Puerto Rico

Letter from D. Collazo to Theodore Roosevelt

On behalf of the Alianza Puertorriqueña, the Porto Rican Alliance of New York, D. Collazo invites Theodore Roosevelt to be an honored guest at the grand ball, which will mark the opening of the society. Collazo knows Roosevelt is aware of the lack of citizenship for the Puerto Rican people and the will of the people to become citizens of the United States. Roosevelt’s support will greatly aid the community in the matter of citizenship and help everyone on an island that has shown friendship to America.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-12

Creator(s)

Collazo, D.

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Regis Henri Post

President Roosevelt informs Regis Henri Post, Governor of Puerto Rico, that the journalist Stephan Bonsal will be visiting Puerto Rico on behalf of the Chicago Tribune. Roosevelt asks that Post make sure to show Bonsal every bit of hospitality, but confidentially expresses that he should also keep his guard up.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Laurence H. Grahame

President Roosevelt thanks Laurence H. Grahame for the photograph. He does not think his children, Ethel and Theodore Roosevelt, will be able to go to Puerto Rico in the winter. Roosevelt invites Grahame to dine with him at the White House when he is next in the area.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Regis Henri Post

President Roosevelt supports Puerto Rico Governor Post if he believes Francisco De Paula Acuña Paniagua should be removed, but encourages Post to avoid a fight over it if possible.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-01

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Beekman Winthrop

President Roosevelt tells Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Winthrop that he has forwarded Winthrop’s letter to Puerto Rico Governor Regis Henri Post, along with the advice to not get into a fight over removing Francisco De Paula Acuña Paniagua from office.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-01

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Joseph Benson Foraker

President Roosevelt tells Senator Foraker that he “had no idea” that Judge Frank Feuille would resign his post. Roosevelt notes that Commissioner to U.S. Congress from Puerto Rico Tulio Larrinaga recommends that Feuille’s successor should not be appointed until the President can speak with Puerto Rico Governor Beekman Winthrop, who is now in Washington DC. Roosevelt asks Foraker to “ask Larrinaga to see Winthrop and put one or two names before him.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-12-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Archibald McNichol Stevenson

Before his death, William McKinley appointed Charles Hartzell as secretary of Puerto Rico and Hartzell had accepted. In cases where McKinley had made an appointment but not signed the commission, President Roosevelt has decided to conclude the appointment.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-09-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Henry Hunt

President Roosevelt intends to give Governor Hunt, William H. Taft, and General Wood a large degree of autonomy in matters dealing with the Philippines, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. He has written to Senator Hanna and predicts no difficulty with the appointment of Frederic C. Howe. Hunt’s opinion is welcomed on the suggested appointment of Albert D. Elliot as Secretary of State for Puerto Rico. William McKinley’s intention was to appoint Charles Hartzell as Secretary of State, and Roosevelt will continue with this appointment unless Hunt has any objections. Hunt is urged to write with absolute freedom over any appointments or policy issues.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-09-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Henry Novoa Spada to Theodore Roosevelt

Henry Novoa Spada regrets that Theodore Roosevelt cannot endorse his plan for the Free Commercial School; however, Spada still appreciates Roosevelt’s letter in response. Spada details his background, as he was one of the first Puerto Ricans to serve in the American government after the Spanish-American War, and discloses to Roosevelt his merits. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-06

Creator(s)

Spada, Henry Novoa, 1879-

Letter from Mario S. Geigel to Theodore Roosevelt

Mario S. Geigel recalls shaking Theodore Roosevelt’s hand in Puerto Rico and always reads his writing in The Outlook. He would like to meet with Roosevelt and discuss American citizenship for Puerto Ricans.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-15

Creator(s)

Geigel, Mario S.

Letter from Laurence H. Grahame to Theodore Roosevelt

Laurence H. Grahame thanks President Roosevelt for the photograph and invites Ted and Ethel Roosevelt to visit Puerto Rico this winter. Grahame asks the president to allow them to stay with him and his wife, Jessie Charlotte Laura Grahame.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-18

Creator(s)

Grahame, Laurence H. (Laurence Hill), 1867-1918

Letter from Charles J. Bonaparte to Theodore Roosevelt

Attorney General Bonaparte updates President Roosevelt on various matters before the Department of Justice, specifically pertaining to the cases of William Edgar Borah and N. M. Ruick. Bonaparte also goes into great detail about the case of the People of Puerto Rico vs. the Roman Catholic Apostolic Church in Puerto Rico. He encourages Roosevelt not to get involved but instead to let the courts work it out. In a postscript, Bonaparte discusses the political considerations of federal appointees who run for elective office.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-15

Creator(s)

Bonaparte, Charles J. (Charles Joseph), 1851-1921

Letter from Charles E. Magoon to Theodore Roosevelt

Governor of Cuba Magoon informs President Roosevelt that Giuseppa Aversa, Archbishop of Sardes, Apostolic Delegate for Cuba and Puerto Rico, will not return to Cuba. Magoon believes it would be beneficial if an American Prelate were appointed as Aversa’s successor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-30

Creator(s)

Magoon, Charles E. (Charles Edward), 1861-1920

Letter from Mariano Riera Palmer to Theodore Roosevelt

Mariano Riera Palmer sends President Roosevelt his award-winning books and hopes he accepts them as evidence of Puerto Rico’s affection. He requests Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow autograph and return the enclosed postcards. Includes both original letter in Spanish and English summary.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-25

Creator(s)

Palmer, Mariano Riera, 1860-1922

Telegram from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft hopes to have the results of the Cuban election in half an hour. He would like to have a statement from President Roosevelt about the election before he leaves for Puerto Rico because he thinks it would help matters if he were able to make an announcement as he leaves.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-04-10

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Letter from John S. Elliott to Theodore Roosevelt

Commissioner Elliott recommends to President Roosevelt that Lewis J. Proctor be appointed as his successor in Puerto Rico.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-06-09

Creator(s)

Elliott, John S. (John Stuart), 1859-1913

Letter from Weldon Brinton Heyburn to Theodore Roosevelt

Senator Heyburn recommends further investigation into the facts surrounding the purchase of a newspaper company in Porto Rico.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-13

Creator(s)

Heyburn, Weldon Brinton, 1852-1912

Letter from Manuel F. Rossy y Calderón to Joseph Benson Foraker

Manuel F. Rossy y Calderón will send his report on the Puerto Rican elections soon. In the meantime, he describes to Senator Foraker the increasing sense that there is a double standard applied to presidential appointees who are American and those who are Puerto Rican.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-14

Creator(s)

Rossy y Calderón, Manuel F., 1861-1932

Letter from F. S. Elliott to Theodore Roosevelt

Mr. Elliott sends congratulations to President Roosevelt on the recent election results. Elliott has met Roosevelt’s appointed governor in Puerto Rico, Beekman Winthrop. Winthrop is very well regarded by residents of Puerto Rico.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-21

Creator(s)

Elliott, F. S.

Letter from Regis Henri Post to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of Puerto Rico Regis Henri Post writes to President Roosevelt about Puerto Rico’s Governor Beekman Winthrop. Post praises Winthrop’s work and congratulates Roosevelt for encouraging men like him to be in politics. Post also congratulates President Roosevelt on the recent elections results.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-11-16

Creator(s)

Post, Regis Henri, 1870-1944