Your TR Source
President Roosevelt is having problems with the white community in Georgia because the three best state offices are held by African Americans. He also remains firm in his support for Cuban reciprocity.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-02-04
President Roosevelt often receives letters like the one enclosed by Booker T. Washington. He has been assured that all the African Americans in office are personally against him, but all of those statements are specifically contradicted at the same time. Roosevelt will not consider the Southern delegates for any appointments. His real concern is the inability to know the character of the men, “particularly the colored men,” who hold offices in the South.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-12-12
President Roosevelt thanks Consul Tourgee for his kind letter, but admits his invitation to Booker T. Washington was an impulsive decision rather than a calculated one. Although he has not been able to “think out any solution” to the problematic race relations in the United States, Roosevelt feels strongly that each man, white or black, should be treated “strictly on his merits as a man” and that he, as President, should act according to his convictions.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-11-08
President Roosevelt assures Booker T. Washington that comments made about their dinner will not affect the stand he has taken or his policies in the American South. Roosevelt also requests Washington’s opinion of various political figures in Missouri and Mississippi.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-11-02
President Roosevelt thought of John Boyle O’Reilly’s writings and teachings during the outcry against Booker T. Washington having dinner at the White House.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-31
Louis Edelman admires Theodore Roosevelt. However, he disagrees with his treatment of the soldiers at Brownsville, Texas. He discussed the matter with Senator Joseph B. Foraker, who visited him while in the hospital and always agreed with him. However, Edelman was recently talking about Roosevelt with a “very honorable colored physician” who is adamant about the soldiers’ guilt, supposedly having heard it from several of them.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-13
Henry Ferdinand Suksdorf sends Theodore Roosevelt a copy of his book Our Race Problem and asks for it to be reviewed in the Outlook.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-09
William Alex. Sutherland thanks Theodore Roosevelt for his response regarding a manuscript titled The Daydreams of Asia, Europe, and America, and discusses the challenges of publishing in India. He expresses hope that the book may be of interest to American readers due to its political and cultural insights, particularly on India’s global role, Anglo-American heritage, and future world events.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-07
W. P. Thirkield asks Theodore Roosevelt to write an endorsement of the American Interchurch College for Religious and Social Workers to aid in its fundraising campaign. The addition of a department for “the training of colored workers” is “one of the most encouraging and hopeful movements” in race relations since the Civil War.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-25
R. S. Dennett of the Nigerian Forestry Department sends Theodore Roosevelt a copy of his “Notes in West African Countries” as he hears Roosevelt takes an interest in the “question of the black man.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-09
Friedrich Grosse writes Lyman Abbott concerning the book The Foundations of the Nineteenth Century” by Houston Stewart Chamberlain, which predicts the downfall of America based on the view that the Roman Empire fell due to the loss of blood purity. Grosse believes European blood is the greatest natural resource.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-01
P. L. Gray suggests that the way that the United States should handle its ‘Negro Problem’ is the repatriation of African Americans to Africa and the establishment of “a Great Civilized English-Speaking Negro nation.” Gray believes that such a course of action would benefit both Africa and the United States, and lays out a series of steps that he believes would be necessary.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-23
Harvey L. Simmons, a trustee of Fisk University, calls Theodore Roosevelt’s attention to the activities of Fisk University in educating African-Americans to be leaders in their communities. He cites the long history and effective programs that Fisk has put in place for educating students, as well as the endorsements it receives for its work.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-20
Walter L. Cohen tells Theodore Roosevelt of the desire of the African American citizens of New Orleans, Louisiana, to welcome him to their city. Unfortunately they have been excluded from the site where Roosevelt is to give his address, and do not want to stir up animosity in the community by pressing the issue. Cohen nevertheless welcomes Roosevelt to the city and sends good wishes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-11
Horace E. Stockbridge has heard about Theodore Roosevelt’s interest in speaking with Professor Perry C. Parks about agricultural topics, and praises the efforts Parks has been making in Georgia. He sends Roosevelt an address in which he alludes to Parks’s work, but laments that because of Parks’s race he has been met with resistance in the state. Stockbridge encourages Roosevelt to speak to the value of industrial training and of the work done by Parks and Booker T. Washington.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-01
John Milliken Parker warns Theodore Roosevelt not to say anything that could be misconstrued about his friend Senator LeRoy Percy of Mississippi. James Kimble Vardaman, editor of The Issue, is stirring up trouble regarding “the negro question” and trying to stoke race hatred. Roosevelt should continue to ignore Vardaman.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-04
Octavius Charles Beale sends Theodore Roosevelt a copy of his book, Racial Decay, an analysis of the “gravest of subjects.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-12-24
William Kent discusses his beliefs on the Japanese racial issue in California and sends President Roosevelt an editorial from California Weekly. Kent compares what is happening on the Hawaiian islands to California and is glad that California is not being settled as rapidly as other parts of the country. Kent believes that in matters of Japanese immigrants “distance will best sanctify our traditional friendship for each other.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-29