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Postcard featuring a photograph of the lion display at the Smithsonian Institution. The lions in the display were collected by Theodore Roosevelt while on safari in 1909.
1910-1913
William Jay Schieffelin writes President Roosevelt about Willis R. Hotchkiss, a missionary in Africa, whose “adventures with lions and warring natives are thrilling to hear.” Schieffelin also suggests that Roosevelt meet with an American Quaker missionary in British East Africa who is now teaching farming.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-09
Theodore Roosevelt’s handwritten draft of the lion chapter from his book Life Histories of African Big Game.
1914
President Roosevelt looks forward to seeing the lion photograph Arthur W. Lewis mentions. He will discuss with C. Hart Merriam the possibility of passing legislation regarding the preservation of elk.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-04
Frederick Courteney Selous asks if President Roosevelt would consider writing a short introduction for the book he has written about African animals. Selous plans to dedicate the book to Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-19
President Roosevelt participates in a variety of events at the circus, including taming “political lions” to riding “trust” bulls to flying on a trapeze to juggling to directing the Republican elephant.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12
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.
In cartoonist Pughe’s drawing the only thing that the symbol of Turkey, the turkey in the doorway, can really be happy about is the frustration on the faces of those neighboring powers who were prepared to gobble it up. The once-mighty Ottoman Empire, reduced to the country of Turkey but slowly chipped away, province by province, people by people, tribe by tribe, for more than a century.
In 1813 the Serbs begun their revolts, ultimately a successful secession. In 1821, Greece declared independence, formalized in 1832. In 1830 Algeria had been ceded to France; in 1831 a war for independence commenced with Egypt. In 1853 the Crimean war began, formally against Russia but, famously, with British participation (“Charge of the Light Brigade”). In rapid succession, Romania, Bulgaria, Bosnia, and Cyprus slip from control of the Ottoman Empire, scarcely an empire any more. In the days before the Great War, Turkey declared itself a nation (although not an independent Republic until 1923 under Ataturk), and quickly, as “the Sick man of Europe,” lost Libya in Africa, and Albania; and all of its lands in continental Europe except for the city of Constantinople, now Istanbul.
Joseph Chamberlain holds a pair of shears labeled “Protection” and is about to trim the mane labeled “Free Trade” of the British Lion.
The subtext of this cartoon is the policy altercations occurring within the British government of the day. Joseph Chamberlain was one of the most consequential British politicians who never became Prime Minister. His peregrinations from party to party — Liberal, Unionist, Conservative — effectively realigned Westminster twice. He played an important role in advancing the Boer War, and he upset Britain’s long-standing policy (once considered sacrosanct) of free trade with the world.
It was his decision to advocate for free trade at a time when the world was reducing tariffs and trade barriers, that inspired this cartoon. Chamberlain, Secretary for the Colonies, saw the United States as an emerging commercial rival; and Germany as a threat to England. Therefore he advocated free trade within the Empire, and tariffs walls elsewhere. The row he raised was a matter of major controversy, and within weeks of this carton, he resigned during the Parliamentary furor.
Rudyard Kipling holds a pen labeled “Criticism” which he is using as a prod to get the British Lion moving in a particular direction. Caption: The British Lion [“]I didn’t mind the others, Rudyard; but I never thought you’d be prodding me!”
Rudyard Kipling likely was the prototypical British colonial advocate in literature and in public affairs of his day. His feelings were heavily tempered by realism and a recognition that England was overreaching on the world stage, and in good part by faulty administration and training of its military. Toward the end of the Boer War his statements and short stories addressed the weak premises and performances of South African policies. In 1902, three short stories in particular gave voice to his revisionist thinking: “The Captive,” “The Islanders,” and “The Comprehension of Private Copper.” Kipling’s legacy in history does not always reflect his maturing attitudes. It is interesting to note that his friend Theodore Roosevelt, after emerging from the African jungles and a safari of almost a year, delivered his first major speech of several in Africa and Europe, on precisely these points: it was somewhat startling at the time. In Cairo, he lectured British colonial personnel about what he saw as flawed administration; he said, in effect, that England should administer its colonies well, including more to the benefit of the occupied lands, or withdraw.
Illustration showing the British Lion, wearing a military uniform, aghast by the tattered look of a female figure labeled “Peace,” her clothing torn, head and left arm bandaged, and walking with a crutch, the dove at her feet looks plucked. In the background is a sign stating “The last Boer ditch” stuck in ground labeled “South Africa.” Caption: Great Britain. — Didn’t you tell them the war was over? Peace. — “Yes; – and they immediately filled me full of lead; – said it was only a rumor of war!
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1901-02-20
The British Lion runs on a path toward “Pretoria” while four figures representing Russia, France, Germany, and Italy hide. At the time of this cartoon, the British Empire stepped up its campaign to suppress rebellion of its colonial rule in South Africa.
Pughe’s cartoon could illustrate the admonition against “fishing in troubled waters.” By 1900 most of the globe had been carved up by colonial powers or controlled by spheres of influence. South Africa was recalcitrant, a thorny problem for the British who regarded the Horn of Africa with special importance. Only 15 years before this cartoon’s publication, Germany had gobbled up lands, largely comprising the present Tanzania, and established German East Africa, and British colonial fears were heightened. The cartoon suggests that Great Britain simultaneously doubled its resolve to quash the Boer Rebellion, and kept rival powers from intervening themselves.
Theodore Roosevelt expresses to Edmund P. Dole that the lion described is already large enough and suggests reducing its size slightly in both length and weight.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-12
Theodore Roosevelt expresses regret to John W. Osborn that he can not accept the hunting invitation due to public attention. He says he’d rather hunt a black bear with Osborn than lions in Africa and adds that Kermit would be perfect for the trip but is busy with school.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-08
Theodore Roosevelt writes to J. Holz about specific specimens in the Smithsonian Museum, some of which are being mounted by the museum, including the big lion in question. He notes that the process is slow, in part because Congress failed to allocate the necessary funding.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-24
Theodore Roosevelt was very interested to read Alfred E. Pease’s account of George Grey’s death, and has forwarded it to Earl Grey. He reflects on his own luck in having Pease instruct him in lion hunting, and comments that he did not think lions could attack as quickly as Pease said. Roosevelt looks forward to seeing Pease sometime, and sends greetings from his son, Kermit Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-06
Theodore Roosevelt arranges for payment to John J. White for expenses from the Africa hunting trip. He informs White he will be sending a check for the gun to John Rigby & Company. Roosevelt thanks White for a gun given to one of Roosevelt’s sons and discusses the spearing of a Nandi lion.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-17
President Roosevelt tells J. H. Patterson that he will likely be able to make the hunting trip in Africa. He describes the guns he hopes to bring, outlines tentative travel plans, and discusses the game he would like to shoot. He asks Patterson to advise him “in rough fashion” about his plan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-05-11
Theodore Roosevelt enjoyed hearing of the Nile trip that Nettie F. Woodford Dietz and her husband Charles Nelson Dietz experienced.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-03-01
Theodore Roosevelt is interested in Dr. Aleš Hrdlicka’s recent article on Neanderthals. Roosevelt talks about his visit to the La Plata Museum and public opinion on recent discoveries by the Argentinian anthropologist Florentino Ameghino and the specimens Dr. Moreno had given him. Roosevelt talks about geologic time scales and asks if Hrdlicka knows “the antiquity of human remains” that Moreno discovered; Roosevelt gave the specimens from Moreno to the American Museum of Natural History.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-02-13
Theodore Roosevelt compliments Stewart Edward White on the picture of him and the lions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-01-24