Your TR Source
Theodore and Edith Roosevelt were pleased to read John Burroughs’ account of the trip he took with Ted. Ted Roosevelt also killed his first buck this year. Roosevelt asks Burroughs if he has seen Roosevelt’s article in Scribner’s about cougar hunting.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-09
When Henry Fairfield Osborn is available, President Roosevelt will arrange for him to meet with Secretary of War Elihu Root regarding the deer. He believes that First Lady Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt can be convinced to allow Osborn to have the cougar skin.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-09-14
Arthur Walbridge North has sent President Roosevelt the hide of a bighorn sheep which he hunted in Lower California, Mexico. He did not send the head as he donated it to his alma mater, the University of California, Berkeley, but he sends a photograph of the sheep after it was shot. While he was in Mexico, North learned about two types of lions, designated as mountain lions and pumas, with distinct physical and behavioral characteristics.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-22
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Kermit Roosevelt to say he has sent gifts for the children to their mother, Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, and to discuss the mountain lion cub that is the camp mascot and the photographers that have been at camp.
1898-05-26
Theodore Roosevelt is working on the article, but is not sure if Henry Fairfield Osborn would care to publish it. Roosevelt is not doing much research in other books, because he would like it to be based on what he has observed. Roosevelt also believes there have been facts on the cougar that have been overlooked.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-08
Theodore Roosevelt thanks John M. Phillips for the photographs and letter. He is intrigued that jaguars will attack humans, unlike the mountain lion.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-13
President Roosevelt tells S. B. M. Young, superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, that he does not think that any more cougars should be killed in the park, as game is abundant and it is a mistake to kill off all predators.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-01-22
President Roosevelt thanks Arthur Walbridge North for the slate-colored sheep skin he sent him. He continues by saying North is entirely wrong on the differences between mountain lions and pumas. If North were to look at multiple skins from both animals side by side, he would see that they are the same. People have claimed that there are distinct animals based on color, but in Roosevelt’s experience, they are all the same species.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-03-25
President Roosevelt was interested to read John B. Goff’s letter and is pleased that Goff is on good terms with Major John Pitcher, Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park. Roosevelt is sorry that the elk have had a bad winter but recommends not killing cougar off unless they are in the neighborhood of where the deer and sheep are. He was also interested in a story that Goff told him of a bear running for cover inside Yellowstone to escape hunters. Roosevelt finally remarks that he was glad to hear about Goff’s dogs and mentions that Skip is doing well and stays with his son Archibald B. Roosevelt much of the time.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-05-02
President Roosevelt asks John Pitcher if it is true that John B. Goff has been taken to a hospital after being mauled by a mountain lion, and to let him know about it. He is interested for Goff’s sake, but he also has a “zoological interest” and wants to know “how the job was done.” Roosevelt would like to see Pitcher in February if possible.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-08
President Roosevelt asks Samuel Hubbard not to publish their correspondence about “the cougar matter.” Roosevelt would not have written if he had known there was a chance that it would be published.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-02
President Roosevelt asks Robert Sterling Yard to let him know if he gets behind by advancing Ellen Velvin money for her upcoming book. Roosevelt will help Yard if this is the case.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-18
President Roosevelt thanks William T. Hornaday for sending the photograph of the cougar and goat. Roosevelt asks for more information on how the cougar eats his kill.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-17
President Roosevelt sends William T. Hornaday a copy of his book. Roosevelt also requests photographs of the cougar and a person to supply poison for game.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-11-11
President Roosevelt thanks Ellen Velvin for the information on Pumas, and reflects that there is quite a difference in the ways that the different species of big cats act.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-08-01
President Roosevelt thanks Alexander Lambert for his suggestions on his articles, most of which Roosevelt adopted.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-06-06
President Roosevelt will see about Stewart Edward White’s appointment. Roosevelt hopes White enjoys his hunting trip.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-09-19
President Roosevelt was amused at part of H. S. Garfield’s puma article where someone claimed that puma do not kill deer. Roosevelt has personally seen many deer killed by pumas and believes them to be more successful at killing deer then wolves.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-11
President Roosevelt thanks Philip Battell Stewart for his efforts in the recent elections. Roosevelt goes on to recount his unsuccessful bear hunt in Mississippi, from which he has just returned; no bears were killed and the press caused all sorts of problems during and after the hunt. The experience casts doubt on whether the planned hunt with Stewart should go forward. President Roosevelt wants several questions about the proposed hunt answered before he makes up his mind.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-11-24
Vice President Roosevelt identifies John Goff of Meeker, Colorado, as the name of his guide. He does not think that Goff would part with his dogs. He speculates that the dogs would “step” a bear since he has seen them with mountain lions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-08-28