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A proclamation issued by President Roosevelt declaring September 19, 1901 a national day of mourning following the death of President McKinley. This proclamation was Roosevelt’s first act as President.
Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
1901-09-14
Theodore Roosevelt writes to his sister Anna Roosevelt about his upcoming travel plans west. He asks Anna if her employee Bob and Alec Lambert would like to go with him. He also updates her on the status of the family. They had a pleasant Fourth of July. Their uncle James King Gracie is sad over the death of his wife. Their brother Elliott is to leave New York Saturday.
1893-07-05
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit Roosevelt and daughter-in-law Belle to say he is happy and surprised they are able to live together. He tells Belle to take care of herself and says he is glad Kermit is with the artillery. Roosevelt says Ethel Roosevelt Derby and Quentin Roosevelt’s fiancée, Flora Payne Whitney, are coming down to stay with Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, who is heartbroken over Quentin’s death, and Archibald “Archie” B. Roosevelt will be sent home soon as well. He closes by saying he is asking for the money from his Nobel Prize back from Congress so he can give it to charities. Enclosed was a sheet of French stamps.
1918-08-22
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit Roosevelt about mourning Quentin Roosevelt and how upset he is that Flora Payne Whitney was not able to go to Europe and marry him before he died. Roosevelt tells Kermit to write to Rudyard Kipling and that he will not give him any advice on machine guns or tanks because he trusts Kermit’s judgment. He is upset to have to sit and watch everything happen because he is too old to help.
1918-08-18
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to say nineteen of his letters arrived in one day. Roosevelt discusses his views on the author Thomas Hardy and literature in general. He writes about Quentin Roosevelt’s death and how Mother and Quentin’s fiancee Flora Payne Whitney are doing. He adds he wrote to General John Pershing regarding Kermit being assigned to machine gun work.
1918-08-04
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit from Dark Harbor, Maine, where he and Mother are staying with Ethel Roosevelt Derby and mourning Quentin Roosevelt. He says Ethel’s son Richard Derby has been a great comfort for Mother, and he hopes they will send Archibald “Archie” B. Roosevelt home soon. Roosevelt says Quentin’s death has been in every newspaper and has helped unite the country.
1918-07-28
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit regarding Quentin Roosevelt’s death and how everyone at Sagamore Hill is dealing with the news. He says he could not be prouder of his sons and would not have had it any other way. He says he and Mother went rowing to help ease their minds.
1918-07-21
Writing from the Dark Harbor, Theodore Roosevelt expresses his sorrow upon the death of his youngest son, Quentin Roosevelt, as compared to Corinne Robinson’s loss of her son, Stewart Douglas Robinson.
1918-08-03
A large elderly man labeled “Life Insurance” holds a cornucopia filled with documents labeled “For the Beneficiaries.” Next to him sits a large dog with collar labeled “Supt. Insurance,” and in front is a group of diminutive figures, a woman in mourning, an elderly man holding the hand of a young child, and a nurse holding an infant. In the background are a group of businessmen labeled “Corruption.”
The indiscretions and reports of corruption common to most large American businesses in 1905, in the midst of the Muckraking Era, reached the insurance industry as well. Public concern was accelerated by the well-publicized orgiastic ball thrown by the heir to the Equitable Life Insurance fortune, the putative next director, James Hazen Hyde. In addition to the public’s reaction to conspicuous consumption and loose moral atmosphere at the ball were rumors that its extravagant expense was charged to the Equitable.
But dissatisfaction with insurance companies’ practices were emerging anyway. The practice of the tontine was under suspicion. Despite reforms over the subsequent century, it is still employed by some companies — basically a system of paying moneys and receiving annuities, but the company’s profits, and unpaid deposit accounts, re-invested into the company’s fund. Many people considered a variety of what became known as a Ponzi scheme.
Theodore Roosevelt writes to his sister Anna trying to comfort her about their father’s death. At least he has school to keep his mind occupied and says he will need Anna to advise him now that Father is gone. It does not seem possible he is gone for good.
1878-03-17
Theodore Roosevelt deeply appreciates the telegram John Burroughs sent following the death of Quentin Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-07-29
Theodore and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt are deeply touched by Anne Morton McMichael Hoyt’s letter and feel strongly that her and her husband, former Solicitor General of the United States, Henry Martyn Hoyt, had an ideal family life. Roosevelt adds that he was particularly close to her husband among the men in his administration. They express their love to Hoyt’s family and concern for her sorrows.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-01-06
Theodore Roosevelt sends Edwin C. Pomeroy and Alice M. Pomeroy his deepest sympathy even though he knows “how useless outside words are” in “such overwhelming grief” (their daughter recently died in an accident). He thanks Pomeroy for the walnut trees.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-13
Theodore Roosevelt thanks L. G. Grebely for his letter and expresses shock and sympathy over Edmond H. Madison’s death.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-19
Theodore Roosevelt sends condolences to William S. Parker and tells him that their friends from the White House are always on their mind.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-15
Theodore Roosevelt is sorry to hear about the death of Lincoln A. Lang’s mother. Roosevelt knew Lang from his ranching days in the Dakotas.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-09-03
President Roosevelt expresses sorrow at the untimely death of his nephew, Stewart Douglas Robinson, and wishes to be with Corinne Roosevelt Robinson and Douglas Robinson as soon as possible. However, Roosevelt must first greet the Great White Fleet.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-21
President Roosevelt tells Robert Harry Munro Ferguson that he is very concerned about the news he hears about Ferguson, and wishes he could come and visit him and his wife Isabella Selmes Greenway. Roosevelt deeply appreciates the friendship Ferguson has with him and his family, and he wants to do whatever he can to help. (Ferguson was diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1908, and Roosevelt is likely referring to this)
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-27
President Roosevelt is shocked and grieved to hear of Ambassador Hermann Speck von Sternburg’s death. He describes Sternburg as an intimate friend and attests to his character. Roosevelt credits Sternburg, a skilled diplomat who loyally served his country, for strengthening the relationship between Germany and the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-24
President Roosevelt expresses his sadness to Hannah Kent Schoff regarding the death of Alice McLellan Birney. Both he and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt were attached to her, and he regrets that he will not be able to be at the memorial service. He would be glad to meet with Schoff and the members of the advisory council of the National Congress of Mothers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-04