Pease, Alfred E. (Alfred Edward), Sir, 1857-1939

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt thanks Ambassador Reid for speaking to Lord Crewe. He accepts a special license for shooting and entering game reserves in Africa, which he will only use if it is unclear that he is on land belonging to a reserve. Roosevelt outlines his plans for procuring supplies for his safari. He makes passing references to the situation in the Balkans, and his thoughts on women’s suffrage. He is amused by a cartoon and article that Reid sent, and shares his feelings about caricatures. The one by Thomas Nast as “an absolute outrage.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-17

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

Theodore Roosevelt provides Frederick Courteney Selous with an excerpt of a letter that Frederick John Jackson sent another American about Roosevelt’s upcoming safari. The letter included various recommendations about suppliers and itinerary. Roosevelt likes the itinerary, but is concerned about whether he can prevent the press from following his caravan. He asks if the government could refuse to issue them licenses to travel.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to R. J. Cunninghame

President Roosevelt officially engages R. J. Cunninghame to lead the caravan on his upcoming safari. He gives Cunninghame the freedom to hire whomever he wishes, and to make whatever choices he thinks best.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-31

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to R. J. Cunninghame

President Roosevelt gives R. J. Cunninghame permission to manage the caravan for his upcoming safari in whatever way he sees fit. However, he warns Cunninghame that he intends to do all of his own shooting, and does not want anyone to kill his game for him. Roosevelt discusses the animals he would like to shoot and some potential scheduling for the trip, but does not want to decide on details until he arrives in Mombasa.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward North Buxton

President Roosevelt writes Edward North Buxton about several points regarding his upcoming safari in Africa. In particular, he discusses what to use to boil water, his physical condition and skill with a rifle, and whether or not it is a good idea to bring his son Kermit with him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-01-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward North Buxton

President Roosevelt writes to Edward North Buxton about his upcoming safari, including details about the outfitting of his trip, as well as his travel plans. Roosevelt will accept Alfred E. Pease’s invitation to visit his ranch to begin his journey and get acclimated. He then plans to make several trips from the railway to get into good game-country. Roosevelt plans to get Kermit Roosevelt a camera to do photography on the trip, and hopes to have a couple field taxidermists accompany him as well, as the trip will have a naturalist purpose behind it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt is grateful for the assistance that Frederick Courteney Selous and Edward North Buxton are providing in planning his African safari. Roosevelt hopes to leave the United States in early April, and will stay first at the ranch of Alfred E. Pease in Nairobi, British East Africa. Other tentative plans include hunting in Uganda and along Nile tributaries. Roosevelt thinks he will arrange to make the trip on behalf of the National Museum of Natural History and hopes he will be allowed certain privileges not granted to non-scientific sportsmen.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. H. Patterson

President Roosevelt thanks J. H. Patterson for the letter, saying that it told him exactly what he wanted to know. Roosevelt is very excited about his upcoming safari in Africa, and says he will follow Patterson’s advice to make his main trip British East Africa, and describes his plans there. Much of his hunting will be done for the Smithsonian Institution, with whom he is partnering for the trip, although he would like to take two or three trophies for his own use, if it is permitted. Roosevelt would be very glad if Patterson would be able to visit him at the White House before he leaves office, and describes a visit he had with some other people.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-06

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt outlines his travel plans and schedule for his upcoming safari in Africa for Ambassador Reid. He wants Reid to make clear that he only intends to shoot specimens for the Smithsonian Institution, and perhaps a few extra trophies for himself and his son Kermit. He does not want special treatment in any of the countries he will pass through, although he would appreciate any game reserves being opened for him if possible. If it is not possible for him to travel through Europe without fanfare during the months following the safari, Roosevelt will likely return straight home to America. If he does travel through Europe with his family, he would like the American diplomats to make it clear that he is traveling as a former president and does not want to meet heads of governments.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward North Buxton

President Roosevelt tells Edward North Buxton that his son Kermit wants the same shoes that Buxton ordered for him. He also asks Buxton to forward an enclosed unsealed letter to Alfred E. Pease. Roosevelt discusses travel plans for his upcoming safari. He is debating whether to start at Pease’s ranch, or to take a trip into the desert. Although he appreciates Buxton’s suggestions, he believes he will not go to Uganda.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to R. J. Cunninghame

Discussing his upcoming African safari, President Roosevelt would like to get buffalo in a spot accessible to the railroad, as he wants to ship the skins back to the United States National Museum. Roosevelt is glad that R. J. Cunninghame was able to engage Leslie J. Tarlton, and discusses proper arrangements for gun-bearers, horses, and mules. Roosevelt encloses a letter from Hugh H. Heatley inviting him to hunt on his ranch in Nairobi.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-13

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Jay White

President Roosevelt thanks John Jay White for the letter and advice about his upcoming Africa trip. Reverend W. S. Rainsford wrote to him along similar lines. Roosevelt has directed R. J. Cunninghame to hire the necessary support staff, and he mentioned the names White suggested. He hopes to begin the hunting expedition very soon after arriving in Africa, and will travel during the rainy season if at all possible. He invites White to come see him in Washington on his return from Richmond.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-04

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to R. J. Cunninghame

President Roosevelt reiterates that R. J. Cunninghame has full authority over the caravan management for his safari. Roosevelt has already cabled about hiring Leslie J. Tarlton, but wonders if Tarlton could initially be hired for only the first part of the trip. Roosevelt knows himself to be an inexpert marksman, but he does not want others to kill the game for him. After updating Cunninghame on the permissions he recently received from the Belgian government, Roosevelt outlines his hunting goals and tentative schedule for his first few weeks in Africa. He encloses a paraphrased letter he just received from a “Boer sympathizer” who has made a potentially advantageous offer.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to R. J. Cunninghame

President Roosevelt places R. J. Cunninghame in charge of managing his safari caravan, and details his expectations for the trip. Roosevelt wants to begin hunting as quickly as possible after arriving in British East Africa and spending several weeks at Alfred E. Pease’s ranch to improve his physical fitness. Cunninghame should hire the necessary support staff and porters at his discretion. Roosevelt wants to hunt some of the “common game” near the railroad so that their skins can be easily transported, but he also hopes to kill big game and is willing to “go to any trouble” to do so.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-31

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward North Buxton

President Roosevelt returns the memorandum that Edward North Buxton sent him with a few changes. Roosevelt has been preparing for his African safari, and says that he plans to bring his son Kermit Roosevelt in spite of warnings from some people that he should not go along. Roosevelt believes the East African climate is healthy, however, and says that if he needs to, he will send Kermit back if there is any risk.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Northrup McMillan

President Roosevelt hopes that by sending this letter care of Frederick Courteney Selous it will reach William Northrup McMillan, as he fears the ones sent to McMillan’s London address have not reached him. Roosevelt would be very pleased to visit McMillan’s ranch after he leaves Alfred E. Pease’s ranch. He asks McMillan to communicate with R. J. Cunninghame about the need for shikaris for the caravan, as he will be managing that for Roosevelt. Roosevelt recently had lunch with Sir John L. Harrington and Lady Amy McMillan Harrington. Roosevelt would like for McMillan to come spend a night at the White House before he leaves for Africa, if that is at all possible.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Newland, Tarlton & Company

President Roosevelt informs Newland, Tarlton & Company that he has asked Smith, Mackenzie & Company to forward an outfit, and asks that they store it until it is needed. He has also arranged for R. J. Cunninghame to make additional purchases, as he will be managing Roosevelt’s safari. Roosevelt plans to stay in Nairobi for only a day before leaving for Sir Alfred Pease’s ranch, and hopes that Newland, Tarlton & Company will be occasionally able to store some of his gear.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt is very pleased to hear that Frederick Courteney Selous will be going hunting in Africa, but jokes that Selous should leave him at least one lion to hunt while he is on safari. He asks Selous to forward a letter to R. J. Cunninghame after reading it and adding any details he thinks are necessary. Roosevelt also shares his current traveling plans for his safari regarding where he hopes to hunt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Smith, Mackenzie & Company

President Roosevelt asks Smith, Mackenzie & Company to forward his goods to Newland, Tarlton & Company, rather than to the ranch of Alfred E. Pease. R. J. Cunningham, who will manage Roosevelt’s safari, may call upon Smith, Mackenzie & Company.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919