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President Roosevelt forwards to his son Kermit a letter from Harvard Dean Byron Hurlbut, and he wants Kermit to visit Hurlbut. Ted has an interview with Robert Perkins regarding working at his carpet works. Major Austin Wadsworth is visiting. Roosevelt encloses a letter from Alfred E. Pease regarding the Africa trip.
1908-09-05
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Edgar Huidekoper Wells of his two sons, Archibald “Archie” B. Roosevelt and Kermit Roosevelt. Archie passed two of his four subjects this year, of which Roosevelt is very pleased and may allow him to get in to Harvard University next year. Roosevelt asks if he might get the test papers for Archie’s civics test to better understand what Archie failed in. Kermit Roosevelt was granted permission to start school a few days late so he might finish hunting moose, caribou, and beaver in New Brunswick on behalf of the National Museum. Kermit wrote of his hunting experience and his essay was accepted by Scribner’s Magazine.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-02
President Roosevelt writes to his son, Kermit Roosevelt on a variety of matters. Roosevelt is proud of his elder son, Theodore Roosevelt, for doing well in Harvard after his past “scrapes” with dean Byron S. Hurlbut, but he is also very glad that Kermit does not seem to be getting into those scrapes in the first place and has been spoken of highly by Hurlbut. Roosevelt suggests that they practice shooting at Oyster Bay before leaving on safari, as they will both be out of practice. Roosevelt’s daughter, Ethel is in the middle of debutante season. The Roosevelt family has enjoyed having several visitors recently, including James Wolcott Wadsworth, C. Grant La Farge and Florence Bayard Lockwood La Farge.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-13
President Roosevelt encloses a letter for Arthur Woods to deliver, and asks if he can arrange to come to lunch to discuss matters. Roosevelt is planning to leave on safari before the end of the Harvard school year, and assumes this will mean that Kermit Roosevelt will not do any “work of value” after the middle of the term.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-21
President Roosevelt tells Charles Evans Hughes that he went to Harvard. Roosevelt says the dean, Byron S. Hurlbut, is “a mighty fine fellow” and asks Hughes if he can do as Hurlbut asks in the enclosed item.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-11-05
President Roosevelt updates his son Kermit Roosevelt on his older brother’s well being and visit home to the White House, sharing “that little bird was very, very glad indeed to get back in the nest.” Roosevelt agrees with Dean of Harvard College Bryon S. Hurlbut that his son Theodore Roosevelt, Ted, has been given undue negative attention from Boston District Attorney John B. Moran who merely wants “to make political capital for himself.” Roosevelt has been busy, but tells Kermit he has time to take a ride with his mother, Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-07
President Roosevelt writes an encouraging letter to his son Ted Roosevelt, who has been placed on academic probation at Harvard. He includes portions of letters from Dean Byron S. Hurlbut and Professor William R. Castle, showing that people at Harvard feel kindly toward him and believe that he can overcome this setback. He urges his son to study hard and focus on academics, rather than athletics or a social life.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-02-23
Ferdinand V. Blair reintroduces himself to Theodore Roosevelt as Kermit Roosevelt’s Harvard acquaintance with an interest in the consular service whom he met previously. Unforeseen circumstances led him to take a position as a high school math teacher. He wants a new career and asks Roosevelt if he knows of any opportunities “to make good” with “a chance of promotion.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-12
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-04
Edgar Huidekoper Wells of Harvard writes to Arthur Woods of Groton School to discuss the suggestion of Kermit Roosevelt taking six half-courses before leaving on President Roosevelt’s African Safari. Wells says that he thinks that, while few of these courses are available to freshmen, Kermit could likely get at least five half-courses together. Wells thinks it would be better if Kermit would take full courses, but acknowledges that there are difficulties in trying to do that. In certain meritorious cases, Wells says, students are allowed to split full courses, but this most often happens in the context of disease, and he is not sure how the administrative board would view Kermit’s case. Wells believes President Roosevelt should write to Dean Byron Satterlee Hurlbut to make sure he has the full facts. The first page of this letter is missing.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07