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President Roosevelt inquires if Annie Montague Alexander will allow Edmund Heller to accompany him on his African safari. Roosevelt intends to make the trip a scientific one and collect samples for the United States National Museum.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-08
President Roosevelt is glad to hear from Rough Rider Clifton F. Hodge and agrees with him, but unfortunately the national government can not help. Roosevelt is dealing with the same issue regarding the protection of elk. He has sent Hodge’s letter to Clinton Hart Merriam, the head of the Bureau of Biological Survey.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-29
President Roosevelt writes to Arthur W. Lewis, Director of Concessions for Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition, regarding the issue of elk conservation. Unfortunately, the states must control the issue, and the federal government is already doing all it can by creating spaces like Yellowstone Park.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-27
President Roosevelt looks forward to seeing the lion photograph Arthur W. Lewis mentions. He will discuss with C. Hart Merriam the possibility of passing legislation regarding the preservation of elk.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-04
President Roosevelt encloses the revised lists of supplies for Frederick Courteney Selous. He discusses his reasoning behind the revisions and provides Selous with his travel itinerary. Gerrit Forbes recently visited Roosevelt and recounted his recent hunt in Africa. Roosevelt is reluctant to hire a white man for the trip but will do so if Selous suggests it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-19
President Roosevelt is greatly interested in the symposium Edward William Nelson has organized to discuss “nature fakers.” He invites Nelson, C. Hart Merriam, and Vernon Bailey to lunch to discuss the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-05
Charles Sheldon thanks Theodore Roosevelt for his letter. Sheldon describes his second book Scribner will publish next spring including several hunting experiences on Pacific Coast Islands and Alaska. Sheldon shares his opinions on Roosevelt’s Concealing Coloration pamphlet and what other’s have written to him about it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-03
Theodore Roosevelt expresses to Frederick Courteney Selous his sympathy for the poor treatment Selous received during a scientific expedition, including health issues and bureaucratic obstacles. Roosevelt defends Selous’s integrity and scientific value, criticizes British officials for their lack of support, and reflects on his own African experiences. He praises Selous’s field observations and urges him to continue his contributions to natural history despite age and physical limitations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-11
Theodore Roosevelt suggests William Beebe write to the Secretary of the Interior about lighthouse jurisdiction, and offers to write another letter if necessary. He also remarks on Beebe’s note about dark tiger beetles and later considers that lighthouses may fall under the Treasury Department.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-08
President Roosevelt discusses the various supplies, including food and drink, that he should bring on his safari. He tells Frederick Courteney Selous that he does not want the trip to be too luxurious, and does not want to bring very much alcohol. He also discusses the type of guns he should use and when he intends to leave for Africa. Selous’s friend Charles Sheldon recently visited Roosevelt and told about his hunting experiences in Alaska. Roosevelt has been invited to give the Romanes lecture in Oxford in 1910, and will be going to England after he leaves Africa.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-19
Theodore Roosevelt was pleased with Edmund Heller’s letter and sent it to Kermit Roosevelt. He congratulates Heller on acquiring the spectacled bear specimen. Archie Roosevelt is starting out for a hunt but Roosevelt has nothing planned besides a mild trip to Canada. Roosevelt is troubled by the policies of the Wilson administration and considers President Wilson the poorest president he has seen. The United States needs to stand up for its rights.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-08-28
President Roosevelt apologizes to Lincoln A. Lang for lacking the power to execute changes to game preserves. Roosevelt promises to forward Lang’s concerns to C. Hart Merriam, the head of the Bureau of Biological Survey.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-21
President Roosevelt is forwarding the letter and photograph from Charles Courtney Grieve to Dr. C. Hart Merriam of the Biological Survey because it is such an “extraordinary occurrence”.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-23
President Roosevelt thanks Henry Fairfield Osborn for the notes and suggestions, and is sure that he will incorporate them into his lecture. He wishes that Osborn and his wife, Lucretia Thatcher Perry Osborn could attend an upcoming gathering, but is glad that two of Osborn’s children, Fairfield Osborn and Josephine Adams Osborn, will be there. Roosevelt suggests several options of people who could deliver Osborn’s address on conservation, including Senator Knute Nelson of Minnesota and Senator William Edgar Borah of Idaho. He suggests writing to Chief Forester Gifford Pinchot for further suggestions. Roosevelt understands what Osborn says about Carl Ethan Akeley’s trip, and says that if he can meet him without disrupting his own safari plans, he would like to do so.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-17
President Roosevelt discussed the matter that Edward A. Eames wrote about with C. Hart Merriam, and concluded that the men in question are state, and not federal officials. Thus, Roosevelt does not have anything to do with the matter. Roosevelt reminds Eames, who asked about adequate punishment for the game protector, that although Roosevelt believes that the man was guilty of “foul murder,” he was killed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-24
President Roosevelt was delighted to receive a letter from George Shiras and to see Shiras’s pictures in the copies of the magazine that he sent. Roosevelt is pleased that Shiras is making good progress in his book. Kermit Roosevelt plans to do some photography while they are on safari in Africa.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-25
President Roosevelt congratulates Senator Sutherland and Senator Reed Smoot on their work on the battleship bill. He also encloses a letter from C. Hart Merriam and asks if he can help getting the bill he suggests through.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-28
President Roosevelt thanks Ruthven Deane for the letter and enclosure, and notes that C. Hart Merriam is “not yet prepared to give up hope that the passenger pigeons have totally disappeared.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-22
President Roosevelt wishes that he could help Cadwallader W. Parker in the song bird matter. Roosevelt notes, however, the difficulties on getting federal legislation on such a subject. He will forward Parker’s letter to C. Hart Merriam.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-30
President Roosevelt asks Secretary of Agriculture Wilson if the salaries for the chief of the Bureau of Biological Survey and his first assistants can be increased. They are less than corresponding salaries in other bureaus, like the Bureau of Entomology.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-01-06