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Envelope featuring a black and white headshot photograph of Theodore Roosevelt. The envelope also has a Theodore Roosevelt 5¢ stamp and a stamp from the Quentin Roosevelt Post No. 4 of the American Legion for the Memorial Day celebration at the home of Roosevelt. The stamps feature depictions of Roosevelt.
1929-05-30
Seven books receive scrutiny in the “Reviews” section, including two biographies of Theodore Roosevelt, specialized studies of the White House and Memorial Day, a collection of Roosevelt’s writings, a look at the Rough Riders of Arizona, and a study of turn of the twentieth-century American foreign policy. John A. Gable notes that Stacy A. Cordery’s biography of Roosevelt serves as a comprehensive historiographical study as it draws on thirty years of Roosevelt scholarship in its quotes and analysis. Gable also offers thoughts on Kathleen Dalton’s biography of Roosevelt, and he provides excerpts from five other reviews of the work that highlight Dalton’s coverage of the role of women in Roosevelt’s life and that affirm Roosevelt as a moderate radical. Of Brian Thomsen’s collection of Roosevelt’s writings, The Man in the Arena, Gable says: “there is no reason to buy this book.”
Gable also reviews Marty F. Feess’s Theodore Roosevelt’s Arizona Boys which examines the life of the Arizona Rough Riders after the Spanish-American War and the many actions taken by their Colonel to help them succeed in their post-war lives. Henry J. Hendrix faults Warren Zimmermann’s First Great Triumph for injecting present day views into his analysis of the makers of foreign policy in Roosevelt’s presidency. Hendrix also examines A History of Memorial Day which traces the transformation of the holiday from a solemn occasion to a day of recreation. Jeremy M. Murphy highlights Gable’s chapter on the Roosevelts in his review of The White House: Actors and Observers, and he also notes the work’s use of the photographs of Frances Benjamin Johnston.
In this hard-to-read letter, an unnamed former Rough Rider tells President Roosevelt about some decoration day ceremonies he took part in, and comments on the death of another former Rough Rider.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-30
President Roosevelt asks Secretary of War Taft who General Moore is. He feels Moore’s order to keep Memorial Day as if it was Sunday at the army posts is unnecessary, and “healthful and innocent recreation” should be encouraged after the services.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-05-31
Theodore Roosevelt does not expect to make a speaking trip this spring. He will only make one speech in Kansas City on Decoration Day.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-05-04
President Roosevelt has used Frederick Morgan Davenport’s articles in his recent speech. Roosevelt is not sure if it would be good for him to make speeches in the West at the times that Davenport suggested, because if he makes too many speeches they will lose their effectiveness.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-05-03
Theodore Roosevelt thought William Allen White’s last letter was interesting, and he expressed sympathy for the “funny old rasor-back” White wrote about. At least he has sincerity, Roosevelt says, unlike President Wilson. Roosevelt proposes making a speech on preparedness in Kansas City on Decoration Day.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-04-15
Print shows a veteran Confederate soldier on the left and a veteran Union soldier on the right shaking hands with a veteran of the Spanish-American War in the center.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1899-05-31
A large group of politicians and others stand in a cemetery on Memorial Day. Each seems to be grieving at gravestones that bear special messages. Pope Leo XIII stands in front of a stone that states “Here lies my Irish Influence.” Ulysses S. Grant places a wreath labeled “Tho’ Gone Not Forgotten” at a monument that states “Here Lies the Third Term 1880.” Stephen Dorsey and Thomas Brady, arm in arm, stand in front of a stone that states “[Star] Route Here Lies Our Hope of Acquittal.” James G. Blaine places a wreath on a stone that states “[He]re Lies My South American Policy.” Samuel J. Tilden and Charles A. Dana stand in front of a stone that states “Tilden Boom 1876 Rest in Peace.” Clustered around Grant are Roscoe Conkling holding a tattered military standard labeled “Stalwart Battle Flag 1880,” J. D. Cameron on crutches labeled “1882,” John A. Logan as a drummer with number “306” on his drum strap, and Thomas Collier Platt as a little girl. Also grouped before a stone that states “Here Lies Democratic Consistency on the Tariff” are Benjamin F. Butler, Winfield Scott Hancock, Rutherford B. Hayes, and Stephen B. Elkins. Others depicted are Simon Cameron, John Kelly, Jay Gould, George W. Childs, George M. Robeson, David Davis, Robert Ingersoll, Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa, and a man identified as “Campbell.” Caption: They deck with flowers, this Day of Decoration, full many a blighted hope and reputation.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1883-05-30
James G. Blaine and John Logan stand next to a grave as Whitelaw Reid places a wreath labeled “To the Memory of Discord” on the grave. The tombstone states, “To the Memory of Sectional Strife Buried Nov. 4th 1884.” Caption: This decoration day will give our Blainiac friends a good opportunity to recognize an established fact.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1885-05-27
Two older men, a former Confederate soldier and a former Union soldier, walk arm in arm to purchase tickets for a double-header baseball game. A young boy in the foreground tips his hat, and in the background, a line is forming at the ticket booth and the grandstand is already crowded. Caption: One national flag. One national game.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1913-05-28
Theodore Roosevelt has to be in Gettysburg on Memorial Day, but is sending Albert J. Beveridge to South Dakota in his place.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-05-25
Theodore Roosevelt speaks in commemoration of Decoration Day in Nassau County, New York.
Unknown
President Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit about the funeral of former President McKinley’s widow Ida McKinley. He then describes his trip on the train out west as he passed through Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Michigan. Roosevelt closes by saying he needs to talk to Kermit about his hunting trip.
1907-06-01
President Roosevelt awaits Kermit’s decision whether to stay at Groton School for his final year. Roosevelt, Edith, and Ethel sailed down to Hampton Roads for Decoration Day. Roosevelt gave a speech at Hampton Institute. Roosevelt also mentions riding the new horse and the slow pace of Congress, and urges Kermit to read Thomas Carlyle.
1906-06-04
Rene Brierre writes to Edith Roosevelt regarding tomb of Quentin Roosevelt, Memorial Day, American Legion etc. Calling card included, references Brierre as delegate to American Legion.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1946-06-20
Mrs. Porter and Mrs. Delaney have just attended a Memorial Day service held by a group of French children at Quentin Roosevelt’s grave. The grave was covered with flowers, and the women added some poppies from a nearby field. They offer their sympathies to Mrs. Roosevelt on her loss. Front of postcard bears a photograph of the grave site.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1919
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary informs Henry Charles Goldsmith that Roosevelt does not have a copy of the speech he delivered at Newark, New Jersey, on Decoration Day, and therefore he cannot send him one.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-05
The secretary of Theodore Roosevelt informs Olaf Gates that Roosevelt cannot receive Gates’ party at Oyster Bay because he will not be home. On Decoration Day, Roosevelt is scheduled to speak in Newark and at Grant’s Tomb.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-26
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary tells Ralph Emerson Lum that there are no people whom Roosevelt would particularly like to be at the unveiling of the Lincoln Monument on Memorial Day. Roosevelt will leave the distribution of the invitations entirely up to Lum. Roosevelt’s secretary also thanks Lum for sending the clipping from the Sunday Call.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-25