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President Roosevelt describes the family’s Christmas activities. Presents were opened in the morning with Alice Roosevelt Longworth and Representative Nicholas Longworth in attendance. Anna Roosevelt Cowles hosted lunch and the Lodge family visited for Christmas dinner.
1906-12-26
Superintendent Hanks writes to Hermann Hagedorn, Secretary of the Roosevelt Memorial Association, to thank him for the Association’s donation of a book to Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park. Hanks also thanks Hagedorn for the names of the Association’s Board of Trustees as Hanks intends to invite them to the dedication ceremony for the park. Hanks hopes Hagedorn can attend the dedication ceremony.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1949-03-31
McClure’s Magazine article “Greatheart,” memorializing Theodore Roosevelt and recounting his commitment to the armed forces. Above the article is a black and white portrait photograph of Theodore Roosevelt done by Underwood and Underwood.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1919-03
The clock and bag are just what Theodore Roosevelt wanted. He thanks his parents for the letters and birthday gifts. Roosevelt reflects on his love for his family and notes that he has “never spent an unhappy day.”
1876-10-29
While hunting, President Roosevelt was “laid up” for a few days with “Cuban fever.” He has recovered and a bobcat was taken yesterday. Roosevelt requests that William Loeb send new magazines and a $10 watch that he wants to use for a gift. He may be in Glenwood next Saturday evening so there is time to handle the mail.
1905-04-30
Theodore Roosevelt had decided not to accept any gifts of substantial value but must break this resolution after seeing the painting offered by Fernand Lungren. The painting makes him homesick for the Great Plains, and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt is delighted with it as well.
1902-10-10
Theodore Roosevelt relates the chase and capture of three thieves that had stolen his boat. The thieves were captured along the river and then Roosevelt took them overland to the sheriff in Dickinson, Dakota Territory. He read Anna Karenina during the trip and has mixed feelings about the quality of the book but enjoyed Leo Tolstoy’s writing style. Roosevelt requests that Corinne Roosevelt Robinson deliver some flowers to Edith Kermit Carow before Carow travels abroad.
1886-04-12
Lawrence F. Abbott admires Ethel Roosevelt Derby as her own private secretary. Theodore Roosevelt would like to give Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt a pair of large, fur gloves for Christmas. He asks Ethel to find the gloves for him.
1914-1918
Theodore Roosevelt thanks William Sheffield Cowles and his mother, Anna Roosevelt Cowles, for the “beautiful silver cheese-scoop.” He wishes that Cowles was at Sagamore Hill to play in the old barn and swim. Quentin Roosevelt has a new toy sail boat and is swimming well.
1904-08-21
President Roosevelt greatly appreciates the gift. He suggests travel arrangements for William S. Cowles and is looking forward to seeing Anna Roosevelt Cowles and William Sheffield Cowles Jr.
1906-08-21
President Roosevelt is very happy with the books Anna Roosevelt Cowles has given to him and is most appreciative.
1907-02-16
Vice President Roosevelt expresses satisfaction with the visit from the Younghusbands that Anna Roosevelt Cowles helped him arrange. Roosevelt agrees to a visit to Farmington in the fall. He describes fun activities he has enjoyed with his family and their friends lately, including a humorous swimming adventure he had with the children that is not looked upon fondly by their mothers.
1901-06-19
Miss Democracy wakes up startled, in bed, on Christmas day. Her bedroom is filled with presents, everything bearing the countenance of William Jennings Bryan: the ornaments on the Christmas tree, the face on the grandfather clock, the handle on an umbrella, the inside of the horn on a gramophone, as well as Bryan portraits, busts, pillows, and dolls, and a copy of “Bryanecdotes.”
The issue of Puck dated Christmas Day 1907 contained a center-spread drawing at once a great political cartoon, and greatly funny — a humorous commentary. The subject was the imminent presidential campaign the following year.
A group of men make a surprise nighttime visit to Theodore Roosevelt, wearing pajamas, at Oyster Bay. Edward Henry Harriman carries a basket of lemons, James Roscoe Day carries a basket of “More Lemons,” Bellamy Storer carries a cake labeled “From Dear Maria” (his wife Maria Longworth Storer), Benjamin R. Tillman carries a watermelon, Chester I. Long carries a platter of “Welsh Rabbit” (possibly a reference to Herbert Welsh), and Joseph W. Bailey carries a bunch of bananas. Joseph Benson Foraker stands in the background, tipping his hat to Roosevelt.
This cartoon by Udo J. Keppler is an excellent summary for historians — and prescient commentary at the time — that despite President Roosevelt’s popularity throughout the United States, in 1907 he had a handful of nagging problems, a host of political opponents, and many looming challenges.
Governor Roosevelt gives Anna Roosevelt Cowles his great thanks for her valuable Christmas gifts and shares details about his family’s activities on the day. He is pleased that everyone is healthy and although he is working hard, he is happy. He also discusses the war in South Africa briefly.
1899-12-27
A gold miner stands at the door to a cabin telling the miners inside, who are celebrating Christmas, that there has been a “gold strike up the creek,” which causes the miners to rush for the door. Caption: Man at Door — Hey, you fellers! There’s been a gold strike up the creek!
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1912-12-04
Santa Claus climbs out a window, leaving behind a large sack of Christmas presents in front of a large fireplace where stockings labeled “Montenegro, Servia, Italy, England, Bulgaria, Germany, Austria, Russia, Greece, [and] France” are hanging. Leaders from the countries mentioned are fighting among themselves to get to the presents first. Caption: Santa Claus — Here’s where I beat it. Somebody else can have the job of dividing presents among that bunch!
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1912-12-18
Assistant Secretary Roosevelt asks Anna Roosevelt Cowles to purchase a particular vase from Tiffany’s for Nannie Lodge as a gift from him. He is working on his report on the personnel bill.
1897-12-17
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt thanks Anna Roosevelt Cowles for the book and shares details about his Christmas with his family. The vase for Anna Cabot Mills Davis Lodge was exactly as he wished.
1897
Two children are surrounded by broken toys. The toys are pointing fingers at the children and complaining to Santa Claus about the treatment they’ve received from them over the past year. Santa is sitting on the right, reading a large book labeled “Condition of Last Years Toys.” Caption: Indignant Chorus of Last Year’s Toys — Do they deserve anything more, Your Honor? Just look what they did to Us!
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1911-12-06