Nile River

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Evert Jansen Wendell

Theodore Roosevelt wishes Evert Jansen Wendell would explain his position to the committee. Roosevelt believes that the preservation of wildlife should be the most important thing to a hunter, not the size of the hunt. When he did his hunt in Africa, it was primarily in the interests of science. He thinks that a medal, if given out, should be awarded to all men who perform notable hunting feats, rather than for a competition between individuals. Roosevelt offers his diaries with the distances he shot each animal and a sketch of where he hit them under the condition that the diaries are treated with care and returned.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-01-23

Ornithology of Egypt between Cairo and Assuan

While sailing down the Nile, fourteen year old Theodore Roosevelt wrote this essay about the geography and birds found in Egypt between Cairo and Aswan.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1872-12

Ardea russata

During his trip down the Nile in Benesooef, Egypt, fourteen year old Theodore Roosevelt wrote about the ardea russata, which he identified as a buff fronted cow heron. It is also known as a cow egret. The back page notes this essay was presented by him on 7 April 1874.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1872-12-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Boyes

Theodore Roosevelt sends a letter of thanks to John Boyes for his letter and for sending him his book. John Boyes wrote on the topic of travel in Africa. Roosevelt relays that he enjoyed reading his book and meeting Boyes on the Nile.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-07-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Walter S. Hinchman

Theodore Roosevelt apologizes to Walter S. Hinchman for being unable to provide information. During his trips, he kept primarily to the Nile River and knows little about botany.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-06

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to Paul W. Harrison

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary informs Paul W. Harrison that it is currently impossible to communicate with Roosevelt because he is currently traveling down the Nile. However, he notes that Major Edgar Alexander Mearns is in charge of the medical equipment on the trip and is unlikely to want to part with it when he returns.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-12-30

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to Maurice G. Ricker

Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt has forwarded Maurice G. Ricker’s letter to Theodore Roosevelt. However, it is doubtful that he will receive it because he may already be on his way down the Nile.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-12-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Northrup McMillan

President Roosevelt happily accepts the invitation to visit Willian Northrup McMillan’s house in Nairobi and to hunt on his farm. However, he has already promised to stay at Alfred E. Pease’s ranch when he first arrives, and asks if he can wait to name a time when he can visit McMillan. He discusses the proposed itinerary for his African safari, which includes time in British East Africa and Uganda before traveling up the Nile.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward North Buxton

President Roosevelt asks Edward North Buxton to order boots for himself and his son Kermit. He expresses concern about whether the upcoming safari will be good for Kermit’s health. He is very interested in the letter from Ernst Karl Hoyos-Sprinzenstein and wonders if it would be possible for him to visit. Roosevelt would like to discuss hunting with him. Roosevelt increasingly believes that he will do most of his hunting in British East Africa and the Nile so that he can spend more time hunting and less time traveling.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt discusses the various supplies, including food and drink, that he should bring on his safari. He tells Frederick Courteney Selous that he does not want the trip to be too luxurious, and does not want to bring very much alcohol. He also discusses the type of guns he should use and when he intends to leave for Africa. Selous’s friend Charles Sheldon recently visited Roosevelt and told about his hunting experiences in Alaska. Roosevelt has been invited to give the Romanes lecture in Oxford in 1910, and will be going to England after he leaves Africa.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward North Buxton

President Roosevelt discusses whether to employ locals or Englishmen as safari guides on his upcoming trip. He has started engaging shikaris, and notes that he would rather not employ white guides unless absolutely necessary. Roosevelt has amended the list of supplies that Frederick Courteney Selous suggested he bring, cutting down on alcohol and luxuries. He discuses the itinerary and logistics of the trip, particularly in relation to ensuring that he is able to shoot good specimens for the Smithsonian Institute, which can easily be transported.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-20

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to F. R. Wingate

President Roosevelt will be happy to accept F. R. Wingate’s offer of a boat and guide to take him up the Nile River to Khartoum. He clarifies that he would like permission to shoot in officers’ game reserves only if there are animals there that he cannot get anywhere else. He is particularly interested in shooting elephants and a white rhinoceros, and discusses the timing of trips that may allow him to get them. Roosevelt is also excited to visit the Congo to see Wingate’s administrative accomplishments there.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-14

Letter from Alfred E. Pease to Theodore Roosevelt

When he is in Africa, President Roosevelt would like to hunt at William Northrup McMillan’s farm, as well as stay at Alfred E. Pease’s, but he will defer to Pease’s judgment on the matter. He is very excited by Pease’s description of all the animals he can shoot along the Nile. Roosevelt discusses when and where he will procure supplies along the way. He must now turn his attention to the presidential election in the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. H. Patterson

President Roosevelt hopes that J. H. Patterson’s health will improve so that he and his wife can visit the United States soon. He discusses his potential itineraries for his upcoming African safari.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-02

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt encloses several proposed itineraries for his upcoming African safari. He thinks it wise to wait to decide on an exact plan until he arrives in Africa.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-02

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Nettie F. Woodford Dietz

Theodore Roosevelt enjoyed hearing of the Nile trip that Nettie F. Woodford Dietz and her husband Charles Nelson Dietz experienced.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-03-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Leigh S. J. Hunt

President Roosevelt informs Leigh S. J. Hunt of his plans to be Hunt’s guest once he reaches the Nile. Although the Sirdar F. R. Wingate has suggested taking a small boat as an alternative, Roosevelt intends and prefers to be Hunt’s guest.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Leigh S. J. Hunt

President Roosevelt is “overjoyed” to hear that Leigh S. J. Hunt’s son, Henry L. Hunt, has improved in health and discusses his Nile river travel plans for his upcoming African safari. Based on the advice of the Sirdar and John L. Harrington, Roosevelt plans to travel up the Sobat and Pibor rivers instead of the Bahr-el-Gazal. Roosevelt also reports that the Sirdar claims he can catch a white rhinoceros while in Uganda. In the postscript, Roosevelt wonders if they should bring donkeys on their river journey.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alfred E. Pease

President Roosevelt has spoken with a number of people about his upcoming African safari, and informs Alfred E. Pease of his plans as they now stand.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to R. J. Cunninghame

President Roosevelt was pleased to learn from Frederick Courteney Selous that R. J. Cunninghame had been hired to lead his upcoming African safari. He explains his current plans for the trip, hunting through East Africa for eight or nine months and then meeting boats at Gondokoro and traveling down the Nile River. Roosevelt hopes to hunt some big game to be given as specimens to the National Museum, but does not wish to indiscriminately slaughter animals while he is there. He would also like to avoid hunting in the vicinity of Nairobi, as there are sure to be newspapermen, and instead plans to head to the ranches of Sir Alfred E. Pease and Sir William Northrup McMillan at first. Roosevelt asks Cunninghame to communicate with Smith, Mackenzie & Co., and Newland, Tarlton & Co. to find out when his supplies reach Africa, and to make any arrangements necessary.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-26