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President Roosevelt forwards to his son Kermit a letter from Harvard Dean Byron Hurlbut, and he wants Kermit to visit Hurlbut. Ted has an interview with Robert Perkins regarding working at his carpet works. Major Austin Wadsworth is visiting. Roosevelt encloses a letter from Alfred E. Pease regarding the Africa trip.
1908-09-05
Edward North Buxton gives President Roosevelt advice about his upcoming safari, including where he should go and what he should bring. Buxton encourages Roosevelt to pay close attention to the time tables of T. Broadwood Johnson, a missionary in Uganda, as well as follow the advice of Johnson and Alfred E. Pease, who are familiar with the area.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-07
Theodore Roosevelt sends an enclosure to Earl Grey. He expresses his sympathy for the Earl’s cousin Edward Grey, Viscount of Fallodon, who was childless and lost his wife in a “really dreadful accident” and his brother.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-02
Theodore Roosevelt apologizes for “bothering” Leslie J. Tarlton, but he is concerned by his most recent letter. He assumes Tarlton is better now and is glad to hear about V. M. Newland. Roosevelt grew attached to Tarlton, Newland, and their wives while in Africa and wants them to be healthy and happy. The news about Carl Ethan Akeley is also concerning, and Roosevelt wishes he would leave Uganda for his health. Working and hunting in Africa is dangerous, as evidenced by the death of George Grey and many other friends.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-25
President Roosevelt discusses which gun sights he prefers with Edward North Buxton. He also confirms the dates when he expects to arrive in Africa. Citing concern about his being “an exceedingly soft individual,” Roosevelt intends to “break in” his body at Alfred E. Pease’s ranch before the main hunt. He recently spoke to Gerrit Forbes about the hunting trip in Africa that he just returned from.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-08
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-19
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-20
President Roosevelt is happy to have Lawn & Alder outfit his entire safari and send the supplies to Alfred E. Pease’s ranch. He is particularly glad to hear that they can get certain provisions that he wanted, such as Boston baked beans. After much thought, he agrees with Frederick Courteney Selous’s suggestion that he should hire a white man to manage the caravan, and will take Selous’s suggestion of William C. Judd.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-22
President Roosevelt asks Edward North Buxton if it is possible for the same firm that made his boots to make a pair of mosquito boots for himself and his son Kermit. Buxton should get a list of the provisions that Lawn and Alder are providing for Roosevelt, and has permission to make changes. Alfred E. Pease’s description of his ranch is very tempting for Roosevelt, and he is excited to hunt there. Roosevelt is trying to minimize the loss of ammunition that he is having shipped for the hunt, and will try to think of the safari as a holiday.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-07
President Roosevelt questions Edward North Buxton about whether or not he should bring a gun for close-range shooting. He clarifies his decision to hire an Englishman to manage his caravan, and his choice of hunting guides for himself and his son Kermit. He hopes that he will be able to get permission to visit game reserves in British East Africa to shoot specimens for the National Museum, but he does not want special privileges that would not be extended to others. He plans to start his hunt at Alfred E. Pease’s ranch, and wants to know if it will be possible to keep the press away. He notes that his son Ted will be starting his new job while he and Kermit are hunting.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-10
Now that President Roosevelt understands the situation regarding the reserves in Africa, he tells Edward North Buxton that he does not intend to go into them unless other public officers are allowed. He does wonder if he would be allowed to shoot certain protected specimens for the National Museum. He discusses the timeline of his trip through British East Africa and up the Nile. Finally, Roosevelt further ponders Frederick Courteney Selous’s suggestion that he hire a white man like William C. Judd to manage his caravan while he hunts. He asks Buxton to speak with Selous about it and then provide his thoughts on the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-12
President Roosevelt discusses the provisions, particularly alcohol and other drinks, that he intends to bring for his upcoming safari. Noting that Frederick Courteney Selous and Edward North Buxton disagree on whether or not Roosevelt should hire a white man to manage his caravan, Roosevelt asks for Selous’s opinion. Roosevelt is considering hiring William C. Judd for the job. If he does hire Judd, Roosevelt wants it to be made clear that he will not be doing any hunting and will only be managing the caravan and serving as guide.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-12
President Roosevelt tells Edward North Buxton that he intends to visit Sir William Northrup McMillan’s farm in Africa, but will first visit and stay at Alfred E. Pease’s ranch. Gerrit Forbes, a young Harvard man who just returned from a hunting trip in Africa, would like to go with Roosevelt to help manage his caravan. However, Roosevelt believes he will go with the more experienced William C. Judd. Pease suggested that F. R. Wingate could provide Roosevelt with leather stockings. Roosevelt must now turn most of his attention to helping William H. Taft win the presidency.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-25
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-25
President Roosevelt discusses various matters regarding provisions, hunting rifles, and ammunition for his upcoming African safari. He would like them to be sent to Mombasa and Alfred E. Pease’s ranch for him to pick up when he arrives. Roosevelt informs Edward North Buxton that he has decided to take Frederick Courteney Selous’s advice and hire a white man to manage his caravan; this will allow Roosevelt to focus on hunting and not on the logistics of the caravan. While Roosevelt and his son Kermit are staying with Pease, the manager and taxidermists and naturalists that are coming along can stay nearby. Roosevelt discusses the areas he would like to hunt and the animals that he hopes to shoot.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-12
President Roosevelt is sorry to hear that J. H. Patterson’s trip to the United States is delayed, and hopes that it is not because he is ill. The arrangements for Roosevelt’s African safari are being finalized. He has asked Frederick Courteney Selous to hire someone to manage the expedition so that he can spend his own time hunting and making notes. He would like to do a trip like one Patterson took, and asks where he went.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-12
President Roosevelt has decided to take Frederick Courteney Selous’s advice and hire a white man to manage the caravan on his African safari, despite objections from Edward North Buxton. Roosevelt asks Selous to hire either R. J. Cunninghame or William C. Judd for the job if they are available. He provides a list of provisions that he would like to bring on the trip.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-12
President Roosevelt provides Frederick John Jackson, lieutenant-governor of British East Africa, with details about the plans for his upcoming African safari. He will be hunting with his son Kermit, and bringing along field naturalists and taxidermists to collect samples for the National Museum. He asks Jackson’s advice on several proposed itineraries, including one from J. H. Patterson. Roosevelt also asks advice on the sort of formal wear he should bring for occasions when he may have to visit “civilization.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-02
President Roosevelt happily accepts the invitation to visit William Northrup McMillan on his African safari. First, he is going to stay at Alfred E. Pease’s ranch, but he hopes to do shorter hunts on both Pease’s and McMillan’s properties before the rainy season ends and he leaves for longer trips. Roosevelt and his son Kermit hope to shoot a male and female of each of the big game animals for the Smithsonian Institution. He discusses several proposed itineraries, but will put off making final decisions until he arrives in Africa.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-02
President Roosevelt is pleased that Frederick Courteney Selous was able to hire R. J. Cunninghame to manage his upcoming safari. He agrees with Selous about how to engage Shikari guides, and thinks it wise to ship most of his supplies to Nairobi and leave logistics to Cunninghame’s judgment. Roosevelt tells Selous that he likely will not go straight to Nairobi when he arrives in Africa, as he wants to avoid press and public attention.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-12