Encyclopedias and dictionaries

Mary L. Hinsdale thanks Theodore Roosevelt for his letter discussing her book The History of the President’s Cabinet. Hinsdale was surprised to learn of his relationship with Henry Cabot Lodge and has taken out a statement from an article about to be contributed to Cyclopedia of American Government. Hinsdale commends Roosevelt’s characterization of the periodical The Nation but asks what periodical can be trusted to have decent political articles.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-18

Creator(s)

Hinsdale, Mary L. (Mary Louise), -1946

Sophia A. Preusch was inspired to write Theodore Roosevelt because she opened a dictionary at the word “delightful.” She says she saw Roosevelt during his 1910 parade in New York, and supposes he has read about her, describing herself as a troublemaker. She inquires after Oyster Beach, talks about museums, and sends well wishes to Roosevelt’s family.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-14

Creator(s)

Preusch, Sophia A. (Sophia Anna), 1878-1932

President Roosevelt holds two revolvers and fires at a dictionary, which has a variety of holes in it. Beside him is “amunishon from A. Carnege Skidoo Castel” and a bouquet “from the Simplified Spelling Board.” Ghosts of Geoffrey Chaucer, William Shakespeare, and Samuel Johnson come out of the dictionary. Caption: “What Mr. Roosevelt means is to scrap the English language. He is a patriot, not a pottering philologist.”—The London “Saturday Review.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-22

Creator(s)

Kemble, E. W. (Edward Windsor), 1861-1933

President Roosevelt rides a horse and uses a “made in America” pencil to stab the “dictionary.” Caption: O “Ruseveldt,” sir, whatever “U.S.A.,” We grant you credit for your novel views; But now you tackle spelling, by the way, Just mind your “P’s” and “Q’s.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-27

Creator(s)

Unknown

Theodore Roosevelt introduces General Leonard Wood to Colonel Frank A. Edwards, a friend who he regards highly. Roosevelt first met Edwards at Yellowstone National Park and considered him to be one of the best cavalry officers. Edwards enjoys using a revolver, wrote a technical Italian-English military dictionary, and was sent as a military attache to Rome by Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

On behalf of Theodore Roosevelt, his secretary thanks Charles Pigott for sending a copy of an encyclopedia and the copy of Exporters’ Review. While Roosevelt is interested in the matter, it is impossible for him to express an opinion on the matter that Pigott asked about, as it would lead to innumerable similar requests being sent to him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-15

Creator(s)

Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary gives Mary Doyle the definition of a unicorn.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-16

Creator(s)

Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt

President Roosevelt was recently reading a volume of John Morley’s work Critical Miscellanies, and wished to write to him about a number of the issues he raises, and critiques several other historians and works of history. Roosevelt pivots to talking about the recent election in the United States as he identifies it as having taken place under circumstances similar to those identified by Baron Thomas Babington Macaulay–with a recent financial panic and a demagogue opposing William H. Taft–but because of the moral superiority of the Republican party, Taft became president-elect. Roosevelt believes that foolish optimism can get in the way of sane optimism, but also believes that there is cause to hope in the future. He would like to see Morley when he visits England in 1910.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-01

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt writes to the Committee on Admissions of the Boone and Crockett Club on behalf of Charles C. Foster, listing several positive attributes in favor of his admission to the club.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

The White House hosts winter musicales, but President Roosevelt does not approve of the word and would prefer to use “musicals.” However, he cannot find the word “musicals” in the dictionary. Roosevelt would like to use the correct word and asks Brander Matthews what spelling should be used.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-07-30

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt grants permission for his article on the presidency to be published in the Encyclopedia Americana.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-07-29

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Charles Fletcher Lummis has recently returned from a trip to Guatemala and is looking forward to meeting with Theodore Roosevelt about his idea for an encyclopedia about Spanish America. Lummis says he will need assistance with the encyclopedia as he does not believe he will be able to complete it alone.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-04

Creator(s)

Lummis, Charles Fletcher, 1859-1928

Andrew Carnegie sends President Roosevelt newspaper clippings from the London Times discussing Roosevelt’s step toward reforming the English language. Professor Walter W. Skeat and the other British philologists approve and welcome Roosevelt’s actions. Carnegie is working with Skeat to create a joint committee to work on the language reforms and would like Roosevelt’s approval “so that the whole English-speaking race should march forward in unison.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-10

Creator(s)

Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919

Thomas H. Neilson writes about “The South in the Building of the Nation,” an encyclopedia written by experts in their respective fields. Themes included in the encyclopedia are history of the Southern states, political history, social life, economics, literature, fiction, poetry, art, music, oratory, and biographies of significant figures. Neilson includes the prices of encyclopedias. He includes a prospectus and order forms for those interested in purchasing a copy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-06

Creator(s)

Neilson, Thomas H. (Thomas Hall), 1841-1921

Theodore Roosevelt is not included in Howard Chandler Christy’s sketch of the battle of San Juan Hill because he was not in the real battle. Roosevelt and his Rough Riders were taking part in a different skirmish at the time, attacking Kettle Hill, three-quarters of a mile away from San Juan Hill. The picture will be published in an illustrated encyclopedia.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-08

Creator(s)

Unknown

President Roosevelt looks up words in the dictionary and reads, “polyglot,” “hay tedder,” and “gargoyle.” Roosevelt’s big stick is beside his chair, and Representative William F. Willett’s speech is on the ground.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-20

A lion reaches out to claw President Roosevelt as he types on a typewriter. Beside him is a “dictionary,” a gun, and a boy reading a “natural history” book. A snake looks at the boy.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-12

Q. N. Funk asks President Roosevelt if during his time as New York City Police Commissioner he said he would, or in fact did, use the entire power of the police, to the neglect of other laws, in order to enforce the Sunday closing laws.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-01-31

Creator(s)

Funk, Q. N.