Longino, Andrew H. (Andrew Houston), 1854-1942

President Roosevelt outlines and refutes the falsehoods in Alfred Holt Stone’s Studies in the American Race Problem. He tells John Graham Brooks that he judges a work’s reliability by seeing what it says about a subject he is familiar with, and then deciding if he can trust it on things that he does not know as much about. He explains that Stone is spreading falsehoods about the so-called “referee” system in the Southern states, especially Mississippi. Roosevelt points out that the practice was common with presidents before him, and that it is necessary in areas where the Republican party does not have a strong enough presence to provide good appointees to positions. He also discusses his handling of the case of African American postmistress Minnie M. Geddings Cox, who was forced by an angry mob to resign her position and leave town.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-13

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt appreciates Silas McBee’s “earnest and sincere effort” to support him editorially in McBee’s newspaper, The Churchman. Roosevelt defends his appointments in the southern United States, especially the appointment of African Americans. The African American men he has appointed are “of a high grade of excellence” and came with the recommendation of Booker T. Washington. Roosevelt recommends as well several prominent southern men who can speak to the nature of his appointments.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-02-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

On behalf of President Roosevelt, George B. Cortelyou encloses a letter of recommendation from Governor Longino for the appointment of Nannie S. Neilson as postmaster in Greenville, Mississippi.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-11-02

Creator(s)

Cortelyou, George B. (George Bruce), 1862-1940

Stephen E. Ambrose and Douglas Brinkley tell the story of the most famous bear hunt in American history: Theodore Roosevelt’s unsuccessful hunt for black bear in Mississippi that gave birth to the teddy bear toy. Ambrose and Brinkley provide political context for the trip to Mississippi, list the members of the hunting party, and describe the hunt of November 15, 1902. The article also describes Clifford Berryman’s cartoon depiction of the hunt which led to the creation of the teddy bear. 

A photograph of Brinkley and his wife, and three photographs of members of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) distributing teddy bears at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City, accompany the article. A text box with the vision statement of the TRA appears at the end of the article. 

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Postmaster Michael J. Mulvihill writes Edgar S. Wilson hoping to prevent T. G. Dabney’s appointment to the Mississippi River Commission. Dabney was Chief Engineer of the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta Levee District.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-03-03

Creator(s)

Mulvihill, Michael J. (Michael Joseph), 1855-1935

Edgar S. Wilson, manager of the Mississippi Bureau of the New Orleans Daily Picayune, writes during a crisis at Indianola, Mississippi, involving African American Postmaster General, Minnie M. Geddings Cox, who is being forced to resign from office by violent citizens due to her race. Wilson recommends that President Roosevelt discontinue the Postmaster General’s office in Indianola, Mississippi, and pursue indictments through the Federal Grand Jury. Wilson believes that the uproar has been incited by Democratic gubernatorial candidate James Kimble Vardaman. The majority of citizens have no problem with her work.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-30

Creator(s)

Wilson, Edgar S., 1858-1935

Edgar S. Wilson responds to President Roosevelt, who has asked his opinion of a letter Roosevelt received from Frederic Speed. Wilson states that Speed is not respected or considered trustworthy in his community. Contrary to Speed’s charges, Governor Longino and Senator McLaurin from Mississippi have taken direct action to prevent lynching in that state. Wilson hopes to meet with Roosevelt to discuss a number of matters.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-28

Creator(s)

Wilson, Edgar S., 1858-1935

Edgar S. Wilson has a poor opinion of Frederic Speed and describes him as a relic from “carpet baggery.” He defends Governor Longino against Speed’s accusations regarding lynching. Wilson will be meeting with Booker T. Washington and requests a meeting with President Roosevelt on November 19, in Memphis, Tennessee.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-28

Creator(s)

Presidential Office Staff

Frederic Speed questions President Roosevelt on what he sees as inconsistencies between Roosevelt’s actions and his words regarding African Americans. Speed is primarily concerned with Roosevelt allowing Senator McLaurin and Governor Longino to control federal patronage in Mississippi because Speed believes them to be ardent racists with a history of allowing mob violence.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-10-09

Creator(s)

Speed, Frederic, 1841-1911

Edgar S. Wilson introduces Mississippi Governor Andrew Longino to President Roosevelt. He briefly discusses some of Longino’s policies, including efforts to improve race relations. According to Wilson, Longino has attempted to fund public schools equally for white and black students. Wilson comments that it is unfortunate that the state constitution does not allow Longino to be re-elected.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-04-10

Creator(s)

Wilson, Edgar S., 1858-1935