Your TR Source
Young Theodore Roosevelt filled this notebook with his observations on various species of ants, spiders, ladybugs, butterflies, fireflies, beetles, dragonflies, hawks, minnows and crayfish.
1869
President Roosevelt holds a net and chases the “Harriman bug” that looks like a locomotive. On Roosevelt’s shoulder is the “presidential bug” and in the “specimen case” across his shoulder is the “oil bug,” “powder bug,” “tobacco bug,” “securities bug,” and “marine bug.” In the background is a building with the label, “hay all stored,” and a group of people cheering him on — “other varieties of bugs.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-10
Theodore Roosevelt tells Edmund Heller that he was the man on the expedition responsible for the most valuable contributions to the collection. Roosevelt and his son Kermit grew very fond of him as well. It was a shame Heller could not join another expedition, as the big game was taken care of but nothing could be done about the smaller animals. Heller’s pamphlet on insectivores is interesting and Roosevelt is honored to have a new genus named after him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-05
President Roosevelt assures that he will contact Surgeon-Major Edgar Alexander Mearns and see if his expertise in mammalogy and ornithology will translate to insects while in Africa.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-28
William Sturgis Bigelow tells President Roosevelt about the visit he had from the Lodge family, who have now departed. Anna Cabot Mills Lodge enjoyed the peace and quiet, but spent some time visiting George A. James, Henry Cabot Lodge’s recently widowed brother-in-law. Senator Lodge appeared invigorated by his success at the Republican National Convention in Chicago, and greatly enjoyed seeing all the newspaper reports praising him. Bigelow wishes that Lodge could continue to be somewhat more relaxed while he is in Europe, but thinks that Lodge is too much like Roosevelt in needing, and loving, to work. Bigelow describes some of the features of the island he is at, particularly the birds and june-bugs. He has heard that Roosevelt is enjoying Irish literature currently, and offers to send him a related encyclopedia.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07-12
A golf club drives a ball that is covered with insects. At the bottom is a ticket booth labeled “Conquest of the Air” where insects can purchase tickets for rides on golf balls. Caption: Barker — Wait right here, lady! There’ll be another one goin’ in a minute.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1910-08-10
Catalog of specimens of vertebrates, shells, and insects in Roosevelt’s collection, or that he hoped to add to his collection. Blank pages not digitized.
Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
1872-1879