Freer, Charles Lang, 1854-1919

President Roosevelt tells John Woodbury about several portraits that he has had or is having done. Roosevelt asks Woodbury if having a replica of a painting by Gari Melchers or John Singer Sargent woulld suffice. He agrees that if his picture is going to be put at Harvard it should be during his presidency, and he is touched by the desire of his classmates to put it there.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt lauds William T. Evans for donating a collection of paintings by American artists to the National Gallery of Art. Roosevelt hopes that is collection, along with collections endowed by Charles Lang Freer and Harriet Lane Johnston, will persuade Congress to provide an appropriate building for its housing and display.  

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-06

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt acknowledges the difficulty that University of Michigan President Angell points out, but thinks it will take care of itself. He believes that it is wise for the government to accept the gift of Charles Lang Freer’s art collection now, as nothing can be done in terms of constructing a building to house it until Freer’s death.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt encloses a letter in which Charles Lang Freer has offered to bequeath his art collections to the Smithsonian Institution or United States Government, along with $500,000 to construct or secure a building suitable to house the art. Roosevelt suggests having the collection examined by William Sturgis Bigelow or John LaFarge if there are any doubts about its value. Freer makes this offer with certain conditions which Roosevelt believes are reasonable. Roosevelt urges Chief Justice Fuller, who is also the Chancellor of the Smithsonian, to accept the gift on behalf of the nation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt instructs S. P. Langley of the Smithsonian Institution not to refuse the offer of Charles Lang Freer’s art collection “on any account.” He believes that Congress will appropriate the necessary funds to care for the valuable pictures.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Acting on the suggestion of his friend, Charles Lang Freer, Thomas Spencer Jerome contacts President Roosevelt about meeting again upon his return to America. Jerome would like to revisit their previous discussion “as to the nature of the human game in general.” However, he understands if Roosevelt does not have time to spare. If Roosevelt passes through Naples on his Africa trip, Jerome would gladly receive him at his villa.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-28

Creator(s)

Jerome, Thomas Spencer, 1864-1914

Justice Holmes has no suggestions to contribute to the letter he agrees with. He did not know that Henry Adams was a judge of Oriental art. He notes a change that Charles Lang Freer has made to a proposition about his art collection.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-18

Creator(s)

Holmes, Oliver Wendell, Jr., 1841-1935

Senator Henry Cabot Lodge is concerned about the possible loss of the Freer Collection which has been offered to the Smithsonian Institution. He notes that there is a vacancy on the Board of Regents for the Smithsonian because of Senator Orville Hitchcock Platt’s death. Lodge had a seat on the board when he was in the House, but lost it when he was elected to the Senate. He would like to be named a regent, and asks President Roosevelt to say a word to Vice President Charles W. Fairbanks, who has the duty of naming the regents. Lodge also sends his congratulations and best wishes to Alice Roosevelt on her engagement.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-05

Creator(s)

Lodge, Henry Cabot, 1850-1924

Annie Nathan Meyer invites President Roosevelt to Fulton Chain for a weekend of hunting. Meyer is interested in the Russo-Japanese war situation and has come to admire Japanese art.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-08-09

Creator(s)

Meyer, Annie Nathan, 1867-1951

In “Collin on TR, Culture, and Foreign Policy,” Elizabeth E. Roosevelt reviews Richard H. Collin’s Theodore Roosevelt, Culture, Diplomacy, and Expansion: A New View of American Imperialism. Roosevelt notes that Collin places President Theodore Roosevelt’s foreign policy in a larger cultural and global affairs context, stressing cultural changes in the United States and the threat posed by the imperialism of European powers. 

This book was also reviewed by John A. Gable, the editor of the Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal, in the Winter, 1986 issue. An editorial note says that Collin’s work is so important “that this second review is warranted.”

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

This note reads that someone, likely Charles Lang Freer, was telegraphed to schedule an appointment.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-26

Creator(s)

Presidential Office Staff