Your TR Source
President Roosevelt enjoyed his time with John J. O’Brien, which was cut short when Roosevelt injured his back. Roosevelt encloses a letter from John Hay.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-04-01
President Roosevelt will meet with Bay to discuss the photos and is having a great time with John O’Brien, but his system is difficult to learn.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-03-19
President Roosevelt found the photographs fascinating and is considering inviting the “Japanese” O’Brien to provide a lesson.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-03-03
The receipt for $57.40 paid to John J. O’Brien was not found in the files. It is suggested that it may be in the possession of Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-03-21
Samuel Hill, a Harvard University trustee, knows two Japanese jiu-jitsu masters who are far superior to Professor John J. O’Brien as they have six degrees and O’Brien only two. Hill offers to bring them to the White House for an exhibition.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-12-03
William Sturgis Bigelow is preparing to leave for Japan and requests a letter of introduction to Ambassador Alfred E. Buck. He wants good relations with Buck because he is concerned that a young Japanese man, who he tried to get jailed for “swindling,” may seek revenge. Bigelow has met John J. O’Brien, President Roosevelt’s jiu-jitsu instructor, and is impressed with his ideas. He would have liked to see O’Brien tackle the late Lean F. Czolgosz.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-03-30
John J. O’Brien, an expert in jiu-jitsu that has trained President Roosevelt, was assaulted by Michael T. Bodkins and Rudolph W. Bower in Boston, Massachusetts. O’Brien successfully defended himself against the two assailants who were subsequently arrested.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03
William Sturgis Bigelow provides the name and address of John J. O’Brien, a teacher of jiu-jitsu. He provides a description of jiu-jitsu and encloses some photographs of the “grips and catches.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-01-03