Miller, Flora Whitney | - Theodore Roosevelt Center

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Quentin Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt was sorry to hear that Quentin Roosevelt contracted pneumonia and had a melancholy Christmas. At Sagamore Hill, the holiday was enlightened by Richard Derby, Jr., and Edith Roosevelt Derby. Roosevelt is indignant that Ted Roosevelt and Archie Roosevelt have suggested that Quentin is an embusque, a person seeking to avoid military service. He doubts that they were being serious and notes several positive statements that have appeared in print from men that had served with Quentin. Roosevelt encourages Quentin to write steadily to his mother and Flora Whitney. He continues to do nothing; occasionally writing or speaking as poor substitutes for action. Roosevelt hopes that his work will help remedy some of the army’s shortcomings and speed up the war.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-01-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Quentin Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt spent four days in Washington, D.C., with Alice Roosevelt Longworth and Representative Nicholas Longworth. Roosevelt was very busy meeting with politicians, journalists, and military officers. It was difficult for Edith as many of her old friends had grown old or died. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hitchcock visited and are very proud of their son, Tommy. Hitchcock had written his parents that he has been practicing shooting all the time, and Roosevelt asks if Quentin has been able to practice. Quentin’s recent letters have been interesting, and Roosevelt encourages Quentin to write regularly to his mother and to Flora Whitney.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-01-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Quentin Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt has left the hospital but the damage in his inner ear continues to make him lose his equilibrium. He should be better in a few months. Frederick Trubee Davison, who now walks with a cane, visited Roosevelt in the hospital and inquired about Quentin Roosevelt. Captain Adolph Wiedebach, Archibald Roosevelt’s former captain, brought them news about Quentin. In a postscript, Roosevelt wishes that Flora Whitney could travel overseas to marry Quentin.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-03-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Quentin Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt was depressed to hear that Tommy Hitchcock was captured by the Germans. Various information has been received regarding Archibald Roosevelt. It appears that he has been wounded and received the Croix de guerre from the French. Roosevelt encourages Quentin Roosevelt to write to Flora Whitney and her family to ask if Flora could go overseas to marry him. Roosevelt approves of them getting married, even with the potential for death and serious injury. He is confident that Flora wants to marry Quentin under any conditions. William Beebe has returned from France where he was allowed to do some “flying and bombing.”

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-03-17

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Quentin Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt was pleased to hear that Quentin Roosevelt is learning how to shoot at the French school. He understands the aviation service’s frustration over the service stripe regulation. Roosevelt encourages Quentin Roosevelt to write to Flora Whitney and her family to ask if Flora could go overseas to marry him. He is confident that Flora wants to marry Quentin under any conditions. General Wood visited and had nice things to say about Quentin. Roosevelt closes by expressing his pride in Quentin.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-03-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Quentin Roosevelt

The family is concerned about Quentin Roosevelt’s accident and have only received limited information. Theodore Roosevelt is “indignant at the criminal folly” that has led to a limited supply of aircraft and guns. Flora Whitney is visiting and Roosevelt is impressed with her strength of character. She is ready to marry Quentin the instant it is possible. Roosevelt understands Quentin’s desire to reach the front and, after Quentin’s direction, is willing to speak to anyone to help his cause.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-05-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Quentin Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt spoke for the Red Cross at Carnegie Hall and was surprised when the person leading him to the stage whispered that Harry Davidson was working to get Flora Whitney overseas to marry Quentin Roosevelt. The woman turned out to be Adele Burden. Roosevelt has heard nothing of Davidson’s efforts but he hopes that Flora and Quentin can marry. Grace Lockwood Roosevelt and Archibald Roosevelt have been at Sagamore Hill for a month. Roosevelt will be leaving tomorrow for a speaking trip about the war and Americanism. He continues to balance pointing out the government’s shortcomings while not being perceived as attacking the government. Currently, the people are only half awake to the government’s folly.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-05-23

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Richard Derby

After Quentin Roosevelt’s death, it has been a great comfort for Theodore Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt to visit Ethel Roosevelt Derby and the children. Roosevelt relates an incident where Richard Derby, Jr., angled to get a new toy and he describes Edith Roosevelt Derby as a “fairy princess.” Flora Whitney will be visiting tomorrow and Quentin’s death has been very difficult for her. The Derby’s neighbors have been friendly, and Roosevelt gave them a speech in response.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-08-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ethel Roosevelt Derby

Ethel Roosevelt Derby’s letter made Theodore Roosevelt homesick for the Derby family. He is now always at breakfast on time as Ethel’s daughter, Edith Roosevelt Derby, is no longer there to keep his attention. When mounting his horse recently, Roosevelt laughed after recalling Richard Derby, Jr., frightening the horse with loud tricycling. They are excited over press reports that Quentin Roosevelt claimed an aerial victory which Roosevelt describes as Quentin’s “day of honor and triumph.” Archibald Roosevelt is having an arm operation and may need eight months to recover before returning to active service.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-07-12

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Anna Roosevelt Cowles

Theodore Roosevelt is pleased for his sister Anna Roosevelt Cowles that her son William Sheffield Cowles has secured military leave to spend time with her each week. Roosevelt is frustrated that military policy prevented Flora Payne Whitney, his son Quentin Roosevelt’s fiancé, from visiting and marrying Quentin while he was stationed in France during the war. Roosevelt believes this decision is unjust, especially if Quentin were to be killed.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-07-06

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Archibald B. Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt writes of Edith Roosevelt sending her first typewritten letter, how pleased they with Grace Stackpole Lockwood Roosevelt and their other daughter-in-laws, of visits from various military men, the training of the national guard and how proud Roosevelt is of his sons.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-09-01

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Archibald B. Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Archie, serving in the military in Europe, with the latest family news.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-06-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Quentin Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt is proud that Quentin Roosevelt is going to the front as a pursuit pilot after many months of waiting and that the pride outweighs the anxiety. He mentions Flora Payne Whitney sending them the letter Quentin wrote her and how it amused him, especially given the work of the censors. Roosevelt has finished his speaking engagements and believes the country is hardening against German sentiment.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-06-19

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919