Lowell, James Russell, 1819-1891

Lieutenant Governor Guild of Massachusetts delivers a speech at an event commemorating President Ulysses S. Grant in Des Moines, Iowa. Guild reminds Iowans of their special connection to Grant, as Iowa regiments were key in his first great victory of the American Civil War, the Battle of Fort Donelson. Guild points out how Grant’s administration saw the beginnings of a lot of contemporary issues, like the fight between the gold and silver standard, the corruption of machine politics, and the ills of the spoils system. Guild does, however, defend Grant against his harshest critics, stating that Grant did punish many of the instigators of scandals like Credit Mobilier and the Whiskey ring, and that Grant’s idea to annex the Dominican Republic seems less extreme in light of recent South American upheavals.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-04-27

Theodore Roosevelt does not think of Fraser Metzger as a German American any more than he thinks of himself as a Dutch American. He believes that, as a whole, German immigrants were better but compares Germany under Prussian militarism to the Southern slave-holding regime before the Civil War. Roosevelt enjoyed Agnes Repplier’s article and plans to send Metzger’s letter to her.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-01-09

President Roosevelt thanks Mary Ridgeley Spencer for a bound edition of James Russell Lowell, and asks when she and her family will be visiting Washington, D.C.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-11

William Howell informs Helen Jackson Cabot Almy that he will give her letter to Theodore Roosevelt when he returns at the beginning of August. Her letter references the memorial for James Russell Lowell in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1897-07-26

H. D. Fruit, after reading President Roosevelt’s comparison of Woodrow Wilson and James Buchanan, is forwarding a letter written by Buchanan to his friend after leaving office. Fruit wishes to congratulate Roosevelt and the United States, “knowing that the time has been out of joint and that one is born to set it right.” Fruit closes with a poetry verse by James Russell Lowell.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-07-03

Gustav F. Kasch declares, “‘the people’ are not satisfied with blind partisanism.” He reasons Theodore Roosevelt’s devotion to the Republican party led to his failure in the last campaign. Kasch believes Roosevelt must lead an independent movement.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-04

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. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-14

In response to Home Herald editor Frederick L. Chapman’s inquiries, William H. Taft does not object to the publication of his attached message. While Taft believes what he wrote, he supposes it will make no difference to his attackers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-26

The “To-day” section of The Daily telegraph details several goings on in world news, with the largest section focused on the upcoming British diplomatic vacancy in Washington, D. C. Many prominent British politicians and noblemen are named as possibilities for the vacancy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-23

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. 

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2013

David McCullough looks at the relationship between Theodore Roosevelt and his father, Theodore Roosevelt, Sr. He notes the elder Roosevelt’s important role in establishing the American Museum of Natural History, and he outlines differences between the two, notably the elder’s robust health and the many childhood ailments of the younger Roosevelt. McCullough examines the younger Roosevelt’s time at Harvard, especially his interest in natural science, and he establishes that he led a life of privilege unknown to most Americans. 

 

Two pictures, one of each Roosevelt, accompany the article.

 

David McCullough looks at the relationship between Theodore Roosevelt and his father, Theodore Roosevelt, Sr. He notes the elder Roosevelt’s important role in establishing the American Museum of Natural History, and he outlines differences between the two, notably the elder’s robust health and the many childhood ailments of the younger Roosevelt. McCullough examines the younger Roosevelt’s time at Harvard, especially his interest in natural science, and he establishes that he led a life of privilege unknown to most Americans.

Two pictures, one of each Roosevelt, accompany the article.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

German Emperor William II has accepted David Jayne Hill, President Roosevelt’s nominee for the American Embassy in Berlin, thereby ending a recent embarrassing incident involving the posting. Part of the Emperor’s reservation in accepting Hill’s posting in Berlin was due to Hill being less wealthy than Charlemagne Tower, the outgoing American ambassador. The author of the article praises Hill’s qualifications, and agrees with Roosevelt’s insistence “that merit must go before millions,” but notes that in practice this can sometimes result in uncomfortable positions and suggests that states provide their ambassadors with ample means if they are not already independently wealthy in order that they are able to present themselves with the appropriate dignity and gravitas.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-01

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.

Collection

Marple Collection

Creation Date

1915-04

Theodore Roosevelt was pleased with Henry A. Wise Wood’s statements regarding Roosevelt’s truthfulness. To people who claim that Roosevelt would take the country into war he responds that during his presidency no shots were fired at a foreign foe and no Americans were killed by representatives of foreign governments. However, under President Woodrow Wilson’s tenure, he has begun small wars with Mexico, Haiti, and Santo Domingo.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-05-27

James Russell Lowell, minister to England, turns his back on an Irishman who is dressed like Uncle Sam and is in the custody of the British military for anarchistic activities. Lowell holds a paper that states, “All such persons should be made to understand distinctly that they cannot be Irishmen and Americans at the same time! J. R. Lowell.” Caption: Minister Lowell–“No, sir, you are not the kind of American citizen I am sent here to protect!”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1882-03-22

Puck reclines before a table covered with alcoholic beverages, some labeled “V. H. Dusenbury’s P.P. Brandy” and “Puck Punch [No London Punch],” smoking and blowing smoke rings. Among the figures appearing in Puck’s smoke cloud are Chester Alan Arthur labeled “For a Good Veto” and fishing for “Popularity”; George M. Robeson at the helm of a boat carrying a large money bag labeled “Appropriation”; Jay Gould, Russell Sage, and William H. Vanderbilt sailing on a boat labeled “Monopoly”; Susan B. Anthony and another woman, George William Curtis labeled “Civil Service Reform,” Roscoe Conkling, Jay A. Hubbell labeled “Deform,” Ulysses S. Grant labeled “No Third Term,” David Davis, Robert Green Ingersoll boxing with Thomas De Witt Talmage, James Gordon Bennett, “Old Rossa” with “Dynamite,” Cyrus W. Field trying to net a “Coronet,” John Kelly and Samuel J. Tilden on a seesaw, William Russell Grace standing on a rock labeled “Public Esteem” with Seth Low trying to climb up, and James Russell Lowell on a “British Mission.”

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1882-08-09