Your TR Source
John O’Hara Cosgrave would like to discuss the “Nature Fakers” controversy with President Roosevelt to inquire whether the magazine of which he is editor, Everybody’s, should take up the issue, and to discuss an article dealing with Roosevelt’s views on the subject that he has accepted for publication.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-27
John M. Phillips sends President Roosevelt an article by R. M. Norboe, and is pleased Roosevelt has taken on the “fake” natural history writers like William J. Long.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-08
Frederick Courteney Selous sends his manuscript to President Roosevelt. He would be extremely grateful if Roosevelt could look over it and write a short introduction. There is no rush to return the manuscript as Selous is going on a bird nesting expedition to Asia Minor.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-27
Frederick Courteney Selous sends President Roosevelt a copy of Swayne’s Travels in Mongolia, and, as soon as he is able, will send copies of several magazine articles. Selous very much enjoyed meeting Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt. If Roosevelt would consent to send Selous a signed photograph, Selous would “value it above all things.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-26
Don Arp discusses Theodore Roosevelt’s encounters with alligators, crocodiles, and caimans while on a hunting trip to Louisiana, his safari in Africa, and his expedition in Brazil. Arp emphasizes that Roosevelt did not particularly like any of these reptiles, and that he relished hunting the caimans in Brazil, but that he nonetheless made careful observations of the crocodilians that he encountered. Arp includes several excerpts from Roosevelt’s writings about these three types of reptiles.
Andrew L. Knudson’s painting of Roosevelt as a Rough Rider appears in the article as does a text box with information about the Theodore Roosevelt Association.
John Burroughs is sorry to have troubled President Roosevelt about the Justice of the Peace matter. Burroughs is delighted that Roosevelt will be dedicating his book to him and knows it will be a “solid contribution to natural history.” Burroughs has some forthcoming articles which he would be glad to hear Roosevelt’s opinions of, and his own book is almost ready to be sent to the publisher.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-05-22
Handwritten draft of Chapter 4 of Life Histories of African Game Animals. Theodore Roosevelt argues that followers of Charles Darwin have done a disservice to the theory of evolution by asserting the over-arching importance of natural selection in bringing about the evolution of species. The coloration of animals is one phenomenon often used to illustrate the importance of natural selection – i.e. the animals’ color traits (striped, dark, light) help to conceal it from its predators and therefore enable it to survive. Roosevelt details his observations of African game animals to contest such theories, concluding that natural selection has played a minor part in developing the coloration of these animals.
1910
President Roosevelt expresses his appreciation for author and conservationist John Burroughs’s gift of the book, Far and Near, and encourages him to make note of his trip to Yellowstone in the next book.
1904-11-11
Theodore Roosevelt’s notes about his observations of the flora and fauna of New York, New Jersey, and Vermont. A hand-drawn map and sketches of birds are included.
Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site
1872, 1874-1875
President Roosevelt would like the National Academy of Sciences to create a plan to investigate the natural resources and natural history of the Philippine Islands.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-12-26
John Burroughs writes to President Roosevelt complaining about William Long and others who, Burrough’s claims, write fake natural history. He also asks Roosevelt a number of questions about the hunting behavior of members of the cat family.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-12-31
Caspar Whitney wanted President Roosevelt to meet with Frederick Courteney Selous, but Selous is no longer traveling to New York. Whitney found Roosevelt’s cougar paper very interesting and agrees with it. He hopes Roosevelt can still complete the deer family papers even with his new duties. Whitney greatly admires Roosevelt for his handling of the succession to the presidency.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-01