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President Roosevelt smiles slightly as he carries a barrel labeled “Canal Facts.” Behind him, a teddy bear carries a box of “Inside Facts” that relate to the “Canal Zone,” “Porto Rico,” and “Panama,” while two “Canal Critics” run off into the forest.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1905-1909
Theodore Roosevelt emphasizes the importance of preserving forests, while at the same discussing the role timber plays in industries like mining. Members of the Society of American Foresters must work harmoniously together.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-03-26
In a dark forest a group of men labeled “Irish Invincibles, Nihilists, Austrian Socialists, German Artisans, Republicans, Fanatical Irredentists, [and] Black Hand” carry torches or flaming sticks of dynamite and bombs, disturbing the slumber of various forest creatures labeled “France, Austria, Russia, Spain, Greece, Sweden, Germany, [and] Italy” and the British Lion heading for its lair labeled “India, Africa Malta, Canada, [and] Egypt.” A group of businessmen with a firefighter’s water pump labeled “Middle Class Conservatism” are hoping to extinguish the flames.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-03-21
Uncle Sam and Dame Democracy ride in a horse-drawn carriage through a forest where 21 or 22 faces of presidential hopefuls can be seen in the trees, rocks, and grasses, and have spooked the horses at the approach to a bridge. Samuel J. Tilden, not a candidate in 1884, is the only person depicted full-length.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1884-05-28
A female spirit labeled “Public Spirit” warns two men cutting logs, of the consequences of deforestation.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1884-01-09
At center, a woman wearing a newspaper dress drinks “Subsidy Brand” champagne chilling in a bucket labeled “Wall Street Cooler,” while a man labeled “Corporate Interests” writes a check. A bust statue of “Horace Greeley” is visible in the background. The entire scene is framed by an octopus with tiny male figures caught in its tentacles. Surrounding vignettes show a newspaper editor as he looks to his staff (larger than life) and to the newspaper owners (diminutive), a “Business Manager” telling an “editorial writer” to tone down comments about a “forest spoliation matter [because] the boss has acquired some interests out there,” and a newspaper reader “who has read the paper for forty years” influenced by the resulting editorial – “I guess that western forest steal ain’t as bad as they made it out. This editorial says it’s been grossly exaggerated.”
People today are aware, and often concerned, that newspapers show bias. In fact since before the Revolution most newspapers were intended to assert partisan points of view. Readers expected and often welcomed the situation. It was only in the twentieth century that newspapers self-identified as neutral or independent or non-partisan, or “news only,” even if editorial pages leaned left or right, Democrat or Republican. That facade faded away, or morphed into outright partisanship.
Stewart Edward White offers to start a petition for removal of Charles S. Newhall as Superintendent of Forest Reserves in California. He requests that a circular letter be sent to “all rangers, military commanders and park keepers” informing them that he is “a respectable member of society.” The adventure and travel writer, accompanied by his future wife and co-writer, Elizabeth “Betty” Grant, was planning a visit to national parks in the West.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-12
Paul Morton and his family are enjoying their holiday in Europe. Morton has been impressed with Europe’s intense farming, forestry, and good roads. He encloses a clipping from the London Times that may interest President Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-11
Assemblyman Gherardi Davis has become Chairman of the Forestry Committee and is now acquainted with Gifford Pinchot, Professor Henry Solon Graves, and Mr. MacNaughton. He is learning a great deal about forestry and is also working on an amendment to the New York Constitution, which was suggested by Governor Odell. Davis also reflects on the composition of the current New York Legislature.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-01-25
President Roosevelt introduces Gifford Pinchot, an active promoter and preserver of the nation’s forests.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-15
Gifford Pinchot regrets not having a letter for the Denver meeting of the American Forestry Association but understands Vice President Roosevelt’s position. Pinchot and Frederick Haynes Newell are exploring some grazing and irrigation issues and will be leaving for a two week trip to the mountains. Although Pinchot expects to miss his hunt, he hopes he and Roosevelt have a “good visit, with lots of exercise.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-08-05
Gifford Pinchot does not expect Vice President Roosevelt to be able to attend the meeting of the American Forestry Association but hopes he will be able to send a letter as he did last year. Pinchot is taking a short trip to Oregon and is unsure whether he will be able to take a hunting trip in the fall.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-07-23
Gifford Pinchot writes to Vice President Roosevelt with a proposed itinerary for an eight to ten week trip to explore the forests and irrigation of the West. Frederick Haynes Newell of the United States Geological Survey has proposed to Pinchot a way in which press coverage could be controlled.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-03-27
Commissioner Dewitt C. Middleton of New York informs Gifford Pinchot that Governor Benjamin Odell has approved the Annual Supply Bill which contains $8500 to be paid to the Division of Forestry for work conducted in Hamilton County, New York. In recognition of the assistance given by Assemblyman Jothan Powers Allds, Middleton requests that Pinchot employ Allds’ friend as a laborer.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-05-07