Groton School

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-08

Creator(s)

Washburn, Charles G. (Charles Grenfill), 1857-1928

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Endicott Peabody expresses to Theodore Roosevelt his regret that Archie won’t return to Groton, praises his character, and supports the focus on his health. He invites the Roosevelts to visit in the fall and encourages Roosevelt to speak to the students about hunting and American life.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-08

Theodore Roosevelt’s brother-in-law, William S. Cowles, writes to him on a number of topics, including commenting that some newspapers are reporting that Roosevelt is “all for Taft in 1912.” Cowles recently visited Washington, D.C., where he stayed with Roosevelt’s daughter, Alice Longworth. Roosevelt’s sister, Anna Roosevelt Cowles, meanwhile, recently visited Groton School to see the Cowles’s son, William Sheffield Cowles, and had a enjoyed her visit.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-07

William Codman Sturgis heard Archibald “Archie” B. Roosevelt was obliged to leave Groton due to the climate. He discusses the school based in his house in Colorado and sends Theodore Roosevelt information about it, feeling it is ideal for Archie.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-26

Oscar Carrabine, the Roosevelt family dentist, sends an additional letter to President Roosevelt, fearing his first went awry. Carrabine promises to visit Archibald B. Roosevelt every other Saturday at the Groton School and provide the best dental care possible.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09

Endicott Peabody informs President Roosevelt that he had to allow Archibald B. Roosevelt to leave Groton and stay in New York City for two days to allow the dentist to put in a permanent plate.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-31

Dr. Carrabine, the Roosevelt family dentist, updates President Roosevelt on the progress made with his son Archibald B. Roosevelt’s teeth. The next step in the treatment is the adjustment of a retention device which will keep the teeth in place. Carrabine would like this to be done at his office in New York, rather than at Groton, and asks Roosevelt’s permission for Archie to leave Groton for the weekend to have the work done.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-25

Endicott Peabody is sorry about the ongoing dental situation, and explains to President Roosevelt that if he wasn’t worried about the risk of setting a precedent, he would let Archie Roosevelt go to New York for weekly treatment with Dr. Carrabine. Since Archie is in so much pain, Peabody asks again if it wouldn’t make more sense to work with the local dentist, Dr. Wetherbee. If this is not possible, Peabody asks if Carrabine could speak with Wetherbee personally, and at least explain the treatment plan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-21

Kermit Roosevelt writes to his father about the start of his time at Harvard College. Kermit also describes reading President Roosevelt’s published correspondence with William Jennings Bryan, attending a speech delivered by William H. Taft, and seeing Frederic Remington.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-03

Endicott Peabody is sorry to hear of Archibald Roosevelt’s orthodontic troubles, and strongly recommends a dentist in Boston. He is thrilled that President Roosevelt will be giving the Romanes lecture, and is certain that Roosevelt will enjoy trading politics for traveling in Africa with Kermit Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-14

Albert L. Key congratulates President Roosevelt about the way in which the reduction of Navy personnel has gone, with all retirements being voluntary. Key thinks that some of the possible officers to be promoted will be inefficient, but overall believes that Roosevelt has handled the matter in a way that will benefit the Navy. He comments briefly that the ship “Salem” has gone through official trials successfully, and raises the question of showing Archibald B. Roosevelt, Roosevelt’s son, the ship in the summer, as he is interested in the Navy. Key saw Archie at Groton during the spring, and was very impressed about his description of Groton school. He is thinking of sending his own sons there when they are the right age.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-07

President Roosevelt’s sister, Anna Roosevelt Cowles, writes to him expressing her wish that she were at Chicago in person, rather than trying to get news of what was going on from newspapers. She thinks that a stampede for Roosevelt is close. Her visit to Groton has been pleasant, and she enjoyed seeing Kermit Roosevelt while she was there. She thanks Theodore Roosevelt for being good to her “very much better better half,” William S. Cowles, as Roosevelt is making it possible for him to fly his flag again before he retires. Cowles also comments on other political events, including the appointment of someone to the Senate, and mentions upcoming travel plans.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-16

Leonard Wood thanks President Roosevelt for his thoughts about his son Leonard as he starts school. He updates Roosevelt on his travels thus far, and says that he hopes to be able to get permission to observe the German maneuvers as a bystander. He hopes attend the French maneuvers in an official capacity the following week.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-03

Endicott Peabody received President Roosevelt’s note and informs him that Quentin Roosevelt is now registered for 1909 and 1910. He hopes they will be able to take him in the first year.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-04

Endicott Peabody informs President Roosevelt that his son Quentin Roosevelt’s name is down for Groton in 1910, but he will be close enough to 12 in 1909 that he could attend that year as well, if Roosevelt would like. Peabody says he would have a good chance. Peabody is pleased with what Roosevelt has said about Archibald Roosevelt, and conveys that he is “a delightful member of the school.” He sends his regard to the boys and to Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-30

Leonard Wood realizes he has not written President Roosevelt in some time, and so updates him on various events in the Philippines. The major disturbances in Samar and Leyte are over, and aside from occasional police work, American troops are not needed to keep the peace. Wood describes the military training over the year, culminating in a Division Meet. Wood is pleased that Roosevelt has issued orders regarding the physical health of field officers, and emphasizes that if Roosevelt could see how officers who are near retirement perform, he would enthusiastically back Wood’s push to base promotions and retirement on the qualifications of individuals. Wood describes his belief that officers are responsible for leading by example, and had hoped that officers could devote more time to their troops and less to administrative work. Wood says more officer training is required in horsemanship.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-01

General Wood informs President Roosevelt about the situation in the Philippines, reporting that besides the areas of Leyte and Samor, the situation is relatively quiet. He recommends that America keep the islands garrisoned to prevent agitators from upsetting order. Wood opines that the Filipinos are far behind Cuba on the path to deserving independence, but praises the Spanish for having evangelized and civilized the Philippines. Wood recommends the recovering Lieutenant Gordon Johnston for the Medal of Honor. Wood plans to send his family home to the United States for the children’s schooling, and after the Filipino elections hopes himself to visit France and Germany to observe military maneuvers and methods there. Wood hopes afterwards to be appointed to New York where he can work on seacoast defense, but is willing to return to the Philippines if requested. Wood also discusses his opinions on the results of the Russo-Japanese War.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-18

Sherrard Billings thanks Theodore Roosevelt for the jaguar skins that Roosevelt gave him and his wife as a wedding gift. Billings also rejoices in having a wife.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-18

Edgar Huidekoper Wells questions whether it is wise to send Kermit Roosevelt to college at this point in his education. Wells tells President Roosevelt he will help locate a tutor for his son.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-04

Edgar Huidekoper Wells writes to President Roosevelt about Theodore Roosevelt’s mediocre performance at Harvard. Wells names several students and alumni he feels would set a good example.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-14