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Theodore Roosevelt will send the letter and enclosure to Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson. Roosevelt does not understand why Edmund Heller has not published pamphlets on the white rhino or eland.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-07
Theodore Roosevelt sends William E. Coffin the list. However, he is confused by the question of guides and professional hunters. He describes how during the kills on his safari, he was usually alone or had another amateur, white hunter with him. The native gun-bearers typically found the game. As such, Roosevelt does not feel he deserves “high honor” in these cases. The same is mostly true for his American hunts, although sometimes he did have guides.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-25
Theodore Roosevelt says that Edmund Heller has his blessing to go to Africa. He tells Charles D. Wolcott that he would prefer for Heller’s pamphlet on the giant eland to be published before he leaves.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-10
After speaking with Edmund Heller further, Theodore Roosevelt has concluded that it is not wise for Heller to travel to Africa at the current time. He notes that there is a history of collectors collecting many specimens for museums and then not studying them further. He thinks it will be more valuable for Heller to remain in the United States and finish writing a full report on the specimens collected during Roosevelt’s African expedition.
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Walcott, Charles D. (Charles Doolittle), 1850-1927
2023-08-31
Theodore Roosevelt has sent C. E. Fagan’s note to Edmund Heller. He was interested in the Country Life article.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-07-15
Theodore Roosevelt hopes that Archibald Roosevelt has not lost the letter from Heller, which contained valuable information. Roosevelt also hopes that Archibald and Quentin Roosevelt will attend a summer military camp in the summer not just because it will be good for them, but because it will set a good example for the rest of the country.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-03-20
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Charles C. Adams for the review of Life Histories of African Game Animals, which Roosevelt co-authored with Edmund Heller. Roosevelt acknowledges Adams’s criticism and admits he should have read the two books on elephants which Adams named. His only defense is that someone who could have written a better book – in this case, Carl Ethan Akeley – did not do so, so Roosevelt was compelled to write, even though he did not have sufficient time to devote to the work.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-03-18
Theodore Roosevelt has just received Frank Finn’s book on Indian Sporting Birds, which he is eager to read. Roosevelt has sent him the book Life Histories of African Big Game which he wrote in collaboration with Edmund Heller. Since it is the time of the Great War, perhaps Finn is not interested; Roosevelt merely wants to know if he has received the book.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-01-04
Theodore Roosevelt has undertaken a libel suit against a Michigan editor who publicly accused Roosevelt of being a “habitual drinker.” Roosevelt would like Edgar Alexander Mearns to testify to the fact that Roosevelt “practically drank nothing during our African trip.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1913-02-01
Theodore Roosevelt agrees that perhaps they should wait on filing a criminal suit against George A. Newett. Roosevelt also proposes several witnesses that James H. Pound could take depositions from for his case.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-12-13
President Roosevelt provides Italian ambassador Edmondo Mayor des Planches with details related to his upcoming visit to Italy. Roosevelt describes the members of his party, his expected arrival and departure dates, and the luggage required for collecting and shipping back animals and birds. Roosevelt appreciates the Italian government’s offer to help with customs matters. On his way out on safari, he wishes to merely travel as a private citizen, with no official reception. On his return, he hopes it may be possible to call on King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy when he visits Rome.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-24
President Roosevelt asks Charles D. Wolcott to inform J. Alden Loring and Edmund Heller that they are not supposed to write anything for publication regarding Roosevelt’s African safari until after Roosevelt’s book and articles are published, and that this includes making sure that any of their letters home to their families are not published.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-03
Theodore Roosevelt has had Edgar Alexander Mearns detailed from the army and under the direction of Charles D. Walcott of the Smithsonian Institution. Larger animals on the expedition will be shot by Theodore or Kermit Roosevelt. Roosevelt is interested in adding reptiles and freshwater fish to the specimens collected. The curing and transportation of the specimens will be paid for by the Smithsonian.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-03
Theodore Roosevelt asks Edgar Alexander Mearns to tell J. Alden Loring and Mr. Heller that they are not allowed to publish anything related to the expedition until after Roosevelt’s articles and book have appeared. They must also make sure that letters to families or friends are not published.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-03
If J. Alden Loring wishes to join the expedition to Africa, President Roosevelt will inform Charles D. Walcott, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. However, he advises Loring that no member of the expedition party will be able to write about the trip until after Roosevelt has published his own articles and book as per his agreement with Scribner’s. The big game hunting will also only be done by Theodore and Kermit Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-02
President Roosevelt thanks Annie Montague Alexander for her letter and her kindness. If she will be in Washington this winter, he would like to see her. He has written to Edmund Heller and will have Charles D. Walcott write Heller as well.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-24
C. Hart Merriam will lunch with Theodore Roosevelt on Tuesday at Oyster Bay. Edmund Heller will also join. Merriam is glad Roosevelt is pleased with his review of Life Histories of African Game Animals.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-05-04
A manuscript that Theodore Roosevelt wrote C. Hart Merriam about has not yet been received. Merriam sends the information Roosevelt requested on the spotted skunk.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1913-03-31
Kermit Roosevelt describes the work he is doing in Brazil. He finds the work very interesting and something he is fitted for. He also talks about the wildlife there and an encounter with a “barefooted old man” who brought him an armadillo, which he “saved.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912
Charles D. Walcott signed a letter to Henry Fairfield Osborn notifying him of the transfer of two white rhinoceros skins that Theodore Roosevelt collected. He was sorry to hear of Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt’s accident and hopes she is recovering, especially as he knows what it is like to have someone close experience a serious accident. Childs Frick and Edmund Heller are in Abyssinia (Ethiopia) to augment the specimens collected while on safari with Roosevelt. Walcott will soon be in New York City and hopes to see Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-03