Racism

Theodore Roosevelt looks forward to reading Robert Haven Schauffler’s article and mentions that Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt wants to see Schauffler the next time he is in New York. Roosevelt discusses the mix of races in the United States and agreed with Schauffler’s opinions, but he suggests that, next time, he mention who the foreigners were. Roosevelt suggests that Jewish children are brighter than American children and Irish children come afterwards, but for the police department, the opposite is true. Roosevelt recommended that they avoid dogmatism and complete generalization, though.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-02-02

A pamphlet, likely produced by the Baron and Baroness De Hirsch Monument Association, with two sections. The first part announces an address by Wu Ting-Fang, diplomatic Minister from China, entitled “To Eradicate Racial Prejudice.” The second part is an address by the Association’s secretary, Theodore F. Seward, about the Golden Rule. He describes why the Golden Rule is important and asks sermons to be preached on the topic all around New York City on March 24.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-03-07

Michael Kelly describes the fallout from the dinner meeting between Booker T. Washington and President Theodore Roosevelt at the White House on October 16, 1901. Kelly quotes from newspaper accounts of the time, and examines eight examples of political memorabilia that emerged from the meeting such as political cartoons and buttons. The items, which are shown in the article, mostly criticize Roosevelt and portray African Americans in a racist manner, although two items, a picture and a button, emphasize the word “equality” and were originally intended to praise the meeting. Kelly notes that the meeting was widely and fervently criticized in the South but met with a warm reception in the African American community and the items produced reflect those differing opinions.

John A. Gable provides a short introduction to the article and says that historians and historical journals need to preserve and study the past “however unpleasant or distasteful such records may be.” Eight illustrations of political cartoons, buttons, and campaign memorabilia supplement the text.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Theodore Roosevelt reportedly referred to the Portuguese residents wanting to name a park in the Azores after him by a derogatory term in his communication to Secretary of State Philander C. Knox.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-26

President Roosevelt sits in the White House attic with a variety of items: ears of corn with the label of “presidential tips to farmers,” a picture of Edward Henry Harriman with “my dear Harriman” crossed out and replaced with “undesirable citizen,” “the big stick,” several books, including “How to choose a successor,” a crib “for larger families,” and a coffin of a “nature faker.” Roosevelt holds a book entitled, “Science of Pseudology.” Caption: Mr. Roosevelt–“I wonder how much of this stuff Bill wants me to leave behind.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

The brilliant but largely forgotten body of cartoons that W. A. Carson drew for the front pages of the Utica Saturday Globe — centered, below the masthead and dateline, always in bright colors — often were accompanied by perfectly superfluous printed explanations. Carson’s work was so direct and documentary that written guides were useless; and the work of the anonymous editor was invariably vapid and redundant.

An excerpt from a speech that Abraham Lincoln gave in a debate against Stephen A. Douglas when he was a candidate for the Senate. In the speech, Lincoln argues that the central idea of American democracy is equality of all men, not only white Anglo-Saxon men.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1858

The City Council of Richmond, Virginia, issues an ordinance mandating that citizens of different races cannot live on the same street, and setting out penalties for anyone violating the ordinance.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-14

Creator(s)

Richmond (Va.). City Council

This Outlook article discusses New York Senator Thomas Collier Platt’s bill to remove representation in Congress for states in the South that are believed to be denying suffrage to African Americans. The author of the article suggests that African Americans in the South have been denied suffrage not due to race but due to property or intelligence tests and believes the bill is an unnecessary punishment of the South. In fact, the author suggests the bill will make race relations worse and “will serve the ends of politicians who thrive on prejudice.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-17

The author of this article challenges people who criticize President Roosevelt for sharing a table with Booker T. Washington to show that Washington was unfit to do so. Washington, according to the author, is a man of tremendous ability, and if he cannot share a table with the president, then there is no one else in the nation who is qualified to.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-23

The author of this letter has received complaints from several southern people of color that they are not receiving the accommodations they are entitled to during travel on the railroads. The Interstate Commerce Commission has previously ruled that there is nothing in the laws of states that prohibits separate accommodations so long as they are exactly equal, but the complaints frequently state that these separate cars are frequently dirtier, lacking amenities, and are more difficult to access. The author asks the commission to investigate these claims and make the necessary changes to ensure equal treatment. Appended pages at the end suggest adding a paragraph to the letter pointing out that while the commission has worked to make sure there is no discrimination in the transportation of freight, it should be even more careful in preventing discrimination in the transportation of passengers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-25

An article in the London Times reports on the response from various British newspapers to allegations made by Secretary of War William H. Taft that the press was responsible for fomenting hostility between the United States and Japan. Several newspapers instead place the blame on the movement of the Great White Fleet through the Pacific Ocean, described as a “rash naval adventure,” which could be interpreted as a sign of aggression. The clipping had been sent to President Roosevelt specifically so he could read how the Times reported on American and Japanese relations, but the page also includes a report on Secretary of State Elihu Root’s visit to Mexico, Canadian wheat yields, a rise in anti-Asian sentiment within the United States, and a reprint of a speech given by Roosevelt on improving water transportation along the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10

Advance proof of an editorial by Julian LaRose Harris on the South’s political future, intended for publication in the March issue of Uncle Remus’s Home Magazine. Harris discusses the reasons why white southerners currently vote only for the Democratic Party, and why this has caused a stagnant political landscape that the Republican Party might exploit. Harris supports the disenfranchisement of African American citizens. However, he asserts that the focus on this disenfranchisement in the South has resulted in the diminishing influence of Southern Democrats over national Democratic Party policies and presidential nominations. He suggests that president-elect William H. Taft could encourage more bipartisan voting by white southerners if he heeds their political appointment suggestions and refuses to give federal appointments to African American candidates.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02

A song in support of Henry Gassaway Davis and Alton B. Parker in the 1904 presidential election and arranged by Rudolf Thaler.

Collection

Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection

Creation Date

1904

“Young Joshua” mentions the unique characteristics of President Roosevelt, such as his willingness to work with Booker T. Washington.

Collection

Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection

Creation Date

1902

This instrumental piece was published following President Roosevelt’s invitation to African American educator Booker T. Washington to dine at the White House. For many, this was shocking and unacceptable. The incident became the object of anger and derision in articles, cartoons, and even sheet music. The cover features four minstrel style caricatures of African Americans.

Collection

Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection

Creation Date

1903

Song depicts President Roosevelt and “Bill Bailey,” an African American caricature, spending time at the White House. In 1901, Roosevelt hosted Booker T. Washington for dinner at the White House, and this action became very controversial, especially in the South. The cover depicts African Americans, with fine clothing, dining and relaxing alongside Roosevelt in a Rough Rider uniform. There is also a photograph of a young Buster Keaton who sang the song “with great success.” Keaton was nine years old in 1904 and toured with his family’s vaudeville act. Keaton would become one of the most famous film directors and entertainers of the early 20th century.

Collection

Dr. Danny O. Crew Theodore Roosevelt Sheet Music Collection

Creation Date

1904

Campaign booklet addressing the Progressive Party’s views towards African Americans. The booklet has three sections: Theodore Roosevelt’s “Reply to a Query at the Progressive National Convention,” a letter Roosevelt wrote to Julian La Rose Harris, and a statement from the African American delegates to the National Progressive Convention.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site

Creation Date

1912

President Roosevelt did not foresee the controversy when he invited Booker T. Washington to the White House. He simply invited Washington as one of the most distinguished and useful men of the South.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-11-20

Newspaper article that uses George R. Koester’s own articles about three lynchings in Gaston, South Carolina, to cast doubt on Koester’s claims that he did not participate in lynchings.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-11-04

Newspaper article examining the different views on the “Negro question” between the north and south. The article concludes that it is best for “national unity” that each section of the country pursue “its own inclination.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-10-31