Public schools

Editorial written by Francis Warrington Dawson and published April 22, 1880 in the Charleston News and Courier has been copied. Dawson writes of the conditions on the sea islands of South Carolina as planters have been working to restore the lands. The people of the sea islands reportedly live peacefully and prosperously together, despite Freed people outnumbering White farmers. Dawson states that the “Southern problem” has been solved.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1880-04-22

Editor Albert Shaw holds himself responsible for everything that appears in his magazine, The American Monthly Review of Reviews, but says that he was absent when Dr. John J. Cronin’s article, “The Doctor in the Public School,” was approved. He agrees that the paragraph about race suicide should not have been published.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-06

This article, published in The Outlook, seeks to present the principles which “should, and eventually will, determine the whole question of the treatment of the Oriental races in this country.” Considering specifically the case of California, where Japanese children were being excluded from public schools, the article highlights three issues: the prerogative of the states to control and make decisions about public schooling, the right of the Federal Government to determine who may enter into the country, and the power of Congress to make naturalization laws to determine who may become a citizen. After explaining these, the article then applies them to the situation in California.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-29

A statement regarding Japanese-U.S. relations based on an interview with Ambassador Charles S. Francis by an editor of the Vienna newspaper, Neue Freie Presse. Francis does not believe that the barring of Japanese children in San Francisco schools will have a negative impact on the friendly relationship between the United States and Japan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-11

George von Lengerke Meyer writes to President Roosevelt about troubles in Russia, including the mutiny of the battleship Potemkin and marines in Libau who rebelled. Meyer notes that as soon as Czar Nicholas II of Russia makes a move in the right direction he is countered with obstacles in the press or in bureaucracy. He is “surrounded by men who are not in sympathy with needed reform.” Meyer feels education, freedom of the press, and a representative government will raise standards for citizenship.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-01

A man labeled “California” and a man labeled “Jap” fight over a picnic basket full of food labeled “Public Schools,” threatening to capsize their boat. Uncle Sam looks on, holding a fishing pole that has three fish on it, says, “Quit it! Quit it!”

comments and context

Comments and Context

Anti-Japanese prejudice in California was so rife at this time, that the state attempted to exclude Japanese immigrants from public schools. It was a public and ugly controversy, spearheaded by, among others, San Francisco publisher William Randolph Hearst. He fanned the flames of prejudice through cartoons — more effective with his readers than printed editorials — once showing a Japanese schoolboy hiding plans to invade the West Coast in his textbook.

Theodore Roosevelt thanks his sister Anna Roosevelt Cowles for the birthday present she sent. The family has arrived in Washington and he registered the two little boys in school. Roosevelt compliments his boss, Secretary of the Navy John Davis Long, and is headed to Ohio to speak on behalf of Senator Hanna.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1897-10-28

Representative Goulden proposes a bill regarding public school administration and support in Washington, D.C.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-19

A bill from the House of Representatives regarding the regulation of teachers, officers and employees of public schools in Washington, D.C.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-01-19

Theodore Roosevelt sends his regrets to Egerton Leigh Winthrop. Roosevelt is unable to attend the ninth annual meeting of the Roosevelt Athletic League. Roosevelt congratulates Winthrop on the success of the League.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-05-09

Theodore Roosevelt is not able to accept William Mac Nichell’s invitation to speak. Roosevelt sends a letter he sent a friend that demonstrates the limitations of his position.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-26

Theodore Roosevelt greets the boys of the Roosevelt Athletic League through his letter to Ruth E. Granger, and congratulates all those who will take part in the 1911 meeting. Roosevelt expresses his confidence in the public school system and the athletic training they provide. Roosevelt also hopes that girls may soon receive just as much attention for their athletic endeavors as the boys do.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-25

President Roosevelt received Governor Gillett’s letter. He is very concerned about the rumor that California will ban Japanese children from attending public school. This would be “most offensive” and unconstitutional, and Roosevelt wonders if the bill can be stopped by vote in the legislature.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-04

President Roosevelt congratulates James E. Sullivan on his appointment to the New York Board of Education. He believes that Sullivan can do a great deal of good in conjunction with athletics in public schools.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-26

President Roosevelt agrees with John H. Bowles about the importance of stopping spring shooting, and says that he wishes to see game preserved for everyone in the United States, and not only those who are rich enough to own game preserves. The best way to make sure that there will continue to be animals to hunt is the enactment of good game laws. He also wishes public schools would teach children to protect bird life. Such actions would be economically advantageous to many people.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-07

President Roosevelt will read Professor Jeremiah Whipple Jenks’s book on “Citizenship and the Schools” with great interest.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-13

President Roosevelt assures Edward Alsworth Ross that he would not misconstrue Ross’s motives in writing to him, but admits that he is not sure what to do regarding the school matter Ross mentioned. The Superintendent of Education is selected by a Board of Commissioners nominated by the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia, and Roosevelt does not have any involvement in their appointment. He has previously suggested that the judges consult with educational professionals like Columbia University President Nicholas Murray Butler, and does not believe there is more he is able to do.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-07-06

President Roosevelt tells Howard Allen Bridgman that the editorial he sent Roosevelt is entirely false, and has asked Commissioner of Indian Affairs Francis E. Leupp to communicate with Bridgman. In the meantime, Roosevelt also tells Bridgman the facts surrounding the schooling of Native Americans, and how funds are sent either to Catholic schools or government schools.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-14

President Roosevelt informs Nicholas Murray Butler that Representative Joseph A. Goulden is “much exercised” over the Washington, D. C. educational system, including in “the colored schools.” Roosevelt asks Butler for advice on the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-14

President Roosevelt believes Commissioner of Indian Affairs Leupp’s regulations for the disposal of moneys for Native American schools does not carry out “in one or two particulars” the intent of his February letter to Secretary of the Interior Ethan Allen Hitchcock. In that letter, Roosevelt asserted that certain moneys could be used to support Native American schools that were affiliated with Catholic or Protestant schools. The law against using public moneys for such schools applies only to public funds, and not funds controlled by Native Americans themselves. Roosevelt notes that while funds are held in trust for use of this purpose, some treaty funds may have been improperly used to pay for these schools, and instructs Leupp to cease payment to the schools from these funds at the end of the fiscal year.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-12-23