Your TR Source
President Roosevelt gives his condolences to Alma Curtin on the death of her husband, Jeremiah Curtin. He asks whether the book that he was writing was far enough along to be published.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-26
President Roosevelt thinks that French Ensor Chadwick has correctly characterized Spaniards in comparison to other European races and nationalities. Roosevelt reflects on some of the strengths and weaknesses of various European navies, and how this has changed through time.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-08
The artist and sculptor Gutzon Borglum tells photographer and filmmaker Edward S. Curtis that he has seen his silent film In the Land of the Head Hunters for the third time. Borglum expresses his gratitude to Curtis for lifting the field of educational entertainment to that of the fine arts. Borglum also discusses the importance of the film medium in capturing “the attention of humanity.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-12-15
William Williams, the Commissioner of Immigration at Ellis Island, answers several of Theodore Roosevelt’s questions about the way that immigrants are classified by race when they enter the United States. He explains in depth the distinctions between various categories of people coming from Russia, and clarifies that “Hebrews” are classed based on their race, and not on their Jewish faith. The country does not track the religions of immigrants. Williams is unable to fully discuss the classification of Cuban, West Indian, or Spanish American immigrants at present.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-15
Oscar S. Straus argues about the unsuitability of “Hebrew” as a race on immigration forms, as it characterizes a person by their religion and not their nationality or country of origin.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-01
Norwegian explorer Christian Leden plans on traveling through Canada to perform ethnological and sociological research on indigenous groups. Benjamin Vogt alerts Viscount Edward Grey about this expedition, and requests British approval of Leden’s travel plans.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-23
Paul Paquin is inspired by President Roosevelt’s “courageous application of justice” in the incident with the African American soldiers stationed near Brownsville, Texas. Paquin suggests that the country needs a thorough and unbiased investigation of the “negro problem.” He believes that education has failed to instill a “fixed moral sense” in African Americans, and he is concerned by their drop in productivity over the past forty years. Paquin has hope that African Americans can be made into “useful” citizens.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-12-03