Your TR Source
Theodore Roosevelt is glad that John Burroughs is getting well. Roosevelt gave a statement about William J. Long and Jack London, writers of “unnatural history.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-12
Theodore Roosevelt was almost as pleased with John Burroughs’ inscription as with the volume itself. Roosevelt wishes for a “legitimate opportunity” to skin William J. Long.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-10-16
Although he enjoyed William J. Long’s book, President Roosevelt takes issue with the fact that Long presents several anecdotes about animal behavior as absolute fact, when they are not so. Roosevelt highlights a passage about a wolf killing a caribou in an improbable fashion as an example.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-27
Theodore Roosevelt sends John Burroughs the letter that he sent to William J. Long’s publisher. Roosevelt’s book is less thrilling, but more accurate than Long’s work. Roosevelt would like Burroughs to come to Oyster Bay or Washington, D.C., for a visit. He would like to discuss the question of the intellect and moral sense of animals.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-27
President Roosevelt “detest[s]…the yellow journalism of the woods,” and identifies author William J. Long as the chief offender. Roosevelt asks Commissioner Macfarland to confirm if Long’s books are being used in Washington, D.C., schools. He urges the Commissioners to seek recommendations for books about the outdoors from credible sources such as John Burroughs and C. Hart Merriam.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-05-29
President Roosevelt has finished reading John Burroughs’s Atlantic Monthly article. He recommends a “slight toning-down” of the statements regarding a mother-bird’s coloration. William J. Long, a “nature faker,” made an attack on John Burroughs in Harper’s Monthly. Roosevelt does not understand how reputable publications encourage Long. Roosevelt comments extensively on animal intelligence and on how animals may or may not teach their young.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-05-29
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Frank M. Chapman for the articles on William Joseph Long.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-21
C. Hart Merriam questions whether William J. Long is deliberately preying on the public or whether he has psychological issues. Merriam notes that Long has given several animals “new cunning, new habits, and new physical strength.” He concludes that Long possesses “creative memory.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903
President Roosevelt doubts William J. Long’s account of lynx hunting together.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-02
President Roosevelt recently spoke with Hart Merriam who supports John Burroughs in his efforts to expose William Long. Roosevelt also wishes Burroughs a merry Christmas.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-12-23
President Roosevelt has seen two more articles from William Long and an advertisement for his new book. Long’s writing should not be called natural history and is full of “outrageous falsehoods.” John Burroughs performed a public service by attacking Long.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-11-28
President Roosevelt cannot accept the Kingston invitation, Congress will soon be in session and then it is campaign season. Roosevelt will be speaking with Lyman Abbott tomorrow about William Long’s article on “animal surgery.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-09-22
William T. Hornaday is pleased to hear institutions in the United States will receive three new rhinoceros specimens. Hornaday assures Theodore Roosevelt that the Camp Fire Club dinner will be carried out according to his wishes. Hornaday strongly objected to William J. Long’s presence at a dinner. The campaign to protect the fur-seal fisheries of Alaska has been successful, and Hornaday hopes the bill will pass before the end of April.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-03-24
Anson A. Gard encloses a piece by Henry Montgomery defending Theodore Roosevelt against a tirade published in newspapers by William J. Long, to illustrate how beloved Roosevelt is in Canada. Gard has spoken to many Canadians and they all are very enthusiastic about Roosevelt. Gard fondly remembers the time he visited Roosevelt as President with his friend Senator Redfield Proctor.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-06-12
Caspar Whitney, editor of the Outing Magazine, sends President Roosevelt the proofs for his upcoming article on nature fakers. He criticizes author and naturalist William J. Long’s supposed observations of wolf cubs. Whitney believes Roosevelt was right to attack Long as “one word from you will…reach every ear.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-16
Casper Whitney, editor of Outing Magazine, informs President Roosevelt that he ended up not using any of George Shiras’s material in an upcoming article on the “nature fakers” controversy. Casper has previously avoided the topic as it makes him “mad to have to seriously discuss the perfectly idiotic stuff which Long puts forth as natural history.” He feels Roosevelt and John Burroughs have expressed themselves well in this matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-10
Reporter Edward B. Clark shares with President Roosevelt the issues behind the “symposium” of the nature fakers controversy included in the upcoming publication of Everybody’s Magazine and some scientists’ responses to the editorial process.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-08
Caspar Whitney sends President Roosevelt the extracts from George Shiras’s letter to Roosevelt which he proposes to publish in response to William J. Long in the nature fakers controversy. Whitney suggests framing the statement not as coming from a letter to Roosevelt, but merely from someone who has studied animals in the field more carefully than has Long.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-22
Caspar Whitney, editor of The Outing Magazine, thanks President Roosevelt for the galley proofs by George Shiras, but wants to clarify that he can only use the parts of the text which relate to Shiras’ knowledge of wolves, which is a small portion of the full article. Whitney mentions that William J. Long is “making another effort for additional advertising.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-15
Lawrence F. Abbott responds to a letter to the editor from President Roosevelt in The Outlook. Abbott argues that he believes in facts in regards to nature as opposed to John Burroughs and William J. Long, and he is pleased Roosevelt agrees. He concludes the note by explaining that his son was just born.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-06