Your TR Source
President Roosevelt thanks Constance and Augustus Peabody Gardner for sending him a first edition copy of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s book Tales of a Wayside Inn. He sends it back to ask them both to sign it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-22
President Roosevelt hopes for the success of B. H. Warner’s movement to build a monument to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who Roosevelt believes to be one of the greatest of American poets.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-06-13
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt enjoyed Arlo Bates’s recent volume of essays recommended to him by Senator Henry Cabot Lodge. He is pleased to say that he is doing just as Bates advises regarding reading material for his children. Roosevelt appreciates Bates’s discussions on various “decadent” authors. However, he always feels like “putting in a plea” for Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-29
Senator Lodge discusses a number of topics regarding the late Secretary of State John Hay. Lodge bemoans the editing of a publication of Hay’s letters, claiming that Hay was “one of the best if not the best letter writer of his time,” but the publication does not do him justice. He reminisces on the many men of letters he has known in his life, and believes that Hay was the most “brilliant, humorous, sympathetic, [and] witty” among them. Lodge holds more criticism for Hay in his role as a secretary of state, discussing how Hay bungled multiple treaties, took credit for accomplishments that were not his own, and formed poor relations with the Senate.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-14
Corinne Roosevelt Robinson wishes President Roosevelt a happy birthday and encloses poems by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow as a birthday present. Robinson wishes to see Roosevelt before he leaves for Panama and suggests boarding the train he will be riding on Election Day.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-26
Chronology of the daily life of Theodore Roosevelt between January 1879 to December 1883. Notable events include Theodore Roosevelt’s engagement and marriage to Alice Hathaway Lee, his appointment to the New York State Legislature, and his first visit and buffalo hunt in North Dakota.
Theodore Roosevelt Association
1985
Moore, Robert J. (Robert John), 1956-; Theodore Roosevelt Association
Postcard showing a stone wall with various carved statues and alcoves. Charles C. Myers identifies the area as part of Westminster Abbey’s poetry room in London, England, which honors British poets.
1910
Wallace Finley Dailey presents an exhibit, “Roosevelt Reading: The Pigskin Library, 1909-1910,” that opened at Harvard University in September 2003. Dailey provides an introduction to the exhibit which consists of photographs, excerpts of letters, and illustrations of the numerous pigskin bound volumes that Theodore Roosevelt took with him on his African safari. The exhibit is divided into three parts: “Classics and the Continent,” History and Romance,” and “Americans.” Many of the book illustrations have captions taken from letters or articles written by Roosevelt that comment on the book and its author.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
2013
William Davison Johnston addresses the annual dinner of the Theodore Roosevelt Association on October 24, 1986, on the eve of the commissioning of the USS Theodore Roosevelt. He notes the many Roosevelt family members in attendance and closes his remarks by reading a passage from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem “The Building of the Ship.” A photograph of Johnston shaking hands with Captain Paul W. Parcells, Commanding Officer of Theodore Roosevelt, supplements the text.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
1986-10-24
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Henry Cabot Lodge and his wife, Nannie, in pencil, because he is far out in the African wilderness. Roosevelt discusses Lodge’s response to the tariff question and shares his own thoughts on the constitutional amendment about the income tax. Roosevelt agrees with William Loeb and Lodge on the mayoralty issue. On his trip, Roosevelt has gained a passion for William Shakespeare’s plays, news that will be of interest to Nannie. Roosevelt shares the highlights of his big game hunting in Africa, as well as other books he has been reading.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1909-09-10
In his article for Ladies’ Home Journal, Theodore Roosevelt describes the benefits of reading and provides advice on how to get people of any age interested in reading “serious literature.” Roosevelt elaborates on his reading habits and book selection processes, which stem from both his current mood and educational desires.
1915-04
Print shows Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, head-and-shoulders portrait, facing left, on oval frame, with two female figures offering crowns of laurel labeled “Europe” and “America.” Above is an angel spreading her wings above figures from Longfellow’s poems. At bottom left is a poem in tribute to Longfellow.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1882-05-03
Martha Baker Dunn thanks President Roosevelt for the letter and shares her thoughts concerning Robert Browning and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-09-15