Your TR Source
A satire on nature fakers, B. S. Osbon’s fictional short story tells of a fisherman who trains a group of uncannily intelligent flying fish and dolphins.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-24
William J. Long writes an open letter to President Theodore Roosevelt, demanding that Roosevelt retract his attacks against Long’s work, particularly a story about a wolf killing a caribou, which Roosevelt calls “mathematically impossible.” Long includes statements from witnesses attesting to his honesty.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-29
Printer’s proof of William J. Long’s detailed response to President Roosevelt’s recent attack on his work in Everybody’s Magazine. Long argues that Roosevelt holds himself to be an expert in animal behavior, when there are many more qualified men than he. Further, Long says that Roosevelt claims to know the “heart of wild things,” but really all he does is kill those animals. Long provides details, witnesses, and a point by point rebuttal to prove Roosevelt’s attack is unwarranted. A handwritten note indicates the article will appear in “the important papers of New York, Boston, Chicago, etc.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-02
Two sequences of John Burroughs, naturalist, eminent author, and hunting companion of Theodore Roosevelt. A close-up of Burroughs talking and a long shot of him sitting in a chair reading a book; immediate background is filled with trees and vegetation, location unknown. The final sequence is of a bird moving around on a window ledge.
Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound
1910
Photos of Theodore Roosevelt (dressed in safari garb), J. Alden Loring “Naturalist”, Col. E. A. Mearns “U.S.A., retired, Surgeon,” and R. J. Cunninghame “Guide and Manager.” On reverse side is a description of the upcoming Smithsonian African Expedition.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1909
Theodore Roosevelt’s trip has reminded him of Rudyard Kipling’s works, especially with all of the young Englishmen aboard the ship. Kermit Roosevelt is a great traveling companion and has made many friends. They are both getting along with the naturalists and Roosevelt believes that they will make the trip a scientific success. Everyone has been kind, and Roosevelt is enjoying the “brief aftermath of Presidential glory.”
1909-04-14
Theodore Roosevelt writes Thomas Barbour, the curator of reptiles and amphibians at the Museum of Comparative Zoology, to criticize Abbott Handerson Thayer’s article in The Auk. Roosevelt was amused at Thayer’s allusion to Barbour and John C. Phillips and does not understand how naturalists can take him seriously. He calls him “fundamentally dishonest” regarding theories about bird coloration.
1911-10-26
Civil Service Commissioner Roosevelt informs ornithologist William Brewster that Mr. Faxon disagreed with Roosevelt’s report regarding the use of terms “naturalist” and “biologist.” They will therefore have to put in two reports since Faxon feels the zoological paragraphs were irrelevant. Roosevelt asks Brewster to get the report back if he sees Faxon since Roosevelt wants to send it to Charles Francis Adams.
1893-06-21
A. G. Wallihan sent George Bird Grinnell about 150 photographs. He is anxious to get them published. Boone and Crockett Club members may chip in money to fund the publishing of the book featuring Wallihan’s photos. Theodore Roosevelt, Grinnell, and the editorial committee will make the final decision about the publication plan.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1900-02-19