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President Roosevelt again encourages Caspar Whitney to consult George Shiras before he publishes an extract of Shiras’s comments on the nature fakers controversy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-23
President Roosevelt informs George Shiras that he has quoted a few lines of Shiras’s letter in his article against the “nature fakers” for Everybody’s.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-23
President Roosevelt suggests to Caspar Whitney that he write directly to George Shiras before using his comments.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-22
President Roosevelt comments on the latest episode in the “nature fakers controversy” and asks George Shiras to write an article on it. He invites Shiras to spend a night at Sagamore Hill.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-22
President Roosevelt will send the deer articles to Caspar Whitney but wants to make it clear that they were written before he became president. He encloses a short foreword dated from the Vice President’s Room, June 1901.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-03
John Burroughs read Theodore Roosevelt’s reply to Abbott Thayer in The Outlook, “You cut the ground from under him every time.” Burroughs has not yet seen Thayer’s article in Popular Science Monthly, but plans to get it upon his return home. Burroughs sends Roosevelt the table of contents for his new book. The volume he hopes to put out next year will include Pine Knot. Burroughs suggests that Roosevelt read Henri Bergson’s Creative Evolution.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-29
Abel Chapman thanks Theodore Roosevelt for his letter and pamphlet on the coloration of birds and mammals, praising Roosevelt’s arguments and emphasizing the value of field observation over theory.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-13
John M. Phillips appreciates the pamphlet on “Concealing Coloration in Birds and Mammals” sent by Theodore Roosevelt and thinks it is a valuable contribution to the scientific field. He denigrates Abbott Handerson Thayer’s views on camouflage and is glad that Roosevelt will be writing a letter to the editor of The Open. He also appreciated Roosevelt’s words against William J. Long’s fake natural history.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-16
Henry P. Curtis describes a recent publication on European natural history that he believes Theodore Roosevelt might be interested in. He explains how many towns were named after the animals that once resided there, such as Wolverhampton (wolves).
Curtis also shares with Roosevelt that his father was a Whig, while Curtis is a Republican. He expresses admiration for Senator John Sherman, discusses his political adversaries, and wishes that Sherman, Alexander Hamilton, and Daniel Webster could have been presidents.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-15
W. P. Pycraft thanks Theodore Roosevelt for his sharp criticism of Abbott Thayer’s book on animal coloration, calling it a public service. He discusses his own work on birds, Darwinian views, and a past attempt to send Roosevelt a copy. Pycraft expresses a desire to meet again and recalls their prior meeting at the museum.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-13
Speech given at the opening of the New York state museum at Albany on December 29, 1916, addressing the role of the museum in scientific discovery and reporting.
1916-12-29
Edmund Heller spoke with Charles D. Walcott, Secretary of the Smithsonian, and decided at the last minute to join Paul James Rainey’s expedition to Africa on behalf of the National Museum. He did not realize that Theodore Roosevelt had intended to write to Walcott requesting that Heller not go so that he could focus on writing reports on the specimens collected from his own African expedition. Heller explains that no other qualified man is available to go, and lists the ways that this expedition will assist him in finishing his work with Roosevelt’s collection. The paper on the white rhinoceros will be published before Heller goes, and he assures Roosevelt of his dedication to the work.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-09
Theodore Roosevelt sent the request to Scribner’s. He is glad that Abbott Handerson Thayer is considering lunch at Oyster Bay. Before he can see Thayer’s experiments, Roosevelt needs to talk with him about facing “unpleasant” facts. He suggests reading The Making of Species.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-12-01
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 emphasizes the importance of a biological survey of the Panama Canal route in connection with a letter from Seth E. Meek of the Field Museum of Natural History. He urges Congress to authorize a broader study of Panama and Central America.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-07
Theodore Roosevelt writes to John Francis Snyder and is sorry to say that he did not have time for anthropology while in Africa, as he was occupied with natural history.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-14
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary asks August Donath, Superintendent of Documents at the Government Printing Office, to send a copy of each book in a series that was issued by the Biological Survey. He believes it is called “North American Fauna” and is numbered one through thirty-two. If Donath can send the books, the secretary will ensure a check is sent as payment.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-12
Theodore Roosevelt tells Professor Osborn that he is pleased with J. A. Allen’s comments and accepts his list of contents. He wonders whether Osborn’s statement about not being able to make any further corrections also means that the changes he mentioned to Frank M. Chapman last month, particularly the footnotes answering Abbott Handerson Thayer’s Popular Science article, can be adopted. He would be very sorry if the corrections to the galley could not be made and would like to know more. He is also writing to Chapman.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-07-11
Theodore Roosevelt is interested in the pamphlet, even though he does not understand the hares’ coloration. He was also intrigued by the story of the woodcock attempting to bind its injured leg.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-07
Theodore Roosevelt gives Edmund Heller his blessing to go on another hunting expedition to Africa with Paul James Rainey. He strongly wishes that Heller could publish a pamphlet on the giant eland before he goes because he is worried that another naturalist will end up being first to publish about it. However, he wishes Heller luck on the trip and asks him to send his regards to Rainey.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-10