Lion

The British Lion, the Russian Bear, a cat labeled Austria, and three dogs labeled “France, Italy, [and] Germany” gather around a table for Thanksgiving dinner. The British Lion is holding a large knife labeled “Dismemberment of Turkey,” but the platter is empty. Looking in from the left is a turkey wearing a fez labeled “Turkey.” Caption: Turkey — Ha! Ha! How disappointed they look! Now I have lots to be thankful for.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1903-11-25

President Roosevelt tells William Sturgis Bigelow the book is the “most interesting present I have received.” Roosevelt especially enjoyed the night photographs of the lions. The president also remarks, “Banzai! How the fur will fly when Nogi joins Ōyama!”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Fred Thompson is sending Theodore Roosevelt a lioness that he no longer has a use for.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-25

Creator(s)

Thompson, Fred, 1873-1919

Cecil Andrew Lyon forwards Theodore Roosevelt a clipping from R. W. Marshal regarding George Grey’s death following an encounter with a lion.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-01

Creator(s)

Lyon, Cecil Andrew, 1869-1916

President Roosevelt misspelled Rebecca W. Heney’s last name as “Heany” on a photograph he presented to her, and she would like a new one. Francis J. Heney has supported Roosevelt’s reformed spelling campaign, but fears his relations in Ireland would resent the reforms. Referring to Roosevelt’s imminent departure for Africa, Heney laments that the country will lose its “most valiant leader and fighter” at its “most critical period.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-12

Creator(s)

Heney, Francis J. (Francis Joseph), 1859-1937

Frederick Courtney Selous discusses concerns about President Roosevelt’s upcoming trip to Africa. Selous gives his opinions on the provisions, safari guides, equipment porters, and the hunting of big game animals. Selous includes a postscript informing Roosevelt that everything has been shipped and should arrive in Nairobi by early March.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-25

Creator(s)

Selous, Frederick Courteney, 1851-1917

Draft manuscript containing an essay, “The lion,” by Frederick Courteney Selous. Selous recounts many stories of lions attacking people and animals, and of adventures involving lions. He also addresses lions more scientifically, and offers a description of the habits and living conditions of lions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-03

Creator(s)

Selous, Frederick Courteney, 1851-1917

C. Hart Merriam returns the manuscript written by Frederick Courteney Selous with thanks. Merriam found the facts about the cape hunting dog most interesting.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-03

Creator(s)

Merriam, C. Hart (Clinton Hart), 1855-1942

Architect J. Stewart Barney encloses a letter written to Right Reverend Henry Yates Satterlee. Barney needs information for a lectern he is working on and Rev. Dr. Goodwin suggested that he contact President Roosevelt. He encloses a photograph of the model, apologizes for the quality of the photograph, and explains his design that symbolizes “the union of England and America.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05-17

Creator(s)

Barney, J. Stewart (John Stewart), -1925

William W. Hart tells President Roosevelt that the remounting job is complete and the heads have been re-hung at Sagamore Hill. Hart has enclosed bills for the work and discusses some of the details of the taxidermy labor and mentions other work that could be done. Hart looks forward to receiving more “fresh specimens” from Roosevelt to showcase his art.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-05

Creator(s)

Hart, William W. (William Wallace), 1861-1932

President Roosevelt holds hands with a woman clad in the Stars and Stripes. There is a paper on the ground that says, “Africa–$1 per word.” Caption: By-O, Baby Bunting,/Teddy’s goin’ hunting,/To get a nice, big lion skin/To wrap his stern ambition in./Although we balk at nature fakes,/From mouth to mouth it’s flyin’;/The biggest game he’ll ever take’s/The literary lion.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02

In the first cartoon, a lion runs toward President Roosevelt writing on a notepad labeled “The African Chickadee ($3.00).” In the second cartoon, the lion gets close to pouncing on Roosevelt who holds a paper. In the third cartoon, Roosevelt opens the paper and shows the lion what it says: “Secret Service Report on Lions (To be given to the press in case I am attacked) (Copy).” In the fourth cartoon, Roosevelt runs toward the lion.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-18

Rear Admiral Presley Marion Rixey looks on as President Roosevelt fires at two targets shaped like a lion and elephant with the names “Foraker” and “Tillman” respectively on them. Two rabbits–“Mellen” and “Paul Morton–as well as a wolf–“E. H. Gary” also watch. Beside them is “the spear that knows no brother.” Caption: Prepare targets similar to those shown above, lead the Faunal Naturalist to the rifle range and he will do the rest.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-15

President Roosevelt fires his “no. 2 for birds” shotgun at a “Panama lyre-bird” (Joseph Pulitzer) in the African wilderness. Meanwhile, a “Congress” lion and “Foraker & Brownsville” hippopotamus stay in the background. Roosevelt is surrounded by his big stick–“for fighting at close quarters”–a typewriter, a notebook, a wireless box, a camera, a “no. 6 for lions etc.” gun, a toothbrush, and a book entitled “Wild Animals and Their Habits.”

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-16

President Roosevelt runs after a lion that he fires at while “naturalists, professors, etc.” follow behind him. Kermit Roosevelt fires a pistol while sitting on a tree branch.

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-07

A close-up photograph of a lion taken by Friedrich Bronsart von Schellendorf.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-09

Creator(s)

Bronsart von Schellendorf, Friedrich 1864-1950

Theodore Roosevelt would like a .22 rifle with a peep sight and 1000 cartridges charged to his account. Scribner’s Magazine has published an article about Roosevelt’s successful hunting with the .405 in Africa.

Collection

Buffalo Bill Center of the West

Creation Date

1909-05-12

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

American author and journalist Poultney Bigelow writes to President Roosevelt asking for a nonsalaried mission to Abyssinia, to present condolences on behalf of all Americans for the loss of the King of Abyssinia’s pet lion.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-04-06

Creator(s)

Bigelow, Poultney, 1855-1954

Kermit Roosevelt describes his travels in Africa. He has hunted giraffe, lion, and cheetah. There have been issues with smallpox, particularly among their native guides.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1910-02-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Kermit, 1889-1943

The Russian Bear sits at a table, carving a large roast beef labeled “Siberian Railway.” Serving pieces on the table are labeled “Enlarged Navy,” “New Spheres of Influence,” and “Better Financial System,” and a bottle of champagne is labeled “Port Arthur Fortification.” On the right, the British Lion labeled “England” is reclining on a small piece of land across a body of water.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1898-09-21

Creator(s)

Keppler, Udo J., 1872-1956