Your TR Source
Several articles from the Commercial Advertiser are highlighted. They discuss the “terrible” precedent that President Roosevelt set by inviting the African American educator Booker T. Washington to dinner, and criticize Congress for its conduct during the most recent legislative session.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-03-04
Governor Vardaman angrily criticizes President Roosevelt for taking action against the white citizens of Indianola, Mississippi, after they forced black postmaster Minnie M. Geddings Cox to resign from her post.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-01-10
In an editorial for The Century, Editor Richard Watson Gilder defends President Theodore Roosevelt’s actions on the “colored question” in the South. Gilder reminds readers that Roosevelt’s mother hailed from the South and suggests patience to Roosevelt’s critics, encouraging them to “judge the President by his whole conduct toward the South” and by all of his appointments, regardless of their racial makeup. Gilder asserts that the minority appointments Roosevelt has made are not radical or threatening but are in line with his “especial endeavor to appoint good men to office everywhere.” In concluding, Gilder qualifies his remarks with a reminder that the magazine has not agreed with every Roosevelt appointment and that its chief aim is to champion fair play.
A collection of articles about the status of race relations in the United States and the prospect of equal rights for African Americans.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-05-17
Richard Arthur writes to the Australian people regarding President Roosevelt’s visit and the role of Australia in world politics, particularly in Asia.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-05
The writer summarizes Judge Speer’s statement to a grand jury in Savannah, Georgia, regarding efforts to “solve the negro problem and restore the good name of the South.” Speer discusses how racial conflict increases crime and hinders criminal investigations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-09
In this excerpt from a paper read at a recent meeting, George N. Tillman, a Southern Republican, comments on the personal popularity of President Roosevelt which helped him win re-election to the presidency, overcoming people’s concern that he might act rashly on various matters. Tillman then discusses the relations between the races, and asserts that Roosevelt surely does not intend that blacks and whites should intermingle socially, as he “is blue blood himself, with a Southern strain.” Tillman argues for uplift of blacks through education, without social interaction and intermarriage, which means the “ruin of both races.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-12-05
This newspaper excerpt is a letter to the editor of the Evening Post about an editorial discussing President Roosevelt’s views on lynching.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-17
Charles B. Galloway discusses race relations in the south and the education of African Americans.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-08-27
President Roosevelt thanks Joseph Bucklin Bishop for his editorial. He comments on recognizing African Americans who serve in their private lives, as opposed to those who serve in wartime.
1903-02-17
President Roosevelt thanks Joseph Bucklin Bishop for the editorials he has written. Roosevelt writes that Bishop makes exactly the points that he himself would like to have made, for example, on the issue of lynching.
1902-06-03
Lyman Abbott returns to President Roosevelt a letter by Judge Jacob Trieber which described the positive actions of some white Southerners towards black Southerners. Abbott expresses his desire to see such news shared with Northerners. Abbott also mentions the delay in confirming the appointment of a black man, William Demos Crum.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-06
On the occasion of his inauguration, the New York Times re-examines President Roosevelt’s record of the past three years, and asks, can the nation expect an even bolder Roosevelt in the years to come? Roosevelt’s policies and actions of the past three years are subjected to a critical analysis.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-04
In this article, Theodore Roosevelt describes race relations in Brazil, comparing Brazil’s attitude toward race relations to that of the United States.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1914-02-21
Theodore Roosevelt writes Trinity College President Luther of the forthcoming election and race relations in the South.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1912-08-13
The article summarizes reactions to President Roosevelt’s success in the recent national election as published in newspapers from cities in the South. This clipping was mailed from New York City by Nicholas Murray Butler, who identified the newspaper as The Globe.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-15
John Byrne congratulates President Roosevelt on the recent election results. Byrne is sure that Roosevelt will be one of the greatest presidents ever. He writes about the major issues the president must address. Roosevelt’s notes are at the top of page one.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-15
This article details Justice David J. Brewer’s address before the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Agents’ Association, where he said, “America is the great composite photographer of nations, with a duty to take all the various races of the earth…and put them on the canvas to make one picture, one race.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-07-21
A Chinese woman with two children talks to an American missionary on a street with a market in the background. Caption: “But why is it,” asked the thoughtful Chinese, “that I may go to your heaven, while I may not go to your country?” The American missionary shrugged his shoulders. “There is no Labor vote in heaven!” said he.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1900-12-19
President Roosevelt holds the Door of Hope open with Dr. Crum preparing to walk through it holding his federal appointment. A large firecracker is going off, letting out social equality and “negro supremacy” as two men skip away from the explosive, one labeled Rockefeller and the other T. C. P. Item is regarding the appointment of African Americans to federal posts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-03-04