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Mary Loney Roosevelt regrets that she and her husband, Frederick Roosevelt, will be unable to attend the inauguration due to illness. She sends congratulations and hopes for a lovely day.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-03
President Roosevelt expresses his gratitude to Mary Grace Wilcox for her hospitality after the Wilcox home was the site of Roosevelt’s emergency inauguration on September 14, 1901, following the assassination of William McKinley. Roosevelt tells Wilcox he will never forget her kindness.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-09-20
Referring to his recent ascendancy to office upon the death of William McKinley, President Roosevelt writes that “there is but one thing to do now, and this is not to be morbid, but to undertake the task to the very best of my ability.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-09-20
President Roosevelt expresses his deep gratitude for the hospitality of Ansley Wilcox and his wife Mary Grace Wilcox upon the occasion of his emergency inauguration at their house on September 14, 1901, following the death of President William McKinley. Roosevelt appreciates that Wilcox acted naturally and treated him normally on the occasion. Roosevelt regrets that his wife, Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, could not have been there also. Roosevelt confirms his receipt of a letter from Wilcox and promises one for Mrs. Wilcox soon.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-09-17
Elisabeth D. Nielson Riis thanks President Roosevelt for his friendship. Jacob A. Riis is away for his health in California, but is expected to return soon. Riis writes that she and her family will do their best to be present at Roosevelt’s inauguration, and that only death or sickness will stop them. The rest of the Riis family is doing well.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-27
John Campbell Greenway notifies President Roosevelt that he would be proud to be part of the Rough Rider escort detail for the inauguration. Greenway responded to the invitation by Colonel Alexander O. Brodie stating Brodie can count on him for that glorious event.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-27
Reverend Peabody writes to President Roosevelt giving Kermit permission to miss school to attend his father’s Presidential inauguration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-21
John Burroughs tells President Roosevelt that he has not yet written up their Yellowstone Park trip and gives reasons why he has not. Burroughs plans to come to Washington for Roosevelt’s inauguration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-01-11
Governor Brodie informs President Roosevelt of the regimental guard appointments made by Brodie for Roosevelt’s upcoming inauguration parade in March 1905.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-26
Edward North Buxton writes to accept Theodore Roosevelt’s invitation to join a camping outfit in the national parks. Buxton will be visiting Washington, D.C., in March 1905, for the presidential inauguration, then traveling west, and stopping again in D.C. on the return trip. He hopes to have more time with the President on the return visit than will be possible during the inaugural festivities.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-20
Republican National Committee Chairman Cortelyou has announced that General John M. Wilson will be chairman of the Inaugural Committee.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-30
Headmaster Peabody tells President Roosevelt that there is no reason why his son, Kermit, should not attend the Inauguration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-19
Text of President Roosevelt’s inaugural address given in front of the U. S. Capitol building
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1905-03-04
Souvenir booklet from the 1901 Inaugural celebrations. William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt engravings on frontispiece. Presidential photos and brief biographies from George Washington through William McKinley. An inscription reads P. J. Roosevelt-1935.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1901
Scrapbook of newspaper and magazine clippings compiled by Ansley Wilcox, regarding the Pan-American Exposition, President William McKinley’s assassination, and Theodore Roosevelt’s inauguration in his home in 1901.
1901
Buffalo Morning Express, Vol. LVI, No. 210, September 16, 1901, p. 1-14 (complete):
Page 1: Banner headline: One Hundred Thousand People Look Their Last Upon Their Dead President’s Calm Face – “Funeral Services Simple” – Full page article about the funeral at the Milburn house and McKinley’s body laying in state at City Hall in Buffalo (cont. on page 2 and 3)
Page 3: – “The President’s Will” – Short article with few details – ” Want to Get Hold of Him” – Two men threatening Czolgosz – “Coroner’s Certificate” – Text of certificate – “In Washington” – Preparations for the funeral – “Thy Will Be Done” – Text of sermon by Dr. C. E. Locke of Buffalo’s Delaware Avenue M. E. Church – “Roosevelt’s Day” – How Theodore Roosevelt spent the previous day with details of who visited the Wilcox house, includes text of a few of the telegrams sent to Roosevelt – “Grief in Canton” – Plans for funeral in Canton
Page 4: – “Insuring Safety” – Speculated report about moving Czolgosz from the city jail with details; also includes information on the legal process – “Royalty in Canada” – Memorials to McKinley in Canada and possible representatives from Canada to McKinley’s funeral
Buffalo Morning Express, Vol. LVI, No. 213, September 19, 1901:
Page 1: – “Canton All in Black” – Details of the trip McKinley’s body took from Washington, D.C., to Canton and the events planned in Canton (cont. on page 2) – “Honor to Buffalo” – Description of the honors and arrangements made for the delegation from Buffalo at McKinley’s funeral; also includes Theodore Roosevelt’s movements – “Roosevelt Guarded” – Short description of the security arrangements for Roosevelt – “To Try Czolgosz” – Information on which court (and under which justice) Czolgosz will be tried; also information about the defense attorneys, Loran L. Lewis and Robert C. Titus, and speculation about the defense strategy (cont. on page 2)
Page 2: – “Goldman Still Defiant” – Bail set for Emma Goldman – “Was Nearly Lynched” – Stories of crowd reaction to people who celebrated McKinley’s shooting and death – “General Observance” – List of memorial services to be held in Buffalo – “City of Sorrow” – Scene in Canton, Ohio – “Church Draped in Black” – Decorating of the church where the funeral was to be held – “Canton is Crowded” – Arrangements made for the large influx of people to attend the funeral – “In Homage to the Dead” – Details in New York and Chicago for everything to stop for five minutes at the time when McKinley was buried – “Will Be a Day of Fast” – Proclamation by Canadian Prime Minister – “Directors Gone to Canton” – All but three of the Board of Directors of the Pan Am (cont. on page 3)
Page 3: – “President’s Nurses” – Interview with two of President McKinley’s nurses who took care of him at the Milburn House
Buffalo Morning Express, Vol. LVI, No. 211, September 17, 1901, p. 1-12 (complete):
Page 1: – “Czolgosz Was Mute” – Article about the grand jury testimony, indictment and arraignment of Czolgosz (cont. on page 3) – “Judge Titus Unwilling” – Statement that he doesn’t want to be named as Czolgosz’s attorney – “Wait for the Analysis” – Surgeons unconvinced that the bullet that killed McKinley was poisoned – “Buffalo Men Thanked” – Representatives of Buffalo on the train to Washington thanked by Theodore Roosevelt – “Where Lincoln Lay” – Article about the trip from the train to the White House (cont. on page 2)
Page 2: – “Crowds at Every Station” – Train trip from Buffalo to Washington – “In the Nation’s Capital” – Scene of people departing from the train – “Buffalo’s Sad Farewell” – Escort of McKinley’s body from the Milburn house to the train station – “At the Milburn House” – Scene of people leaving the Milburn house and Roosevelt’s departure from the Wilcox house
Page 3: – “Sympathy of Nations” – Text of condolences from around the world – “Cusack Took Him Alone” – Removal of Czolgosz from police headquarters to the Erie County Penitentiary
Buffalo Courier, Vol. LXVI, No. 260, September 17, 1901, p. 1-10 (complete):
Page 1: Banner headline: Tearful Thousands Reverently/View Cortege in Washington – Drawing captioned “Czolgosz, As he Appeared in Court” – “Body Now Lies in East Room of White House” – Arrangements moving McKinley’s body from the train to the White House (cont. on page 7) – “President Roosevelt Thanks Buffalonians” – Statement from Roosevelt to representatives from Buffalo while aboard the funeral train – “His Widow Collapses at Last” – Mrs. McKinley’s condition – “Indictment Found: Counsel Assigned” – Article recounting Czolgosz’s first court appearance (cont. on page 6) – “Programme of the Exposition” – Official schedule for Grand Army of the Republic Day
Page 2: – Half page advertisement for Grand Army Day (September 17) at the Pan Am
Page 3: – “Rampant Was Yesterday’s Trading” – First day of stock trading since McKinley’s death
![Buffalo Courier, Vol. LXVI, No. 261 [Carriers’ Edition], September 18, 1901](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/theodorerooseveltcenter/TRC/THRI/Thumbnails/Newspapers/TRISF1999/TRISF1999.010.004/trisf1999.010.004_00001.jpg)
Buffalo Courier, Vol. LXVI, No. 261 [Carriers’ Edition], September 18, 1901, p. 1-10 (complete):
Page 1: – Black and white portrait photograph of Mrs. McKinley – “M’Kinley’s Body on Way to Final Resting Place” – Detailed story about the funeral in Washington (cont. on page 2) – “Complete Collapse of Mrs. M’Kinley Feared” – Speculation about Mrs. McKinley’s condition – “Programme of the Exposition” – List of hours for events at the Pan-American Exposition
Page 2: – “President’s First Cabinet Meeting” – Report about Theodore Roosevelt’s first meeting with all the Cabinet members – “Love and Sympathy from Paris” – Statements from Americans in Paris
Page 3: – “Rebound of Prices Pronounced” – Stock market report