “A FALLEN MONARCH. The elephants of Africa have not been domesticated to the same extent as those of India. They inhabit the forests of Uganda and other districts in large numbers and immense herds have been seen in the region which will be traversed by the Roosevelt party. The elephants are being protected by the game regulations and there is not much danger of their becoming extinct. The height of the elephant in the picture is 11 feet two inches. The tusks are eight feet ten inches long with a circumference of 19 1/2 inches and a weight of 112 and 115 pounds.”

Collection

Fritz R. Gordner Collection

Creation Date

1909

Theodore Roosevelt is excited that he will see Ethel Roosevelt in two and a half months. Roosevelt and Kermit Roosevelt have done well and are in excellent health. Kermit has turned into a grownup and is growing a mustache that you must be attentive to see. He is proud of Kermit’s “prowess and hardihood.” Roosevelt wrote to Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt about killing a charging elephant and is not sure if she will want him to keep the tusks. The last ten days have been spent traveling from Lake Victoria and Roosevelt has been greeted by the African leaders like a king.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1910-01-02

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Mason Mitchell for the tooth-billed pigeon and for Mitchell’s success in getting the Governor of German Samoa to issue an ordinance. Roosevelt also discusses the Uganda elephant foot that was just about the size of Roosevelt’s biggest bull killed at Mount Kenya.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-05-07

Photograph of Theodore Roosevelt and his African safari guides, R. J. Cuninghame and Leslie J. Tarlton, posing with a dead bull elephant. Cuninghame stands on top, Roosevelt and Tarlton in front.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site

Creation Date

1909

Theodore Roosevelt tells his son Kermit that he finally got his elephant bull and will leave on a short safari on his own following Kermit’s trail. R. J. Cuninghame will take Kermit to try and get an elephant but he can try for one before that with Leslie J. Tarlton. Item includes a typed transcription of the letter.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1909-08-21

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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