Mothers

Helen M. Bent writes to Theodore Roosevelt about his upcoming speech on “The Conservation of Womanhood and Childhood.” She would like Roosevelt to specifically bring up venereal diseases and how it threatens the lives of innocent women and children. She writes that many women’s organizations have focused on this problem for years and are frustrated since, as women with little political power, state boards of health have not done enough to address the topic.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-14

Creator(s)

Bent, Helen M. (Helen Matilda), 1843-1943

Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt poses for a formal studio portrait with Alice (around age 6), Ted (around age 2) and Kermit (under 1 year).

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1890

Creator(s)

Unknown

Portrait of Grace Green Alexander, mother of Eleanor Butler Alexander.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

Unknown

Creator(s)

Unknown

Two Irish housewives are visiting. One is sitting in a chair, holding an infant, and with a young boy standing next to her, smoking a cigar. They are discussing the boy’s desire to work for Richard Croker, a Tammany Hall boss. Caption: Mrs. Grogan. — Little Patsy siz phwhin he grows up he wants ter git a job workin’ fer Dick Croker. Mrs. Hogan. — Doin’ phwhat? Mrs. Grogan. — Either mayor or jockey; – he don’t care phwhich!

comments and context

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1901-08-14

President Roosevelt is pleased to hear about Jacob A. Riis’s mother, Carolina Riis. He sends them both well wishes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-02-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt is pleased to have received the photograph of mothers and children in Wisconsin from Philip J. Haag. He appreciates seeing mothers raise children to be future citizens of the American Republic and considers Wisconsin to be a leader among states in many regards.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt is grateful to know of the feelings Judge Buffington’s mother had for Roosevelt, as well as the feelings Buffington had for his mother. Roosevelt feels that “the best women of the future must necessarily be like the best women of the past.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-05-06

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt sends his deepest sympathy for the death of F. Maurice Newton’s father. He also just recently learned that Newton’s mother had passed away the previous winter. Roosevelt would like to see Newton at the earliest convenience.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-12-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt tells Jacob A. Riis that if he gets the chance he will invite Agnes Donaldson to the White House, although he may not have a chance to do so. Roosevelt is amused that Riis is in favor of a statement Roosevelt made recommending that mothers let children run their own play, as it was something Roosevelt had previously heard from Riis.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-31

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt understands how William Emlen Roosevelt feels about his mother. He shuddered when hearing of Joseph Bucklin Bishop’s “scheme” regarding his childhood.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-03-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt sends his condolences after hearing of the death of Jacob A. Riis’s mother.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-03-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

President Roosevelt was pleased to hear the news about Jacob A. Riis’s mother.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-02-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Harriet May Mills writes Theodore Roosevelt about his upcoming speech at Carnegie Hall on the Conservation of Women and Children, stating that women cannot advocate for themselves on this subject if they cannot play a role in lawmaking. She urges Roosevelt to use his influence and make his stance on suffrage known so that New York can join California in allowing women to vote.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-17

Creator(s)

Mills, Harriet May, 1857-1935

Ida O. Swanson informs Theodore Roosevelt that she is the mother of twelve children, including twin boys born June 23, and her family runs a farm in Florence County, Wisconsin.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-08

Creator(s)

Swanson, Ida O. (Ida Otilia), 1870-1923

Herbert W. Elvidge would like Theodore Roosevelt to speak about mothers at the Allentown, Pennsylvania, YMCA’s Mother’s Day celebration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-14

Creator(s)

Elvidge, Herbert W., 1868-1941

Dewitt Wise sends Theodore Roosevelt his poem extolling the divine role of mothers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-01

Creator(s)

Wise, Dewitt, -1938

Alan Hudson asks Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt to write a letter about the place and work of a mother, to be read at a Mother’s Day celebration.

In a handwritten note, she instructs her secretary to decline because Theodore Roosevelt is no longer in public life. The letter should be similar to the one written to Success.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-05-03

Jacob A. Riis tells President Roosevelt about a wonderful performance by Agnes Donaldson, who is a great reader and performer. If Roosevelt ever needs a laugh, he should invite Donaldson to perform for him and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt. Riis also approves of the advice Roosevelt gave mothers to let children manage their own play.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-29

Creator(s)

Riis, Jacob A. (Jacob August), 1849-1914

George W. Smalley writes to President Roosevelt in regard to his address to “the mothers.” Smalley states that maternity is one of the highest duties and integral to the development of women. He refers to a quotation by Napoleon indicating that women who bear children are the most admirable. Smalley tells Roosevelt that he states his views “in a way that best reaches the ‘plain people.'”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-20

Creator(s)

Smalley, George W. (George Washburn), 1833-1916

Photograph showing three-quarters portrait of Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt seated in a chair with Quentin Roosevelt standing on her left.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1903-02-16

Creator(s)

Johnston, Frances Benjamin, 1864-1952