National Wildlife Refuge System (U.S.)

John A. Gable provides a comprehensive accounting of the conservation record of President Theodore Roosevelt, and in ten quotations dating from 1905 to 1912, Roosevelt explains his philosophy of conservation. Roosevelt stresses that natural resources must be carefully managed for future generations and that conservation is the most important issue facing the country. Gable lists the 21 reclamation projects, 150 national forests, 51 bird refuges, and 4 national game preserves established by Roosevelt during his presidency. Gable also lists the 5 national parks and 18 national monuments created during Roosevelt’s tenure. He also notes the 7 different commissions and conferences called by Roosevelt during his presidency to study issues related to conservation and natural resources.

Photographs of Roosevelt at the dedication of the Roosevelt Dam in Arizona, at a federal bird refuge in Louisiana, and on horseback supplement the text.

A listing of the officers of the Theodore Roosevelt Association along with the members of its executive, finance, and Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace committees is included in the article.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Two paragraph excerpt from Paul Russell Cutright’s Theodore Roosevelt: The Naturalist that describes President Theodore Roosevelt’s decision to establish the Pelican Island bird refuge in Florida along with a number of other bird reservations from 1903 to 1909. The Cutright excerpt is followed by two paragraphs that describe Roosevelt’s creation of national parks and monuments and closes with a quotation on conservation from his A Book-Lover’s Holiday in the Open.

A picture of Roosevelt examining a bird egg along with two unidentified men at a federal bird reservation in 1915 accompanies the article.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Envelope commemorating the centennial of the creation of the nation’s first national wildlife refuge, Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge. The envelope has a Pelican Island stamp featuring the image of a pelican and was postmarked in Fremont, California, on March 15, 2003, with a special “Celebrating a Century of Conservation” cancellation. On the left side of the envelope is an illustration of Theodore Roosevelt wearing a hat and bandana.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site

Creation Date

2003-03-15

Creator(s)

Unknown