Morris, Sylvia Jukes

John A. Gable recounts the life and work of Jessica E. Kraft who worked as a secretary for Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt and was the first Curator of Sagamore Hill. Gable highlights Kraft’s thirty-four years of service to the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) and notes the many roles and positions she held in the association. Gable also examines her volunteer work in the Oyster Bay, New York community, and the article contains the citation read on the occasion of her winning the Bertha B. Rose Award from the TRA in 1983.

Six photographs of Kraft, four of which show her with others, appear in the article as does an illustration of both sides of the TRA medallion.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Advertisement and order form for seven books available for purchase from the Theodore Roosevelt Association.

An illustration of Roosevelt reading in a rocking chair with the caption “In His Favorite Chair on the Piazza” appears in the advertisement.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Joyce M. Bisso opens this edition of “News and Notes” with a report on the effort to gather library books from the greater Oyster Bay, New York, area to build a library for the sailors aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt. The task fell to students from Oyster Bay High School and local public libraries. Bisso quotes the two sailors from the ship, Petty Officer Timothy L. Blackstone and Senior Chief Edward J. Tessier, who came to Oyster Bay to collect the books and other materials gathered by the community. The article also reprints a letter from Captain Paul W. Parcells, Commanding Officer of USS Theodore Roosevelt, to William Davison Johnston, the President of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA). A photograph of students examining books; one of Blackstone and Tessier; and another of the two sailors with Oyster Bay High School students appear in the article. 

The section also contains a report on the natural history research grants awarded from the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Fund by the American Museum of Natural History in New York City for 1986. The report notes the members of the TRA who serve on the awards committee, lists the winner of the largest award, Mark L. McKnight, and it provides a history of the involvement of Theodore Roosevelt and his father with the museum. A chart listing the number of award applications, the number of awards, and the value of the grants from 1961 to 1986 appears in this section.

This edition of the “News and Notes” section opens with a report on the annual meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA). The report notes the election of new members and classes of the Board of Trustees and of the TRA’s leadership for 1985-1986. The section also covers the TRA’s involvement in the Outward Bound program and the granting of the first Theodore Roosevelt Scholarship for that program, the results of the Theodore Roosevelt Public Speaking Contest for the New York City public high schools, and the passing of Philippa Jeffries Roosevelt. 

The section also covers the “first scholarship conference devoted entirely to TR” at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, which was held in October 1985. It also notes new works on Theodore Roosevelt, a panel on Roosevelt’s foreign policy to be held at the meeting of the Organization of American Historians, and highlights the work of Frederick W. Marks and Serge Ricard on Roosevelt’s diplomacy found in this issue. The section closes with a notice that Edmund Morris has signed a contract to write a biography of President Ronald Reagan. 

Listing of the ten members of the Theodore Roosevelt Association Membership Committee, including four historians, two former Directors of the National Park Service, two members of the Roosevelt family, a retired Justice of the New York Supreme Court, and a business executive.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1985

Listing of the ten members of the Theodore Roosevelt Association Membership Committee, including four historians, two former Directors of the National Park Service, two members of the Roosevelt family, a retired Justice of the New York Supreme Court, and a business executive.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1985

Report on the 65th Annual Dinner and Meeting of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) held in Williamsburg, Virginia, on October 27, 1984, following the launch of the USS Theodore Roosevelt. The report quotes from the address given by the President of the TRA, William Davison Johnston, and from the letter sent to the TRA by President Ronald Reagan. The report lists many of the guests in attendance, including Theodore Roosevelt historians and biographers, employees of the National Park Service, and members of the Roosevelt family. It also reviews the financial state of the TRA, noting that it had run a deficit for the past two fiscal years, covers the election of officers, and notes the changes implemented to the Board of Trustees. The report concludes with a review of gifts given to the leadership of the USS Theodore Roosevelt.

A photograph of Roosevelt with his granddaughter Grace Roosevelt and three photographs of various guests, dignitaries, and members of the Roosevelt family at the annual dinner accompany the report.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Much of this edition of the “News and Notes” section revisits and elaborates on articles published in this issue of the Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal. “The TR Exhibit at the Johnson Library” quotes from the remarks made by William Davison Johnston, President of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA), at the library, notes the gifts given by the TRA to Lady Bird Johnson, and promotes the exhibit’s catalogue. The section also provides excerpts from a letter written by the leadership of the TRA to President Ronald Reagan thanking him for visiting the graves of General Theodore Roosevelt and Quentin Roosevelt in June 1984, and it notes that this issue of the journal is dedicated to Jean Schermerhorn Roosevelt.

The section also touches on some of the awards given to high school students by the TRA and highlights talks on Roosevelt presented at Lamar University in Texas and at Sagamore Hill. It also revisits the TRA Police Award ceremony in New York City and cites the contributions of Paul Russell Cutright and the National Geographic Society to the article on President Roosevelt’s conservation record.

An illustration of a bronze medallion depicting Theodore Roosevelt, two photographs of Lady Bird Johnson, and a photograph of Roosevelt speaking are found in the section.

Advertisement and order form for six books available for purchase from the Theodore Roosevelt Association. The books include three titles written by Theodore Roosevelt: a biography of Gouverneur Morris and two collections of Roosevelt’s writings; a picture biography of Roosevelt; and a biography of Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt and a history of Sagamore Hill.

An illustration of Roosevelt reading in a rocking chair with the caption “In His Favorite Chair on the Piazza” appears in the advertisement.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Advertisement and order form for six books available for purchase from the Theodore Roosevelt Association. The books include three titles written by Theodore Roosevelt: a biography of Gouverneur Morris and two collections of Roosevelt’s writings; a picture biography of Roosevelt; and a biography of Edith Kermit Roosevelt and a history of Sagamore Hill.

An illustration of Roosevelt reading in a rocking chair with the caption “In His Favorite Chair on the Piazza” appears in the advertisement.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Report on the “Roosevelt Renaissance” held at Theodore Roosevelt Island in Washington, D.C., in June 1983. The report lists some of the activities of the weekend, including the showing of films and numerous speeches, lists the various speakers and some of the guests, and highlights the remarks made by William Davison Johnston, the President of the Theodore Roosevelt Association.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1983

The “News and Notes” section focuses on the celebrations, ceremonies, and lectures highlighting the 125th anniversary of Theodore Roosevelt’s birth in New York City, Oyster Bay, and Washington, D.C. The section repeats in shortened form some of the information provided in other articles in the issue, looks at the various lectures and interviews given by John A. Gable, Executive Director of the Theodore Roosevelt Association, and notes personnel news from the various Roosevelt sites managed by the National Park Service.

A photograph of Harold and Sheila Schafer in Medora, North Dakota, is found on page two of the section.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

History of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) that chronicles the TRA’s work to preserve historic sites associated with Theodore Roosevelt and its work in collecting documents, providing natural history research grants, and publishing books and a journal on Roosevelt.

A photograph of Theodore Roosevelt seated at a desk accompanies the article.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Report on the luncheon at the White House on October 27, 1982, on the occasion of the presentation of Theodore Roosevelt’s Nobel Peace Prize Medal to President Ronald Reagan. The report describes the ceremony and lists all of the guests, including the leadership of the Theodore Roosevelt Association, the Roosevelt family, and White House staff.

Five photographs of the gathering, all of which feature Reagan, accompany the report.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

The “News and Notes” column acknowledges the authors who contributed to this issue of the Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal and promotes the work of various scholars who have written books on Theodore Roosevelt related topics. It lists the winners of Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) sponsored awards and contests and notes the work, achievements, and passing of members of the TRA. It highlights an Independence Day celebration held in Oyster Bay, New York at the bandstand rebuilt by the TRA.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1982

Advertisement and order form for six books available for purchase from the Theodore Roosevelt Association. The books include three titles written by Theodore Roosevelt: a biography of Gouverneur Morris and two collections of Roosevelt’s writings; a picture biography of Roosevelt; and a biography of Edith Kermit Roosevelt and a history of Sagamore Hill.

An illustration of Roosevelt reading in a rocking chair with the caption “In His Favorite Chair on the Piazza” appears in the advertisement.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Advertisement and order form for six books available for purchase from the Theodore Roosevelt Association. The books include three titles written by Theodore Roosevelt: a biography of Gouverneur Morris and two collections of Roosevelt’s writings; a picture biography of Roosevelt; and a biography of Edith Kermit Roosevelt and a history of Sagamore Hill.

An illustration of Roosevelt reading in a rocking chair with the caption “In His Favorite Chair on the Piazza” appears in the advertisement.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

John A. Gable provides a comprehensive report on the work of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) in 1981. He details the TRA’s support of the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site, and he notes the association’s financial support of Youngs Memorial Cemetery, the adjacent Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary in Oyster Bay, and the American Museum of Natural History. Gable also reports on the association’s support of student essay and speaking contests, additions to the Theodore Roosevelt Collection at Harvard University, and the Roosevelt Genealogical Project. He notes the growth in membership and dues for the TRA, and he lists the articles published in 1981 in the TRA Journal. Gable highlights the work of David McCullough and Edmund Morris on Theodore Roosevelt and gives examples of the TRA’s support of the various historical sites associated with the life of Roosevelt.

A drawing of the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Historical Site and photographs of John A. Gable with members of the faculty of Richland College and with TRA President William Johnston and David McCullough are included in the report.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Report on two meetings of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) held in October 1981 in Oyster Bay, New York and Washington, D.C. The article highlights the reports given by the leadership of the TRA at the Oyster Bay meeting, and quotes extensively from remarks given by TRA President William Davison Johnston at both meetings. The speakers for the gatherings, David McCullough and Edmund and Sylvia Morris, are discussed as are their works on Theodore Roosevelt.

Fourteen photographs (two from the Oyster Bay meeting and twelve from the Washington, D.C. meeting) showing some of the guests, dignitaries, speakers, and members of the leadership of the Theodore Roosevelt Association accompany the article.

John A. Gable reviews David McCullough’s biography of Theodore Roosevelt, Mornings on Horseback. He highlights subjects that he thinks McCullough has broken new ground on, and he discusses the book’s place in the historiography of Roosevelt, seeing it as part of a larger “Roosevelt revival.” Gable also compares McCullough’s biography with those of Carleton Putnam and Edmund Morris.

A photograph of Roosevelt in 1876 accompanies the review.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal