Ferguson, Robert Harry Munro, 1868-1922

A study of the authenticity of the Maltese Cross cabin

Historian Ray H. Mattison reports on his study of the authenticity of the Maltese Cross cabin. Mattison concludes that the cabin in question is the one occupied by Roosevelt when he first moved to Medora, North Dakota. Whether or not it was his home beyond 1885, it continued to be the base of Roosevelt’s cattle ranching operation. In addition to a thorough history of Roosevelt’s time in the Badlands Region and the efforts of others to preserve and/or showcase the Maltese Cross cabin, the report includes photos and sworn affidavits from Medora locals.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1950-05-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William S. Cowles

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Admiral Cowles for sending editorials from the Hartford Times. Roosevelt also extends condolences to Bob Ferguson, whose sister recently died of tuberculosis.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-07-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Bronson M. Cutting

Theodore Roosevelt expresses his lack of knowledge about the political situation in New Mexico even though Robert Munro Ferguson, Alford Warriner Cooley, and George Curry have fed Roosevelt information. Roosevelt ends his letter by asking to see Cutting whenever possible.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-06-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alford Warriner Cooley

Theodore Roosevelt was relieved to receive Alford Warriner Cooley’s letter since he was upset to hear of Cooley’s relapse. He is interested in Cooley’s report of New Mexico and comments on the recent elections in New York, Massachusetts, and several other states. Roosevelt is staying neutral in presidential nominations and asserts he does not want the nomination. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Cecil Spring Rice

Theodore Roosevelt updates Cecil Spring Rice on the members of the Roosevelt family. Roosevelt feels that British politics are much more interesting than politics in the United States at the moment. He is disappointed in President William H. Taft, and thinks that his leadership has divided the conservative and progressive streams within the Republican Party. However, Roosevelt would like to see Taft elected again. Roosevelt has “no sympathy with [Taft’s] arbitration treaty business” and believes the treaty should be strictly between Great Britain and the United States. Roosevelt also writes about his contentment with his life at the moment, writing for The Outlook.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Postmaster

Theodore Roosevelt explains to the postmaster of Yuma, Arizona, that his son, Kermit Roosevelt, would like to hire a guide, Cipriano Domingues, for a short trip across the Mexican border. Roosevelt asks the postmaster to hire a messenger to deliver the enclosed letter to Domingues, to have the messenger write Kermit if Domingues was found and agrees to meet Kermit, and to tell Kermit of a grocery store so as to purchase provisions. Roosevelt asks the postmaster to send a bill for expenses.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-24

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to Crawford Elliott

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary apologizes, but tells Crawford Elliott that Roosevelt cannot give him the letters of introduction as he requested. He suggests getting a letter from Robert Harry Munro Ferguson.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alford Warriner Cooley

Theodore Roosevelt enjoyed seeing Alford Warriner Cooley and hopes to see his family and the Fergusons while in New Mexico. He found Cooley’s description of the situation in New Mexico interesting but disagrees with Gifford Pinchot that Secretary of the Interior Richard Achilles Ballinger and President William H. Taft are crooks. Roosevelt comments on the current political situation, including Taft’s renomination. He wants to be perfectly clear that he does not want to be nominated.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-11-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

President Roosevelt writes to his son, Kermit Roosevelt on a variety of matters. Roosevelt is proud of his elder son, Theodore Roosevelt, for doing well in Harvard after his past “scrapes” with dean Byron S. Hurlbut, but he is also very glad that Kermit does not seem to be getting into those scrapes in the first place and has been spoken of highly by Hurlbut. Roosevelt suggests that they practice shooting at Oyster Bay before leaving on safari, as they will both be out of practice. Roosevelt’s daughter, Ethel is in the middle of debutante season. The Roosevelt family has enjoyed having several visitors recently, including James Wolcott Wadsworth, C. Grant La Farge and Florence Bayard Lockwood La Farge.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Byron S. Hurlbut

President Roosevelt tells Dean Byron S. Hurlbut that his son, Theodore Roosevelt, is very pleased about receiving the honorary scholarship and finishing his courses in three years because Roosevelt had previously had to speak with him about reports he was not doing well. Roosevelt will gladly speak with Ferdinand V. Blair, but does not think he can be of much assistance, as he thinks that the diplomatic service is often a poor career choice. Robert Harry Munro Ferguson and Isabella Ferguson appreciated having Roosevelt’s son Kermit visit them recently.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William R. Cross

President Roosevelt thanks William R. Cross for writing to him about Robert Harry Munro Ferguson. Roosevelt enjoyed seeing Cross recently, even though it was brief.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Theodore Roosevelt

President Roosevelt was glad to read what his son, Theodore Roosevelt, wrote about his brother Kermit Roosevelt. He sympathizes with Ted’s opinion about work, and says that he will eventually reach the point where he can have both work and leisure, but agrees that having only leisure would be worse than only work. Roosevelt had received a copy of Wind in the Willows, but had not read it yet. He plans to do so now, based on Ted’s recommendation. Roosevelt’s schedule is as busy as ever, both with his usual presidential work, as well as his preparations for his safari and the lectures he will be giving abroad. Roosevelt hopes to be able to save the money he makes by writing after leaving the presidency to help his children until they are all able to earn their own livings.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-03, 1908-12-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

President Roosevelt returns the letter to his son, Kermit Roosevelt, and tells him that he thinks it was probably well-meaning. Roosevelt is pleased that Kermit had a good time at Geneseo, and would have liked to have seen Kermit on the hunt. Winter has come to Washington, D.C., and Roosevelt has gone horseback riding. He has also tested some of the guns that he is going to bring on his safari, and thinks they are good. He proposes that he and Kermit test them together during the week of Christmas, and then pack them up for shipping. He asks Kermit if he would like to see a presentation of slides by Frank M. Chapman sometime during the holidays.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Douglas Robinson

President Roosevelt tells Douglas Robinson that he feels that Robert Harry Munro Ferguson should be paid something for his service as trustee. Roosevelt would be pleased to have Robinson’s son, Theodore Douglas Robinson, take over the trusteeship. He would also be glad to have any financial matters that arise while he is abroad taken care of by Lee, Higginson and Company. Roosevelt’s son, Theodore Roosevelt, enjoyed seeing Douglas Robinson and his family recently. However, Roosevelt was alarmed to hear about Corinne Roosevelt Robinson’s asthma.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-02

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

President Roosevelt was proud to hear that his son, Kermit Roosevelt, visited Robert Harry Munro Ferguson and Isabella Ferguson, and is concerned about their situation. Roosevelt has been enjoying the fall weather at the White House, and updates Kermit on some family matters, including that he has sold a horse. Preparations for Roosevelt’s African safari are proceeding, with many officials and friends coming together to help ensure that they are able to find the animals that Roosevelt wishes to hunt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Martha Macomb Flandrau Selmes

President Roosevelt enjoys everything that Charles Macomb Flandrau writes and is sure he will enjoy Viva Mexico as well. He thanks Patty Selmes for sending it to him. He is glad that he has been able to see Isabella and Robert Harry Munro Ferguson this summer.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-13

Letter from Rudolph Forster to John F. Fairlamb

Rudolph Forster proposes an itinerary for a trip that Kermit Roosevelt and Robert Harry Munro Ferguson want to take to Coleraine, Minnesota, returning via Huron, South Dakota. He asks John F. Fairlamb to provide transportation and make Pullman reservations, billing Ferguson’s share to himself and Kermit’s share to President Roosevelt at Oyster Bay. A canceled version of this letter was written by Thomas H. Netherland the previous day.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-27

Letter from Thomas H. Netherland to John F. Fairlamb

In a canceled letter, Thomas H. Netherland proposes an itinerary for a trip that Kermit Roosevelt and Robert Harry Munro Ferguson want to take to Coleraine, Minnesota, returning via Huron, South Dakota. He asks John F. Fairlamb to provide transportation and make Pullman reservations, billing Ferguson’s share to himself and Kermit’s share to President Roosevelt at Oyster Bay. A non-canceled version of this letter was sent the following day by Rudolph Forster.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

President Roosevelt asks Kermit Roosevelt when he plans to have his friends stay at the White House so he knows when to invite Seth Bullock and Martha Marguerite Eccles Bullock. He is also happy to hear that Kermit has taken up boxing. Roosevelt describes his voting day experience in Oyster Bay and is overall pleased with the results of the election.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-11-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Hector Munro Ferguson

President Roosevelt tells Hector Munro Ferguson how much he is looking forward to meeting Arthur F. Winnington Ingram, Bishop of London, in Oyster Bay, and sends his love to Ferguson’s family.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-30