Prefaces

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward Alsworth Ross

President Roosevelt responds to a request from Edward Alsworth Ross that he write the preface to Ross’s upcoming book. Roosevelt believes so much in Ross and his work that he has acquiesced, though he has put his remarks in the form of a letter. Roosevelt suggests that the intended title of the book is not dignified enough for such a serious work. (The book referred to is Sin and Society, published in November 1907.)

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Beebe

Theodore Roosevelt writes to William Beebe to thank him for his note and his interesting letters to Madison Grant, head of the New York Zoological Society. Roosevelt also requests that Beebe note the type of preface he is requesting that Roosevelt write.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1916-06-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Mary Boyle O’Reilly

Theodore Roosevelt thanks Mary Boyle O’Reilly for the personal touch in her letter about Quentin Roosevelt. He also addresses the excision of certain lines from the English preface of one of his books. He said at first he was so angry but it was so long ago that he does not even remember what it was all about.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-09-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Corinne Roosevelt Robinson

Theodore Roosevelt writes to his sister Corinne Roosevelt Robinson that he has sent the ‘utterly flat preface’ she requested. He then elaborates on his distaste for writing prefaces to books.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-11-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Nancy Neff

Theodore Roosevelt will read Nancy Neff’s manuscript but will be unable to write a preface or assist with finding a publisher until after the election. He is pleased to hear of Neff’s engagement to Captain Stigand and is familiar with Stigand’s book on his travels in Abyssinia.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-10-05

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Nancy Neff

Theodore Roosevelt writes to Nancy Neff to confirm his interest in writing a preface for Captain Stigand’s book, The Game of British East Africa and offers to contact publishers on his behalf.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-07-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Jun’ichi Torai

Theodore Roosevelt wishes he could fulfill Jun’ichi Torai’s request to write the preface of Torai’s book, but he must refuse such requests unless he is an expert on the subject.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Fredr. of Son

Theodore Roosevelts informs Sr. Fredr. of Son, at the Congo Consulate in Sweden, that he is unable to publish his article or write a preface for his book.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-22

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to John M. Rohde

On behalf of Theodore Roosevelt, his secretary acknowledges receipt of the letter from John M. Rohde, but explains why it is impossible for Roosevelt to write a preface to Rohde’s book.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-15

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to Arthur T. Robinson

On behalf of Theodore Roosevelt, his secretary says that while Roosevelt sympathizes with Arthur T. Robinson’s purpose in asking him to write a preface for his book, it is not possible for him to do so.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to T. W. Galloway

Theodore Roosevelt regrets that he is unable to fulfill T. W. Galloway’s request. He receives so many requests to write prefaces to books or other commentary that he cannot fulfill them.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-05

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Rudolph Garfield

Theodore Roosevelt pleads with James Rudolph Garfield not to ask him to write a foreword, as it would be pointless to make another statement on the subject. Roosevelt has already written to West and Ernest Thompson Seton about the Boy Scouts, and that statement could still be used if necessary. Roosevelt wants Garfield to join him at Oyster Bay the next time he visits New York so that they can discuss politics, particularly Taft’s “blunders.” Taft’s reliance upon Congress in relation to the matter with Mexico is, Roosevelt feels, a failure of a president’s duty to lead.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-28

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to J. A. Zahm

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary informs Father Zahm that only the writing on the slip he was sent was in Roosevelt’s hand. Roosevelt dictated the preface of Zahm’s book to his secretary.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-26

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to J. A. Zahm

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary sends to Father Zahm an enclosure which should go at the end of the preface to Zahm’s book. Although the secretary is unsure if Zahm will prefer to print Roosevelt’s name in the book or use a facsimile of his signature, Zahm should use the enclosed material as he sees fit.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. A. Zahm

Theodore Roosevelt recently read J. A. Zahm’s first book and the proofs for the second volume. He is pleased to accept the request to write a preface for the upcoming volume and asks when it is needed. Roosevelt is uncertain why Zahm uses a pen name.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-18

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to F. M. Sprague

Theodore Roosevelt approves of F. M. Sprague’s manuscript so “heartily” that he would like to write a short preface for it. Roosevelt suggests one correction, stating that the United States should have intervened for Belgium in the war even if the Hague Convention had not demanded it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-08-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Toshihiko Yamazaki

President Roosevelt thanks Toshihiko Yamazaki for his Japanese translation of Roosevelt’s volume of essays, The Strenuous Life, and expresses his deep appreciation for Yamazaki’s preface to the translation. Roosevelt is especially honored that Yamazaki carried a copy of The Strenuous Life with him during battle in Manchuria.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alma Curtin

President Roosevelt returns the dedication of The Mongols to Alma Curtin and will write a preface as requested. He feels privileged to be involved with the work.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Homer Davenport

President Roosevelt would like to write the preface for Homer Davenport’s book, but explains that he is not familiar enough with the topic to do so.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Myra Macnaughton

President Roosevelt gives Myra Macnaughton permission to incorporate a letter he wrote in a preface to her book, with the corrections made in an enclosed copy. Roosevelt emphasizes that she incorporate it, not make it the preface itself.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-21