Your TR Source
Theodore Roosevelt is followed by reporters if he tries to go out into the woods. Three families of purple finches have built near the Roosevelt home this year, which he does not remember happening before.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-03
Theodore Roosevelt writes John Burroughs about the practical application of the term “species” to different animals. Roosevelt is also interested in Burroughs’ account of the woodchucks and thistle-finches, and updates Burroughs on the birds he has seen throughout the season. Roosevelt hopes that “the spirit” will move Burroughs to write about his visit to Pine Knot.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-28
Theodore Roosevelt enjoyed having John Burroughs out to Oyster Bay to see the birds he mentioned. Roosevelt directs Burroughs to check Ranch Life and the Hunting Trail for additional references to birds. Roosevelt closes by asking Burroughs to join himself and his wife Edith at Pine Knot, Virginia.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-22
John Burroughs’s trip to Oyster Bay has been put off until September. Burroughs has recently spotted gold finches in an adjoining pasture. Burroughs mentions a few essays and books he is in the process of reading, and also addresses politics. He likes the Democrats’ platform better than the Republican platform. He does not know why he “can’t get up more enthusiasm over Taft.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-27
Frank M. Chapman thanks President Roosevelt for agreeing to view some of his photographic field work. He plans to travel to Gardiners Island soon to make a movie of birds. Chapman wishes that Kermit Roosevelt would be able to come to the American Museum of Natural History sometime in the summer to look at the various cameras and practice with them. He also says that if this is possible, he could arrange a meeting with a taxidermist who recently returned from British East Africa who could give Kermit many tips. Chapman agrees with Roosevelt on some confusion regarding some conventions of zoological classification.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-09
W. D. W. Miller of the American Museum of Natural History informs President Roosevelt that Frank M. Chapman is engaged in field work, but Miller can answer some of Roosevelt’s questions. The black-throated green warbler has been recorded on Long Island by naturalist A. H. Helme, and the southern limit of the purple finch’s range is similar to that of the warbler.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-19
Susan Sarna recounts the formation of a young Theodore Roosevelt as a naturalist, highlighting his enjoyment of books by Mayne Reid, his first gun, and the revelation he experienced when he was fitted for eyeglasses. Sarna notes Roosevelt’s taxidermy work and his overseas trip of 1872-1873 which gave him field experience in preparing bird skins. Photographs of Roosevelt’s first gun, examples of Reid’s books, two birds mounted by Roosevelt, and an excerpt from a bird guide accompany the text.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
2019