Longworth, Alice Roosevelt, 1884-1980

Alan R. Havig explores the ways in which Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) used the memory and legacy of Theodore Roosevelt (TR) to advance his own political career and causes. In doing so, he actually helped burnish the reputation of Theodore Roosevelt as a Progressive reformer. He looks closely at the 1920 campaign when FDR, the Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate, attacked the Republican nominee, Warren G. Harding, for denouncing TR and the Progressives in 1912. Havig examines how FDR attacked the Republicans for abandoning TR’s Progressive legacy and how FDR’s adoption of TR’s mantle led to a long feud between the two wings of the Roosevelt family. He also looks at how FDR supported the construction of the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Hall at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. 

Havig also looks at how FDR used TR in 1936 to argue that the latter’s Square Deal had been a predecessor to his New Deal program. FDR, on the occasion of the dedication of the Roosevelt Memorial Hall in January 1936, quoted extensively from TR to demonstrate that he would have supported FDR’s extensive use of government to address the problems faced by the nation in the 1930s.

John A. Gable reviews two biographies of Alice Roosevelt Longworth: James Brough’s Princess Alice: A Biography of Alice Roosevelt Longworth and Howard Teichmann’s Alice: The Life and Times of Alice Roosevelt Longworth. Gable asserts that Teichmann has written the better book of the two, and he conveys that preference by quoting three passages from his work. Gable says that for literary quality, neither book matches Longworth’s own memoir, and he says that both books are at their best when they “let Mrs. Longworth do the talking.” Because Longworth is still alive, Gable says that the last word on Princess Alice has not yet been written. 

Nicholas LaBella reviews and endorses Kevin Brownlow’s The War, the West, and the Wilderness which studies silent films dealing with World War I, nature documentaries, and the American West.  Brownlow argues that Theodore Roosevelt was an important figure in the early years of the silent film industry either as a subject or an inspiration for a film. LaBella notes the importance of Roosevelt’s African safari to the genre of nature films.

Announcement of the death of Archibald Bulloch Roosevelt, son of Theodore and Edith Roosevelt. The article lists his four surviving children and notes his distinguished military record, having been wounded and decorated in both world wars.  

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1979

Creator(s)

Gable, John A.

Obituary of Archibald B. Roosevelt, son of Theodore Roosevelt, written by his cousin P. James Roosevelt. He discusses Archibald’s childhood antics in the White House with his brother Quentin and his education at various schools. He details his service in both world wars and how he earned his military decorations, and he examines Archibald’s career in finance in New York and Florida and discusses his charitable and volunteer work, especially in conservation, most notably with the Boone & Crockett Club. The obituary includes a poem written by Archibald, “Canada Geese.”

Four photographs of Archibald Roosevelt accompany the obituary: one shows him as a young man; another shows him and his brother Quentin training for service in World War I; another shows him and his wife Grace Stackpole Lockwood Roosevelt on horseback; and the last one shows him holding one of his father’s hunting rifles.

A listing of the officers of the Theodore Roosevelt Association and of the members of its executive, finance and Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace committees is on the second page of the obituary.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Reprint of an article originally published in the New York Herald Tribune which describes the dedication ceremonies at Sagamore Hill in June 1953 which featured an address by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The article names some of the prominent guests, quotes from Eisenhower’s brief speech, and describes some aspects of the ceremony such as the presentation of a flag and flag pole for the historic site by the Boy Scouts.

A photograph of President Eisenhower standing in the back of an open car passing through Oyster Bay, New York on his way to Sagamore Hill accompanies the article.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Description of the ceremony surrounding the dedication of new library space at Harvard for the Theodore Roosevelt Collection, a reading alcove, and exhibit space across three separate libraries. The article notes the benefactors for the facilities, the speakers at the ceremony, and provides a brief description of each of the new spaces dedicated to furthering the study of Theodore Roosevelt. It also gives a history of the collection and of the Theodore Roosevelt Association’s role in amassing and safeguarding its contents. The article is accompanied by two pictures which show some of the dignitaries at the ceremony and the other is of a young Roosevelt during his student days at Harvard.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1976

Creator(s)

Unknown

Advertisement and order form for eight films about the life and work of Theodore Roosevelt produced by the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) and Agape Productions, Inc. The titles of the films, a brief description of their contents and running times are listed. The films could be either purchased or rented as 16mm films or video cassette tapes. A photograph of the Roosevelt family accompanies the first page of the advertisement.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1976

Creator(s)

Unknown

Reprint of an article that originally appeared in Ms. Magazine in August 1976. Author Harriet Shapiro interviewed Theodore Roosevelt’s daughter Ethel Roosevelt Derby at her home in Oyster Bay, New York. Much of the piece is devoted to Ethel’s memories of life with her family at their family home Sagamore Hill. She relates how her parents, Theodore Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, dealt with the children, and she notes how the Roosevelt siblings paired off, and she talks of her relationship with her older sister Alice Roosevelt Longworth.

A familiar picture of the assembled Roosevelt family and a close-up of Ethel Roosevelt Derby accompany the article.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1977

This article describes a visit to the White House by a delegation from the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) to present a set of the Memorial Edition of the Works of Theodore Roosevelt to President Jimmy Carter and his wife to be placed in the Roosevelt Room of the White House. The article lists the members of the delegation, provides information about the Roosevelt Room and the donated books, and describes the interaction between Ethel Roosevelt Derby and the Carter family.

A picture of John A. Gable and P. James Roosevelt of the TRA with President Carter opens the article on the front page of the issue.

A listing of the officers of the TRA accompanies the second page of the article.

John A. Gable describes in detail the life and work of Hermann Hagedorn, historian, biographer, and long-time Director of the Roosevelt Memorial Association and its successor, the Theodore Roosevelt Association. Gable covers Hagedorn’s life as a child of German immigrants in Brooklyn, New York, his education and teaching at Harvard, and his early career as a writer and poet. He notes Hagedorn’s difficulties as a German-American during World War I and the start of his friendship with Theodore Roosevelt that would define his career. Gable traces Hagedorn’s leadership of the Roosevelt Memorial Association over nearly four decades, discusses his many publications on Roosevelt, and looks at his other writings, including a number of biographies and many works of poetry.

Two photographs accompany this article. One is a formal portrait of Hagedorn and the other shows Hagedorn with President Dwight D. Eisenhower at the dedication of Sagamore Hill in June 1953.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

President Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt announce the marriage of their daughter, Alice Roosevelt, to Representative Nicholas Longworth.

Collection

America

Creation Date

1906

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919; Roosevelt, Edith Kermit Carow, 1861-1948

Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt shares her opinions regarding a number of decisions to be made about the renovation and decoration of the White House, including the design of her writing desk, and the shade of color to be used in the Blue Room.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-09-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Edith Kermit Carow, 1861-1948

Charles S. Hamlin argues that the gifts Alice Roosevelt received on her recent trip to the East were given to her as the daughter of the President of the United States, and that she could not have declined them without causing misunderstanding and bad feelings. Thus, Hamlin believes, Congress should use a special act to allow the gifts to be brought into the country without a duty being paid on them.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-29

Creator(s)

Hamlin, Charles S. (Charles Sumner), 1861-1938

Emperor Meiji thanks President Roosevelt for his gift of a bear skin and was happy to receive Alice Roosevelt and Secretary of War William H. Taft during their visit to Japan. Record includes original in Japanese and translation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-11-11

Creator(s)

Mutsuhito, Emperor of Japan, 1852-1912

King Edward VII of Great Britain introduces President Roosevelt to his cousin Edward Gleichen, who is taking up an appointment as military attaché in Washington. He also congratulates Roosevelt on his daughter Alice Roosevelt’s upcoming marriage, and reports that Prince Louis of Battenberg is pleased with the kindness Roosevelt and his people showed him and his fleet.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-23

Creator(s)

Edward VII, King of Great Britain, 1841-1910

In spite of President Roosevelt’s endorsement of Secretary of War William H. Taft’s candidacy for president, there was still a question at the Republican National Convention of whether Roosevelt’s conviction to not be nominated for a third term would stand firm. Once it was made clear that he would not stand to be renominated, the article recounts, the convention lost some of its energy, but still supported Taft very strongly. Taft is extremely capable and has a good character, so he will be a good person to succeed Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-19

Creator(s)

Unknown

The Bismarck Tribune reports on the death of Theodore Roosevelt at his home in Oyster Bay, New York, early on the morning of January 6, 1919. His secretary Josephine M. Stricker, who reported it to the press, received the news from Roosevelt’s wife Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt. It is believed that Roosevelt passed away painlessly, and that his death was due to inflammatory rheumatism. News of Roosevelt’s death quickly drew a large number of telegrams expressing condolence and sympathy, and both houses of Congress adjourned out of respect for Roosevelt. Following this article, The Bismarck Tribune also presents a brief biography of Roosevelt’s life and political achievements. Apart from news of Roosevelt’s death, the paper also has several articles related to North Dakota politics, a brief mention of troop movements occurring in Europe, and a comment on the success of a recent Liberty Loan drive for the Ninth federal reserve district.

Collection

Dickinson State University

Creation Date

1919-01-06

Creator(s)

Unknown

Silent color film showing the dedication of Theodore Roosevelt’s home, Sagamore Hill, as a national shrine on June 14, 1953. Speakers at the dedication include President Dwight D. Eisenhower, former President Herbert Hoover, New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey, and Leonard W. Hall, Chair of the Republican National Committee. Also present at the dedication were singer William Warfield, members of the Roosevelt family, representatives of scouting troops, and a brass band.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association

Creation Date

1953-06-14

Creator(s)

Unknown

Historian Ray H. Mattison responds to H. Raymond Gregg, the regional chief of interpretation, regarding a proposal that the National Park Service make an intensive investigation of Theodore Roosevelt’s personal papers in order to gather information to make an archaeological investigation of the Elkhorn Ranch site. Mattison notes that he and others have already made thorough investigations into the relevant materials, and he believes there would be little to gain from retreading the same materials. He agrees, however, that the Elkhorn Ranch deserves a detailed study.

Collection

Midwest Archeological Center

Creation Date

1958-09-22

Creator(s)

Mattison, Ray H., 1903-1980

Theodore Roosevelt poses with his wife, Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, and children Ted, Alice, Kermit, Archie, and Ethel.

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1895-03

Creator(s)

Unknown