Jordan, David Starr, 1851-1931

Five book reviews on six different books comprise this edition of the “Book Notes” column. In his review, Richard H. Collins focuses on Kathleen Dalton’s contribution to Robert J. Brugger’s Our Selves/Our Past, Psychological Approaches to American History. Dalton embraces a psychohistory approach to understanding Theodore Roosevelt, emphasizing his commitment to overcoming his childhood asthma and living the strenuous life. Collins argues that this approach is misguided and ignores Roosevelt’s class and his formidable intellect. Patrick C. Gable commends John Morton Blum for his appraisal of Roosevelt in The Progressive Presidents, but he faults him for blaming Roosevelt for the misdeeds and excesses of his Democratic successors.

Peter R. Fischer finds Charles C. Goetsch’s Essays on Simeon E. Baldwin “a worthwhile collection,” but he thinks the confrontation between Roosevelt and Baldwin over a federal labor law may not merit the importance that Goetsch assigns it. Elizabeth E. Roosevelt praises Mary Helen Dohan’s Mr. Roosevelt’s Steamboat for its depictions of life along the Mississippi River and for not overlooking the contributions of Lydia Latrobe Roosevelt to her husband’s success. Dennis Wood reviews Paul Schullery’s The Grand Canyon and Old Yellowstone Days. Theodore Roosevelt has an essay in each of these collections of writings about iconic American landscapes.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

A program for the seventh annual meeting of the American Breeders Association listing the speakers and their lecture topics.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-12-22

List of unknown origin titled “American Members of the League for International Conciliation,” enclosed with a letter created by Nobel Prize winner Nicholas Murray Butler. Andrew Carnegie and Andrew D. White are listed as “Honorary Presidents,” 12 people are listed under “Council of Direction,” and 46 people are listed as “Members.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-05

District Forester Olmsted encloses several letters, and renews his recommendation to Chief Forester Graves that the Pinnacles Division of the Monterey National Forest be eliminated.

Collection

Pinnacles National Park

Creation Date

1910-08-13

Acting District Forester Headley writes to Stanford University Professor Dudley regarding an earlier letter from Frederick Erskine Olmsted about the preservation of the Pinnacles area and its removal from Monterey National Forest. Headley points out that one of the reasons for the inclusion of the Pinnacles in the National Forest was to help ensure the protection of the area, but since the preservation goal has been secured by the designation of Pinnacles National Monument, the administration of the area as part of the National Forest is no longer necessary.

Collection

Pinnacles National Park

Creation Date

1910-07-28

Acting District Forester Headley writes to Schuyler Colfax Hain regarding an earlier letter from Frederick Erskine Olmsted to David Starr Jordan about the preservation of the Pinnacles. Headley points out that one of the reasons for the creation of the National Forest was to help ensure the protection of the natural features of the area, but since that preservation goal has been secured by the designation of Pinnacles National Monument, the administration of the area as part of the National Forest is no longer necessary.

Collection

Pinnacles National Park

Creation Date

1910-07-28

District Forester Olmsted asks Schuyler Colfax Hain his opinion regarding the proposed elimination of the Pinnacles from Monterey National Forest. Olmsted encloses a copy of his letter to David Starr Jordan. If Hain replies, Olmsted will forward his views to Forester Raymond Tyler.

Collection

Pinnacles National Park

Creation Date

1910-07-13

In this article, which appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, the location of Pinnacles National Monument is described, along with information on the Pinnacles’ discovery by George Vancouver, and their designation as a national monument through the efforts of Theodore Roosevelt and David Starr Jordan.

Collection

Pinnacles National Park

Creation Date

1917-04-08

Regional Supervisor of Historic Sites Hagen provides a brief history of the area containing Pinnacles National Monument, tracing its history from the time of Spanish occupation of the region and the possible first discovery of the Pinnacle rock formations by Captain George Vancouver. While Hagen notes that there is some evidence of prehistoric occupation of the area, he says that it does not appear to have supported permanent populations, and in fact “received little attention until long after the American occupation of California.” He notes that the area is believed to have been used as a hide-out for outlaws at one point.

Collection

Pinnacles National Park

Creation Date

1941-04-28

Clyde Leavitt received the copies of District Forester William B. Greeley’s letters to David Starr Jordan and Schuyler Colfax Hain. Leavitt argues that little would materially change if the Pinnacles Division were eliminated from Monterey National Forest, as the Pinnacles would still be protected as a national monument. He suggests that if Jordan and Hain understood that, their opposition to the proposal might be lessened. He acknowledges, however, that provision for fire suppression and protection from vandalism would be lost.

Collection

Pinnacles National Park

Creation Date

1910-07-20

Hero Eugene Rensch reports that the explorer Captain George Vancouver wrote the most about the Pinnacles in 1794, and that they were relatively undocumented from that time until Harold W. Fairbanks wrote about them in the 1890s. After 1900, local newspapers and tourism booklets mentioned the Pinnacles “as unusual wonders of nature.” It was David Starr Jordan, the President of Stanford University, taking an interest in the Pinnacles which spurred President Theodore Roosevelt to create Pinnacles National Monument.

Collection

Pinnacles National Park

Creation Date

1936-02-07

Theodore Roosevelt praises the Armed Forces and veterans of the Civil War. He also praises Father Edward Vattmann and other speakers of the evening as proud examples of loyal Americans with German ancestry. He calls for all of the various ethnic groups in America to come together under one language and one flag and condemns pacifists and anti-war politicians like Senator Robert M. La Follette. Roosevelt says all able-bodied men should join the fight and that America needs to be better prepared for war in the future.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-09-26

Theodore Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit Roosevelt about his upcoming trip to Louisiana. He says he will write a book with chapters on his travels to the Andes, Patagonia, Brazil, and Arizona. Roosevelt says his latest book, Through the Brazilian Wilderness, is getting recognition, but he is unhappy that Scribner’s changed the title. He is sending Kermit South of Panama by Edward Alsworth Ross and looks forward to hearing Kermit’s thoughts on it. Roosevelt also gives his opinions on the War in Europe and President Woodrow Wilson.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1915-05-31

President Roosevelt must turn down Clara Hay’s invitation for January 9 as President Jordan will likely be staying at the White House.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-12-27

Theodore Roosevelt wishes he could attend the dinner at the Metropolitan Club to meet David Starr Jordan. However, he cannot.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-07

Theodore Roosevelt encloses a letter from Stanford University president David Starr Jordan for his son Theodore “Ted” Roosevelt. He has instructed Jordan to write Ted, and Ted will carry out his plan. He asks Ted to ask Jordan if that is all right. Roosevelt provides times and days for his trip between Phoenix and Los Angeles, and from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-08

Theodore Roosevelt thanks W. S. Rainsford for his note. He welcomes criticism and “valuable suggestions” from Rainsford and others.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-07

Theodore Roosevelt used one of Flavel Sweeten Luther’s letters in his book on World War I. Like Luther, Roosevelt has never been able to make an impression on pacifists. Roosevelt believes that Woodrow Wilson and William Jennings Bryan subordinate public consideration to personal advantage.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-05-29

Theodore Roosevelt declines Seth Low’s invitation to participate in a debate with David Starr Jordan. Roosevelt vehemently declares that he would rather debate white slave trafficking than debate Jordan. He will write to Ralph M. Easley more discreetly on the subject.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-11-30

President Roosevelt sends Ambassador Griscom letters concerning Charles Henry Huberich, and believes that Huberich is the right man for the position at Stanford University Law School.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-27