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President Roosevelt inquires if Annie Montague Alexander will allow Edmund Heller to accompany him on his African safari. Roosevelt intends to make the trip a scientific one and collect samples for the United States National Museum.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-08
Charles D. Walcott acknowledges a letter from Theodore Roosevelt from earlier in the month regarding collections from Roosevelt’s African safari and the American Museum of Natural History, addressing some of his questions and concerns specifically about white rhinoceros specimens and a research paper on giant elands. Walcott agrees with Roosevelt that the collections should be used by the museum and may send Waldron DeWitt Miller to discuss things with Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-13
In this carbon copy of the original, Theodore Roosevelt writes his friend explorer Frederick Courteney Selous regarding Selous’ upcoming hunting safari in the Sudan. He asks him to kill and investigate certain animals including a Lado giraffe and a whiteheaded cob. He updates him on some of their friends and says Edmund Heller is going back to Africa. He thanks Selous for his words about Roosevelt’s defeat in the last Presidential election.
1911-02-02
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to say how proud he is of all four of his sons and what they have achieved during the war. He wants to know if Kermit is over his attack of malarial fever. Roosevelt says Edmund Heller came for a visit and will be married soon. He adds he is sending Kermit the American Museum journal with an article he wrote containing pictures Kermit took.
1918-07-07
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit about a visit from Edmund Heller who is now engaged to be married. They have not heard from Archie Roosevelt yet regarding the cables they sent about the birth of his son. Roosevelt writes how the Bolsheviks are ruining Russia and how Senator George Chamberlain’s investigation into the War Department is finally producing some changes. He encloses two extracts of letters regarding Quentin Roosevelt.
1918-03-11
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit about how Mother is going to be with Emily Carow while she has surgery and then perhaps going to Russia while Roosevelt is going to Arizona with Archie and Quentin Roosevelt. He says he is going on an eight day speaking trip and that he went to Scribners with Edmund Heller to discuss their book.
1913-06-08
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to describe his successful trial against George Newett for libel and lists all his witnesses. He talks of all the money he has had to expend this year and that he is glad his autobiography is finished as well as the book he wrote with Edmund Heller. He adds that he is glad Kermit has gone into a new business.
1913-06-02
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to tell him about all the development going on in Oyster Bay, New York, and rowing with Mother. He also discusses his libel suit against George Newett and all the money he has had to pay out this year. He mentions making money by his writing.
1913-05-24
Theodore Roosevelt tells his son Kermit about what he is writing and reports that he is having trouble with his autobiography. He comments on the Progressive Party and says if President Woodrow Wilson does well and satisfies the Progressives, Roosevelt will not have to get involved in politics. Roosevelt gives updates on the family and the health of Mother.
1913-01-21
Theodore Roosevelt asks if Kermit is getting any of his letters. He describes how they spent Christmas and tells Kermit about some of the writing he is doing. He closes by saying he has no idea whether the Progressive Party has a future.
1912-12-27
Theodore Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit to criticize President Wilson’s administration as well as the leadership of the Republican Party. He hopes the Republicans can nominate someone the Progressives can support in the next presidential election. Roosevelt also mentions working with John D. Haseman, and newspaper articles by Colonel Rondon about Roosevelt’s trip in South America.
1915-11-11
Theodore Roosevelt reports on the achievements of Quentin, Archie, and Ted at the Plattsburgh military training camp, noting that they received good recommendations from their officers. To Roosevelt’s delight, Archie was placed in a position above Ted. Archie and Ted also traveled to Montreal, Quebec, to view the military preparations. The Plattsburgh camp has been very successful, and other camps are being formed across the country. Roosevelt criticizes President Wilson for his policy toward Germany and Mexico.
1915-08-28
Theodore Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt are in New York City and spending time with the families of Ethel Roosevelt Derby and Ted Roosevelt. Roosevelt’s libel suit is next month and he is unsure of the result. However, he believes his case will be “presented in great shape.” The Royal Geographical Society has published the maps from the Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Expedition and hostile comments against the expedition have died down. Roosevelt has been working hard at Metropolitan Magazine.
1915-03-07
Theodore Roosevelt tried to have Stewart Edward White out for lunch with Carl Ethan Akeley and Delia J. Akeley. He asks if he can share White’s comments about the sable antelope with Edmund Heller. Roosevelt feels naturalists have gone to extremes in creating new species without evidence.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-08
Theodore Roosevelt asks Charles D. Walcott if he knows when Edmund Heller is set to publish a certain study based on what the group discovered on a recent trip, as Roosevelt is anxious to make a permanent record of their travels. Roosevelt also asks when Walcott will send a pair of rhinoceros to the American Museum of Natural History where they will be displayed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-05
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Harry W. Dorsey for the letter from Edmund Heller but wishes he had also sent Heller’s report on the giant eland.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-18
Theodore Roosevelt sends C. H. Stigand a pamphlet he wrote on protective coloration in animals. He hopes Stigand enjoyed his trip with Frederick Courteney Selous and that the latter got good specimens of the giant eland. He discusses the differences between the ordinary eland and the giant eland and contemplates the coloration of Mrs. Gray’s waterbuck. Roosevelt makes “a special plea” to Stigand, asking him to write another book that includes his personal experiences, such as the time a lion mauled him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-15
Theodore Roosevelt sends Alfred E. Pease a pamphlet he wrote on protective coloration in animals, which he also sent to Frederick Courteney Selous, C. H. Stigand, and Edward North Buxton. “Homesick for the wilderness,” Kermit is out hunting in the Mexican desert and will soon finish his course at Harvard. Edmund Heller wrote Roosevelt about Paul James Rainey’s lion hunt using bear hounds. Unfortunately, Leslie J. Tarlton and V. M. Newland are in poor health. Roosevelt has “settled down into a perfectly quiet life” and does not “intend ever again to go away from Sagamore Hill.” He shares his recent rowing trip with Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-15
Theodore Roosevelt found R. J. Cuninghame’s recent letter “extremely interesting” and was particularly amused at the Swedish scientists’ decision to leave the elephants alone. The description of elephant behavior was intriguing. He is glad the Holland rifle worked and hopes Cuninghame likes Stewart Edward White. Edmund Heller recently wrote about Paul James Rainey’s success hunting lions with dogs and sent his pamphlet about white rhinoceros. However, Roosevelt is irritated that Heller did not describe the giant eland specimens. Roosevelt sends his pamphlet on animal coloration and expresses concern about Leslie J. Tarlton’s and V. M. Newland’s health.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-11
Theodore Roosevelt tells Leslie J. Tarlton that D. T. Abercrombie will attend to the cartridges and send him some from Tritton. Tarlton is to let Roosevelt know if they are satisfactory, as he experienced some issues with the Holland and Springfield cartridges on his African trip. Roosevelt has just written to Kermit who is at Harvard and will be interested to know what Karitura’s language was. He believes Kermit is homesick but growing up at Harvard. They speak often of the Africa trip, and Roosevelt would like to face another big-maned lion. He is irritated with William Bailey Howland for not going to England as it was fair to no one. Roosevelt sympathizes with Tarlton for having so many shooting parties to attend at once.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-28