Putnam, Carleton, 1901-1998

Historian Ray H. Mattison argues against a study to investigate the repositories of Theodore Roosevelt’s papers in order to collect the information necessary to conduct an archaeological investigation of the Elkhorn Ranch site. He believes that such a study would be redundant as several historians have already researched Roosevelt’s time in the Dakotas. Mattison suggests contacting the relevant historians before beginning a study, and that new information may be revealed through an examination of the papers of William Wingate Sewall, one of Roosevelt’s foremen who helped construct the ranch. Original and copy.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1958-09-22

Creator(s)

Mattison, Ray H., 1903-1980

Louis B. Livingston chronicles the relationship between Theodore Roosevelt and the Marquis de Mores during their time together as cattle ranchers in the Dakota Badlands. Livingston focuses on the controversy as to whether the two seriously contemplated a duel to settle their differences, and he charts their divergent paths once they left the West after the ruin of their ranches. Livingston details de Mores’s obsession with antisemitism which he argues helped precipitate the notorious Dreyfus Affair in France, and he documents Roosevelt’s outspoken opposition to antisemitism during his political career.

Six photographs supplement the article, including two of de Mores and three of Roosevelt during their ranching years. A text box with the mission statement of the Theodore Roosevelt Association appears at the end of the article.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2015

Gregory A. Wynn examines the status of “perhaps the rarest of all presidential publications,” the memorial tribute book for Alice Lee Roosevelt and Martha Bulloch Roosevelt written by Theodore Roosevelt after the women’s deaths in February 1884. Wynn notes the discovery and use of the rare copies of this work by Roosevelt biographers, and he highlights the five known copies by noting who donated or purchased them, and he lists the libraries or private collections where the copies are housed. Four photographs and the logo of the Theodore Roosevelt Association supplement the text.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2011

Creator(s)

Wynn, Gregory A.

Report on a variety of news from the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA), including obituaries and personnel changes at the TRA office. The passing of former TRA President Howard T. Hogan leads off the report, and the deaths of Roosevelt biographer Carleton Putnam and Mary E. Richard, Director of the Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary, are highlighted. The addition of a TRA Police Award for Nashville, Tennessee, the history of Youngs Memorial Cemetery, and publicity for the 1998 annual meeting also feature in the report. A photograph of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt appears on the first page of the section.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1998

Creator(s)

Unknown

Report on the 65th Annual Dinner and Meeting of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) held in Williamsburg, Virginia, on October 27, 1984, following the launch of the USS Theodore Roosevelt. The report quotes from the address given by the President of the TRA, William Davison Johnston, and from the letter sent to the TRA by President Ronald Reagan. The report lists many of the guests in attendance, including Theodore Roosevelt historians and biographers, employees of the National Park Service, and members of the Roosevelt family. It also reviews the financial state of the TRA, noting that it had run a deficit for the past two fiscal years, covers the election of officers, and notes the changes implemented to the Board of Trustees. The report concludes with a review of gifts given to the leadership of the USS Theodore Roosevelt.

A photograph of Roosevelt with his granddaughter Grace Roosevelt and three photographs of various guests, dignitaries, and members of the Roosevelt family at the annual dinner accompany the report.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1985

John A. Gable reviews David McCullough’s biography of Theodore Roosevelt, Mornings on Horseback. He highlights subjects that he thinks McCullough has broken new ground on, and he discusses the book’s place in the historiography of Roosevelt, seeing it as part of a larger “Roosevelt revival.” Gable also compares McCullough’s biography with those of Carleton Putnam and Edmund Morris.

A photograph of Roosevelt in 1876 accompanies the review.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1981

Excerpts from 597 letters exchanged between Marion Morrison King and Edith Kermit Roosevelt. The letters shed light on Roosevelt’s love of books and reading, her relationship with her children, life at Sagamore Hill, and her health difficulties in later life.

A photograph of Roosevelt and two photographs of King accompany the article. A photograph unrelated to the article shows Executive Director of the Theodore Roosevelt Association John A. Gable with three members of the Roosevelt family at Sagamore Hill.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1981

Theodore Roosevelt Association Executive Director John A. Gable announces the forthcoming publication of Edmund Morris’s The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt and argues that it “fills in the gap” in the existing literature about Theodore Roosevelt’s life and career before the presidency. He praises the book and predicts that it “is destined to be a classic.” He also announces that works by David McCullough on the Panama Canal and John Morton Blum on Roosevelt have been issued in paperback versions. 

An advertisement for the Roosevelt Savings Bank with a listing of its branch offices in the greater New York City area follows the “Book Notes” column. 

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Richard Billing Thoman discusses Theodore Roosevelt’s childhood struggle with asthma. Thoman worked at Camp Bronco Junction in West Virginia, a camp designed for asthmatic children, and he notes that Roosevelt used a vigorous exercise and conditioning regime to help him combat his affliction. Thoman says that Camp Bronco Junction allows children with asthma to pursue physical activities just as Roosevelt did.

An accompanying photograph shows Mrs. John D. Rockefeller IV (Mrs. Sharon Percy Rockefeller), the First Lady of West Virginia, with a camper at Bronco Junction.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Wallace Finley Dailey provides a brief history of the Theodore Roosevelt Collection at Harvard University, noting the collection’s beginnings as an effort of the Roosevelt Memorial Association and initially housed at the Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace in New York City. He highlights those who have cared for the collection as well as historians who have made use of its resources in their published works. Harvard is currently constructing a new library on its campus, which will allow the collection to be housed in a modern setting.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1975

Creator(s)

Dailey, Wallace Finley

Historian Ray H. Mattison responds to H. Raymond Gregg, the regional chief of interpretation, regarding a proposal that the National Park Service make an intensive investigation of Theodore Roosevelt’s personal papers in order to gather information to make an archaeological investigation of the Elkhorn Ranch site. Mattison notes that he and others have already made thorough investigations into the relevant materials, and he believes there would be little to gain from retreading the same materials. He agrees, however, that the Elkhorn Ranch deserves a detailed study.

Collection

Midwest Archeological Center

Creation Date

1958-09-22

Creator(s)

Mattison, Ray H., 1903-1980

Superintendent Hanks writes to Hermann Hagedorn, Secretary of the Roosevelt Memorial Association, to thank him for the Association’s donation of a book to Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park. Hanks also thanks Hagedorn for the names of the Association’s Board of Trustees as Hanks intends to invite them to the dedication ceremony for the park. Hanks hopes Hagedorn can attend the dedication ceremony.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1949-03-31

Creator(s)

Hanks, Allyn F. (Allyn Frank), 1906-1973

Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park Superintendent Hanks writes to Regional Director Baker regarding correspondence with Carleton Putnam. Putnam is writing a biography of Theodore Roosevelt.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1952-07-26

Creator(s)

Hanks, Allyn F. (Allyn Frank), 1906-1973

Press release regarding Carleton Putnam’s research trip to the Badlands. Putnam is writing a biography on Theodore Roosevelt.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1952-09-19

Creator(s)

Unknown

Chester L. Brooks writes to Ethel Roosevelt Derby’s daughter Judith Quentin Ames regarding Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial Park and includes pamphlets. 

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Creation Date

1953-06-08

Creator(s)

Brooks, Chester L.