Household employees

Emily Tyler Carow describes her experiences in Egypt, including her concern about an “undercurrent of hostility” that seems to be present in the Egyptian Arab people. Carow tells Roosevelt about her conversations with Lord Evelyn Baring Cromer and his dinner guests, which have been about topics such as the British occupation of Egypt, the American occupation of Cuba and the insular possession of the Philippines, whether Roosevelt will run for president again, and the natural beauty of the desert.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-01

Creator(s)

Carow, Emily Tyler, 1865-1939

Lieutenant Scott from the USS Missouri reports on his landing team’s work in disaster relief in Kingston, Jamaica. The men under his command assisted in tearing down walls that had been made unstable, removing dead bodies from the rubble, and disinfecting streets and areas where the dead were found. The people of the city were deeply appreciative of their help.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-19

Creator(s)

Scott, W. Pitt (William Pitt), 1873-1942

Theodore Roosevelt arrives at the White House after a vacation at Oyster Bay. Following him, carrying the luggage, is William Loeb. Uncle Sam meets them at the entrance, dressed as a 17th century French butler. Caption: T.R.–Now, Sam, let’s get to work! / Sam–Yes, Sir; thank you, sir!

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1906-09-26

Theodore Roosevelt introduces Arthur von Briesen to Helen Suydam Wilmerding, an acquaintance who is interested in a case made against her servant. Roosevelt asks Briesen to advise her on how to take action to ensure her servant receives fair treatment.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-29

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt is pleased to hear that Belle Roosevelt’s family will be visiting her in Argentina. He is glad that Belle has her “fireplace in trim for the cold weather” and wishes he could meet the Portuguese maid and Japanese cook. Roosevelt provides brief updates on various family members.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-05-31

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt has enjoyed reading By the Fireside with Edith. Roosevelt also connected to Charles Wagner’s previous book, The Simple Life. Edith Roosevelt sent Ethel the chapter on By the Fireside about relating to servants. Ethel is of “a somewhat masterful temper.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-06-13

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Kermit Roosevelt asks Theodore Roosevelt to send copies of a book to several people in Brazil. Kermit Roosevelt also describes how Belle Roosevelt is settling into their new home, and promises to write again soon about business.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Kermit, 1889-1943

Photograph of three White House staff posing in a room in the White House, taken during President Roosevelt’s administration.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1902

Creator(s)

Clinedinst, Barnett McFee, 1862-1953

Kermit Roosevelt describes life in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with Belle Roosevelt; including Belle’s driving habits, their servants, and home life. He is pleased that Theodore Roosevelt won the libel suit. Kermit intends to enlist if the United States enters the war.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1915-05-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Kermit, 1889-1943

Theodore Roosevelt departs from the White House, leaving an infant labeled “My Policies,” wearing the same spectacles as Roosevelt and holding a small stick, in the care of William H. Taft as the maid. William Loeb, as the butler, is carrying Roosevelt’s big stick.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1909-02-24

An African American man and woman stand in the dining room at Bulloch Hall, the scene of the marriage of President Roosevelt’s parents. Written on verso: Otey B. Mitchell, Bulloch Hall, dining room.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1907-03-27

Creator(s)

Unknown

Theodore Roosevelt likes the picture that Mr. Webb has sent and discusses his family’s chauffeur, who is “the son of General Lee’s body-servant.” Roosevelt also sends his regards to Webb’s wife.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-06-12

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

At center is a place for Republicans to go to commiserate while awaiting the next election. Such stalwart Republicans as George F. Edmunds, John Sherman, William M. Evarts, George F. Hoar, and Thomas B. Reed wait there. Surrounding vignettes show a prominent citizen being escorted by two “Bureau of Public Comfort” guards who keep the press at bay, a sewing station for women’s clothing after a round of bargain shopping, a room where anarchists can blow off some steam “without disturbing anybody,” an educational facility to help orient newcomers to the ways of the city, and a hypnotist who attempts to convince servants to work in the country. Caption: Some of the useful purposes it might serve.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1893-10-25

Creator(s)

Opper, Frederick Burr, 1857-1937

The father of an upwardly mobile family is forced to keep pace financially with his wife’s ambitions. The main vignette shows the father perspiring as he works harder, using a large pump labeled “Business” to pour more money into “Paterfamilias’ Pocket Book” to which a queue of tradesmen labeled “Caterer, Chef, Modiste, Carriage dealer, Milliner, Decorator, Furniture dealer, Florist, Jeweler, [and] Wine dealer” help themselves. The surrounding vignettes depict lavish parties, artwork on the walls, more frequent purchases of clothing for the children, his wife’s new understanding of the term “cottage,” and the increase in the size of the servant staff.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1895-08-21

Creator(s)

Opper, Frederick Burr, 1857-1937

An Irish American woman labeled “Walking Delegate” displays the “By-Laws of the Help Lady’s Union” during a dinner party hosted by an elderly woman sitting at a table with her guests. Women domestics are seen removing their aprons, as a man in the background orders the “Walking Delegate” to leave.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1899-02-08

Creator(s)

Ehrhart, S. D. (Samuel D.), approximately 1862-1937

In a kitchen, a petite woman implores her muscular Irish cook to continue in her duties. The cook shakes her fist in defiance.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1883-05-09

Creator(s)

Opper, Frederick Burr, 1857-1937

Print shows an Irishman man labeled “Democracy” standing at center, holding a small glass slipper labeled “’84 Presidential Nomination”, with Samuel J. Tilden and Charles A. Dana as courtiers standing behind him. On the left, sitting in a chair is Benjamin F. Butler, as a housemaid, holding up a huge foot, an oversized shoe labeled “Unanimous Renomination” is on the floor next to the chair. Butler claims to be “Cinderella” (and like Dickens’ “Barkis,” he is willing), though the others look with dismay at the size of his foot. Caption: B. Butler “Here’s your Cinderella, gentlemen – you needn’t go any further.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1883-10-03

Creator(s)

Gillam, Bernhard, 1856-1896

Joseph Gurney Cannon hands a shoe labeled “Stand Pat” to J. S. Sherman, who is shining shoes labeled “Conservatism, Reactionary, Special Privileges, [and] Vested Interests.” Senator Nelson W. Aldrich, peers through an open door.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1908-07-29

Creator(s)

Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956

After Quentin Roosevelt’s death, it has been a great comfort for Theodore Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt to visit Ethel Roosevelt Derby and the children. Roosevelt relates an incident where Richard Derby, Jr., angled to get a new toy and he describes Edith Roosevelt Derby as a “fairy princess.” Flora Whitney will be visiting tomorrow and Quentin’s death has been very difficult for her. The Derby’s neighbors have been friendly, and Roosevelt gave them a speech in response.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-08-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt writes to Anna Roosevelt Cowles that he enjoyed William Sheffield Cowles Jr.’s recent visit. Roosevelt explains that they have secured permission to build a new road on their property and describes the redevelopment to accommodate motor vehicles. Roosevelt is amused by the effect of their newfound mobility on Ethel Roosevelt, Kermit Roosevelt, and their friends; they visit friends who live farther away and these guests reciprocate by visiting the Roosevelts’ home too. Roosevelt explains that he is glad they did not have a car before this summer, because he would rather not socialize so much. He updates Anna on the academic interests and college plans of Archibald Roosevelt. Archie and Quentin Roosevelt have taken to playing tennis together, which makes Roosevelt happy, and Quentin also plays baseball with James the butler. Roosevelt speaks very highly of the staff and servants of the house and stable, who are black, and the gardeners and the chauffeur, who are “native Americans.” Roosevelt hopes Anna can visit in the fall or spring and is glad he was able to visit her the past spring. He tells her that the Emlen Roosevelts have had a difficult time because of Aunt Lizzie (Elizabeth Emlen Roosevelt), who is feeble and suffering from mental illness. However, Edith just spent time with Aunt Lizzie and enjoyed it.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1911-07-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919