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Theodore Roosevelt describes to his sister Anna a recent visit by his wife Edith’s mother and sister. He also discusses his and Edith’s trip to Geneseo. Both he and Edith are enjoying the country and sporting events. Roosevelt also discusses the upcoming presidential election and Fourth of July festivities.
1888-07-08
Theodore Roosevelt writes his sister Anna that he is very happy, and describes how he and his new wife Alice Lee Roosevelt have been spending their honeymoon in Oyster Bay, New York. He says that they will be making a trip to New York City soon, but he needs to find somewhere to stable his horse.
1880-11-10
The face of President Roosevelt appears with many arms extending from behind engaged in various activities, such as playing tennis, chopping wood, boxing, rowing, and signing papers making an “Appointment.” Caption: His annual rest at Oyster Bay.
For many years in Washington, D.C., it was not an option or mere tradition but an annual necessity for government workers to escape the District every year for an extended summer. The nation’s capital was basicall built on a swamp, in a zone that normally is high in humidity. Due to the humidity, and to temperatures routinely in the 90s and higher, the entire federal government frequently was “elsewhere” in summer months.
Theodore Roosevelt writes to his sister about an “assembly” he attended with Minot Weld, Henry Bainbridge Chapin, and Henry Jackson and tells her about the girls who were also in attendance. He also mentions a visit to Margey, who was upset that Corinne had not written her back.
1877-12-16
Theodore Roosevelt gives an account of his recent social activities. He mentions attending a party and the girls he danced with there, spending the night with the Weld family, and collecting snakes and salamanders.
1877-04-15
Theodore Roosevelt writes his sister Anna about his vacation on Mount Desert in Maine. He does not see much of Alice Lee but has spent time playing with the boys and loves the scenery.
1880-07-23
A fashionably dressed young woman sits on the edge of a pool, fishing.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1904-08-17
At center, a young woman at seaside writes to her beau in the city, asking when he can come down (in verse by Edwin L. Sabin). Surrounding the main image are scenes of summer life at the sea, at the resort, on the road, and at home.
S. D. Ehrhart became Puck‘s go-to cartoonist of humorous and light social commentary in special holiday and seasonal issues of the magazine in the century’s first decade. As here, his format was to feature one large drawing or central joke (or illustrating a poem related to the theme), surrounded by one-panel gags. Seldom did they refer to political issues, as magazines like Puck, Judge, and Life increasingly desired to attract general, and not narrowly partisan, readerships.
An elderly couple embarks on a leisurely grand tour of Europe, stopping in Ireland, Scotland, France, Germany, and Egypt, before returning home exhausted and in poor health from the activity and stress of travel.
Ehrhart’s theme and cartoon vignettes echoed the idea behind the very successful cartoon series in Life Magazine by Charles Dana Gibson only two years before, “The Education of Mr. Pipp.” In that series of cartoons, Mr. Pipp also had to deal with a flirtatious wife and three beautiful and eligible daughters as they “did the Tour” — traveled around Europe.
A woman lying in a hammock daydreams of engaging in various social and sport activities with handsome young men. She imagines herself shooting, sailing, dancing, sitting on a beach, golfing, playing ping-pong and badminton, and fencing.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1902-07-30
At center, a man looks out a garret window, daydreaming or musing on the life of the farmer. Vignettes around him offer humorous views of summer activities, including courtship, neighborly visiting, and swimming.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1902-07-16
A prim elderly woman admonishes a tramp lying on the ground next to a dirt road on the outskirts of a rural community. Caption: Mrs. Stern — Why don’t you brace up and be a man and take the place in society to which you are entitled? / Languid Lannigan (yawning) — Aw! Ping-pong is sich a bore don’t yer know!
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1902-06-04
Several scenes of wit and humor in life are depicted, including children swimming and being rebuked for playing baseball on the Sabbath, women doing plein air painting, men yachting, and young women discussing courtship. At bottom right, “American progression of three years (Next!)” shows a repair shop moving forward with the times, from wagon repair to bicycle repair and then to automobile repair.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1901-09-11
A tourist from the city stands on the steps of a railroad passenger car, speaking to an old man and a young boy standing on the platform at a train station in a quiet community known as “Restville.” A man with a heavy beard and smoking a pipe is leaning against the wall of the station. Another man sitting in a chair appears to be asleep. Caption: The Tourist. — Rather quiet here, isn’t it? Leading Citizen (of Restville). — Quiet? – why, say, even the unexpected don’t happen here!
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1901-06-26
Theodore Roosevelt encourages Mark Sullivan to take a holiday break, and when he returns to New York, Roosevelt proposes that they go out to eat with their wives somewhere.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-29
President Roosevelt questions Edward North Buxton about whether or not he should bring a gun for close-range shooting. He clarifies his decision to hire an Englishman to manage his caravan, and his choice of hunting guides for himself and his son Kermit. He hopes that he will be able to get permission to visit game reserves in British East Africa to shoot specimens for the National Museum, but he does not want special privileges that would not be extended to others. He plans to start his hunt at Alfred E. Pease’s ranch, and wants to know if it will be possible to keep the press away. He notes that his son Ted will be starting his new job while he and Kermit are hunting.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-10
President Roosevelt will start reading about socialism himself, and until he does, does not think it would be worthwhile for James Creelman to visit. When Creelman does visit, Roosevelt asks him to call on him in Washington, D.C., rather than at Oyster Bay, as Roosevelt already has to fight to have any free time while he is at home at Sagamore Hill.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-05
President Roosevelt asks Marvin Hughitt to be honest about if he wants Roosevelt’s son, Kermit Roosevelt, to go on the hunting trip.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-10
President Roosevelt tells Secretary of War Taft that he was shocked at how readily he took to having free time. While Roosevelt describes some of the various outings he has gone on with his son, Kermit Roosevelt, or his wife, Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, he comments that, “to-day, having no companion to incite me to anything, I just haven’t done anything.” He will do as Taft suggests regarding writing to Judge John Marshall Harlan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-21
Corinne Roosevelt Robinson thanks President Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt for “those two happy evenings” spent at the White House the previous week and for sending a copy of the inauguration speech. Since speaking with Roosevelt, Robinson has heard even more discouraging news about Colonel Crane in Puerto Rico.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-02