Kenya--Nairobi

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward North Buxton

President Roosevelt writes to Edward North Buxton about his upcoming safari, including details about the outfitting of his trip, as well as his travel plans. Roosevelt will accept Alfred E. Pease’s invitation to visit his ranch to begin his journey and get acclimated. He then plans to make several trips from the railway to get into good game-country. Roosevelt plans to get Kermit Roosevelt a camera to do photography on the trip, and hopes to have a couple field taxidermists accompany him as well, as the trip will have a naturalist purpose behind it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt is grateful for the assistance that Frederick Courteney Selous and Edward North Buxton are providing in planning his African safari. Roosevelt hopes to leave the United States in early April, and will stay first at the ranch of Alfred E. Pease in Nairobi, British East Africa. Other tentative plans include hunting in Uganda and along Nile tributaries. Roosevelt thinks he will arrange to make the trip on behalf of the National Museum of Natural History and hopes he will be allowed certain privileges not granted to non-scientific sportsmen.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. H. Patterson

President Roosevelt thanks J. H. Patterson for the letter, saying that it told him exactly what he wanted to know. Roosevelt is very excited about his upcoming safari in Africa, and says he will follow Patterson’s advice to make his main trip British East Africa, and describes his plans there. Much of his hunting will be done for the Smithsonian Institution, with whom he is partnering for the trip, although he would like to take two or three trophies for his own use, if it is permitted. Roosevelt would be very glad if Patterson would be able to visit him at the White House before he leaves office, and describes a visit he had with some other people.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt asks Frederick Courteney Selous for advice about which provisions and supplies he should select for his African safari and whether they should be sent from England.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-21

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Michael

If it is no bother to William H. Michael, American Consul General in India, President Roosevelt asks if he would send enough green shikari cloth to make two suits to Newland, Tarlton & Company in Nairobi. The cloth cannot be obtained in the United States, and Roosevelt has heard it is the best for hunting in the forest. The bill should be sent to Douglas Robinson.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to R. J. Cunninghame

Discussing his upcoming African safari, President Roosevelt would like to get buffalo in a spot accessible to the railroad, as he wants to ship the skins back to the United States National Museum. Roosevelt is glad that R. J. Cunninghame was able to engage Leslie J. Tarlton, and discusses proper arrangements for gun-bearers, horses, and mules. Roosevelt encloses a letter from Hugh H. Heatley inviting him to hunt on his ranch in Nairobi.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt updates Frederick Courteney Selous on the preparations for his Africa trip. He is giving caravan manager R. J. Cunninghame the “power commensurate with his responsibility,” and has directed him to hire support staff. Roosevelt wants to pay his bills before leaving for Africa, and asks Selous to request that they be sent over. He likes the double-barreled Holland rifle, and looks forward to seeing Selous on the steamer at Naples. In a postscript, he wonders if Selous could arrange for pipe tobacco to be sent to Nairobi for Kermit.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to R. J. Cunninghame

President Roosevelt places R. J. Cunninghame in charge of managing his safari caravan, and details his expectations for the trip. Roosevelt wants to begin hunting as quickly as possible after arriving in British East Africa and spending several weeks at Alfred E. Pease’s ranch to improve his physical fitness. Cunninghame should hire the necessary support staff and porters at his discretion. Roosevelt wants to hunt some of the “common game” near the railroad so that their skins can be easily transported, but he also hopes to kill big game and is willing to “go to any trouble” to do so.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-31

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Newland, Tarlton & Company

President Roosevelt informs Newland, Tarlton & Company that he has asked Smith, Mackenzie & Company to forward an outfit, and asks that they store it until it is needed. He has also arranged for R. J. Cunninghame to make additional purchases, as he will be managing Roosevelt’s safari. Roosevelt plans to stay in Nairobi for only a day before leaving for Sir Alfred Pease’s ranch, and hopes that Newland, Tarlton & Company will be occasionally able to store some of his gear.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to R. J. Cunninghame

President Roosevelt was pleased to learn from Frederick Courteney Selous that R. J. Cunninghame had been hired to lead his upcoming African safari. He explains his current plans for the trip, hunting through East Africa for eight or nine months and then meeting boats at Gondokoro and traveling down the Nile River. Roosevelt hopes to hunt some big game to be given as specimens to the National Museum, but does not wish to indiscriminately slaughter animals while he is there. He would also like to avoid hunting in the vicinity of Nairobi, as there are sure to be newspapermen, and instead plans to head to the ranches of Sir Alfred E. Pease and Sir William Northrup McMillan at first. Roosevelt asks Cunninghame to communicate with Smith, Mackenzie & Co., and Newland, Tarlton & Co. to find out when his supplies reach Africa, and to make any arrangements necessary.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alfred E. Pease

President Roosevelt has spoken with a number of people about his upcoming African safari, and informs Alfred E. Pease of his plans as they now stand.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Winchester Repeating Arms Company

President Roosevelt has just spoken with Billy Hofer, who suggested that the Winchester Repeating Arms Company may have shipped hollow-point bullets for Roosevelt to use during his safari. Roosevelt does not remember ordering hollow-point bullets, and would like to receive a full accounting of this claim. Roosevelt also asks the Winchester Repeating Arms Company to make a duplicate of his present .405 rifle. He inquires of the possibility of sending materials to Khartoum rather than Mombasa, and asks to be notified when the current shipment reaches Mombasa.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Melville Elijah Stone

President Roosevelt tells Melville Elijah Stone that “all that can be done against my will” is for the correspondents to go to Mombasa or Nairobi with Roosevelt, and then meet him again at Khartoum. Roosevelt is not particularly bothered by this, but it is a minor inconvenience. He does not want any reporters with him on his actual safari.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-05

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward North Buxton

President Roosevelt tells Edward North Buxton that with the election of president-elect William H. Taft successfully concluded he can go abroad with “a clear conscience and an easy heart.” Roosevelt sends Buxton a copy of a letter he received, and asks for Buxton’s opinion on several matters raised by the author of the letter, primarily in reference to the sorts of guns and traveling supplies Roosevelt will bring with him on safari. Roosevelt asks Buxton to procure some of the mentioned supplies.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to F. R. Wingate

President Roosevelt attempts to assuage F. R. Wingate’s embarrassment about previously addressing him by the wrong title, saying that “not one in ten” Americans know his proper title. Roosevelt is touched by the effort so many English people have made to help with preparations for his safari, both his friends and also various officials he is not acquainted with. He sympathizes with Wingate’s feeling about the lack of development in the Sudan, comparing it to American improvements in the Philippines, where ambitions were high, but a lack of funds disrupted the projects. Roosevelt will communicate with Wingate from Nairobi, and relates his plans for traveling and hunting. Roosevelt reflects that he “ought to feel melancholy over leaving the Presidency,” but the excitement of his upcoming safari dwarfs any such feelings.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt thanks Ambassador Reid for what he said to Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes, and will accept the offer of the special shooting license for himself and his son Kermit. He is glad that Crewe-Milnes understands that he does not want a fuss in Nairobi when he first arrives. Roosevelt wants to go directly to Mombasa, and from there to Alfred E. Pease’s ranch. Roosevelt also states that Reid’s feeling about the complications in the Balkans was justified, and that what Reid heard about his answer to the women’s suffrage people is true. He is amused with the cartoon of himself and the article on Reid, and shares Reid’s feeling on caricatures.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt is pleased to learn that Frederick Courteney Selous has engaged R. J. Cunninghame as head man for his upcoming hunting trip in Africa. He believes that they can get all the Shikari guides they need from William Northrup McMillan. He agrees with Selous’s suggestion of sending the boxes of provisions to Nairobi. Roosevelt notes that he would like to go straight to Alfred E. Pease’s ranch and not go to Nairobi until later, unless his friends think that would be inadvisable. He discusses several routes he might take to hunt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt is pleased to hear that Frederick Courteney Selous has written to R. J. Cunninghame about being head man on his upcoming trip to Africa. He is also glad to hear that William Northrup McMillan is willing to provide him with hunters for the trip. However, Roosevelt wants it made clear that Cunninghame has the final say on personnel on the trip. Roosevelt is glad he will have the opportunity to try to kill buffalo, but wants to make it clear that he is more focused on acquiring the main big game. He also clarifies that he does not aim to get record specimens but simply good ones.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward North Buxton

President Roosevelt is worried about what he hears from Governor of Kenya James Hayes Sadler about an event at a ballroom of 150 people. He tells Edward North Buxton that if it would not appear “churlish,” he would like to avoid public and formal events when he first arrives in Africa and go straight to Alfred E. Pease’s ranch from Mombasa. Abel Chapman’s book has made Roosevelt worried about his ability to shoot wildebeest, as well as the possibility of catching fever. He reflects on his time as president and says he will leave office “pleased and contented.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick John Jackson

President Roosevelt thanks Lieutenant-Governor Jackson for his letter and advice on which outfitters to use on his trip to Africa. Roosevelt outlines his initial travel plans, and encloses an itinerary from a German officer, on which he asks Jackson’s opinion. He discusses the many kinds of animals that he and his son Kermit Roosevelt would like to shoot, and assures Jackson that the majority of the trophies will be for the National Museum. Roosevelt asks advice on the types of formal clothes to bring to Africa.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-02