Farms

Myron T. Herrick informs Theodore Roosevelt of organizations in France, Germany, and other European countries that give loans to farmers and have been very successful. Herrick proposes similar organizations would advance agriculture in America and knows Roosevelt has an interest in rural life and improved farming methods. A committee on agricultural improvement and farm financing was appointed at the last convention of the American Bankers Association.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-12

John W. Samuels asks for Theodore Roosevelt’s advice on how to get the government to build a new reservoir rather than fix the dam near his farm in Lakewood, New Mexico which is currently part of the Carlsbad Project. Samuels believes abandoning Lake McMillan and building a new reservoir closer to the Carlsbad Project will create thousands of acres of fertile farmland.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-30

These cartoons tell the story of the Roosevelt bears learning how to farm.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-28

President Roosevelt feeds various animals on the farm. A rabbit asks, “Where’s Loeb?”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-30

An “independent voter” pats President Roosevelt on the shoulder as Alton B. Parker looks on. In the background is an elephant, a donkey, and a barn with a sign that reads, “Wanted: a manager for this farm—four years—10 salary—independent voter.” Caption: Independent voter selects a manager for Uncle Sam’s farm for the next four years.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-12

Headmaster of Groton School, Endicott Peabody, sends a printed letter to all Groton alumni telling them of the boys farming instead of playing football this year and the establishment of intensive military training. He also gives updates on various faculty members and the state of the flu epidemic near the school. He adds that the soldier alumni photos are being displayed.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-10-05

On behalf of Theodore Roosevelt, his secretary thanks Mogens M. Uhrenholt for the interesting letter regarding the Small Holding Act in Denmark. Roosevelt was greatly interested in seeing these small farms when he visited Denmark in 1910.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-07

As promised in a previous letter, Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary informs F. E. Wadsworth that Roosevelt’s article on “the abandoned farm district of New York” was published in the April 22 issue of The Outlook. Roosevelt’s secretary hopes that it will supply Wadsworth with the information he needs.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-01

President Roosevelt realized that in the confusion surrounding Archibald B. Roosevelt’s illness, he never thanked Earlena English Rixey for the sausage she sent them. Roosevelt is appreciative of the Rixeys’ friendship and particularly their allowing the Roosevelt children to visit and play at their farm.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-18

H. L. Demaray understands Theodore Roosevelt owns land in Virginia. He asks if the land is suited for farming, as he and his friends are looking for a warmer climate to farm. Demaray requests the address of a good real estate firm.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-06

Luella M. H. Butler tells Theodore Roosevelt about her family’s difficulties trying to buy land in Western Illinois to homestead on amidst her and her husband’s advancing age and worsening financials. She tells him about her family and asks him to send any information that could help her to buy land.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-18

Ida O. Swanson informs Theodore Roosevelt that she is the mother of twelve children, including twin boys born June 23, and her family runs a farm in Florence County, Wisconsin.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-08

Lillian Carver Dooley asks Theodore Roosevelt to consider lending her and her husband, William, five to six thousand dollars to purchase a farm. She includes three references to attest to their honesty.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-15

Alexander E. Barthe sends Theodore Roosevelt several reports and messages from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The materials include descriptions of some current diplomatic troubles between the Dominican Republic and Italy, and a report on finance and commerce. Barthe also encloses several samples of agricultural products, letters from President Cáceres and acknowledges Roosevelt’s advice on agricultural organization.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-25

Andrew I. Stoops migrated to Canada in the hopes of establishing a homestead there, but has run out of money. Both of his wife’s parents recently died, and his wife is now sick herself after delivering a daughter. She is currently in Illinois wishing to join Stoops, but he does not know how to accomplish such a thing, and asks Theodore Roosevelt if he would be able to loan him any money to help his situation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-24

Calvin M. Hayes is very concerned by the prospect of reciprocity with Canada as he feels it will greatly damage the ability of American farmers to profitably grow wheat. He asks Theodore Roosevelt, as a prominent citizen, to speak out against reciprocity.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-20

James Sullivan Clarkson encloses a letter from his son, who has been living in Montevideo, Uruguay, for multiple years and is acquainted with President Ordóñez and other native dignitaries. Clarkson’s son often writes to him about the poor repute in which America is held because of the boorish ministers sent there. Clarkson notes that General Edward C. O’Brien has worked hard to counteract this impression of America.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-06

Surgeon General of the Navy, Presley Marion Rixey, writes to President Roosevelt while he is in transit to Honolulu with Governor Carter. The ship is half full because of the recent earthquake and fire in San Francisco, but Rixey is confident that the city will soon recover. Rixey also informs Roosevelt that he has studied the naval station at Yerba Buena and will be making a full report on needed sanitary reforms shortly.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-29

August Belmont walks on a farm in Esopus, New York, with a dog. There are cows in the background.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-09

President Roosevelt and Ohio Senator Marcus Alonzo Hanna visit an Ohio farm with a roof that reads “Roosevelt in 1904.” Meanwhile, a Republican elephant drinks from a trough that Ohio Representative Charles Dick watches. Myron T. Herrick lifts wood in the background. Caption: Roosevelt: “Fine sign you got on the barn there, senator.” Hanna: “Yes, and the feller that put it on said it wouldn’t rub off either.”

Comments and Context

This cartoon from the Cleveland Plain Dealer memorializes the recent doings in Ohio politics — momentous within the state and all with important implications in the nation and in the national Republican Party. In a gentle way it recognizes what Senator Marcus Alonzo Hanna had realized within recent days, that his presidential ambitions were dashed, and that President Theodore Roosevelt was in control of the party and its apparatus.

Hanna’s aspirations were obvious to many, despite his denials of plans to capture the party’s nomination in 1904. His in-state rival, Joseph B. Foraker, maneuvered the state party to endorse Roosevelt early, and Hanna was faced with the dilemma of joining, or declaring rebellion against Roosevelt. In this cartoon he declares his fealty to Roosevelt.