Rainey, Paul James, 1877-1923

Edmund Heller spoke with Charles D. Walcott, Secretary of the Smithsonian, and decided at the last minute to join Paul James Rainey’s expedition to Africa on behalf of the National Museum. He did not realize that Theodore Roosevelt had intended to write to Walcott requesting that Heller not go so that he could focus on writing reports on the specimens collected from his own African expedition. Heller explains that no other qualified man is available to go, and lists the ways that this expedition will assist him in finishing his work with Roosevelt’s collection. The paper on the white rhinoceros will be published before Heller goes, and he assures Roosevelt of his dedication to the work.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-09

Creator(s)

Heller, Edmund, 1875-1939

Theodore Roosevelt expresses to Edmund Heller the need to quickly document big game specimens from Africa and urges him to return to Washington to finish his reports, sharing news from Frederick Selous and sending regards to friends.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-11

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt sends Alfred E. Pease a pamphlet he wrote on protective coloration in animals, which he also sent to Frederick Courteney Selous, C. H. Stigand, and Edward North Buxton. “Homesick for the wilderness,” Kermit is out hunting in the Mexican desert and will soon finish his course at Harvard. Edmund Heller wrote Roosevelt about Paul James Rainey’s lion hunt using bear hounds. Unfortunately, Leslie J. Tarlton and V. M. Newland are in poor health. Roosevelt has “settled down into a perfectly quiet life” and does not “intend ever again to go away from Sagamore Hill.” He shares his recent rowing trip with Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt found R. J. Cuninghame’s recent letter “extremely interesting” and was particularly amused at the Swedish scientists’ decision to leave the elephants alone. The description of elephant behavior was intriguing. He is glad the Holland rifle worked and hopes Cuninghame likes Stewart Edward White. Edmund Heller recently wrote about Paul James Rainey’s success hunting lions with dogs and sent his pamphlet about white rhinoceros. However, Roosevelt is irritated that Heller did not describe the giant eland specimens. Roosevelt sends his pamphlet on animal coloration and expresses concern about Leslie J. Tarlton’s and V. M. Newland’s health. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-11

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt is obliged to Edmund Heller for the interesting letter. Roosevelt discusses the hunting abilities and experience of Charles Jesse Jones, Paul James Rainey, and R. J. Cunninghame. Roosevelt also discusses his article Concealing and Revealing Coloration in Birds and Mammals.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt is pleased with the photograph Eleanor Corbett sent and welcomes the Corbett family to Sagamore Hill whenever they visit from England. Roosevelt shares that his neighbor is in East Africa on a lion hunt and reminds Roosevelt of his lion hunt. He also includes a book review.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Theodore Roosevelt gives Edmund Heller his blessing to go on another hunting expedition to Africa with Paul James Rainey. He strongly wishes that Heller could publish a pamphlet on the giant eland before he goes because he is worried that another naturalist will end up being first to publish about it. However, he wishes Heller luck on the trip and asks him to send his regards to Rainey.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-10

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

After speaking with Edmund Heller further, Theodore Roosevelt has concluded that it is not wise for Heller to travel to Africa at the current time. He notes that there is a history of collectors collecting many specimens for museums and then not studying them further. He thinks it will be more valuable for Heller to remain in the United States and finish writing a full report on the specimens collected during Roosevelt’s African expedition.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-06

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

R. J. Cuninghame thanks Theodore Roosevelt for the letter and pamphlet on animal coloration. He reports the success of several safaris and gives updates on some of their friends and fellow hunters.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-26

Creator(s)

Cuninghame, R. J.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-24

Creator(s)

Feather, James V. (James Victor), 1882-1950

Recipient

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Language

English

As directed by Secretary of the Smithsonian Charles D. Walcott, chief clerk Harry W. Dorsey sends Theodore Roosevelt a letter from Edmund Heller about the safari with Paul James Rainey. The illustrations have arrived, but the text has not.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-16

Creator(s)

Dorsey, Harry W.

Edmund Heller writes to C. M. Miller about the Paul James Rainey safari, as they just completed a two-month long hunt. Their journey in Africa turned into a lion hunt. Heller rarely took part in the hunts and devoted his time to taking care of the skins they collected and trapping carnivores. The amount the safari collected “duplicates the material” in Theodore Roosevelt’s collection, and adds new species. They are now moving north towards the desert and are traveling with camels. Heller sends the manuscript of the paper on the white rhinoceros. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-18

Creator(s)

Heller, Edmund, 1875-1939

Charles D. Walcott, Secretary of the Smithsonian, assures Theodore Roosevelt that it will not interfere with publication of studies on Roosevelt’s specimens from Africa if Edmund Heller accompanies Paul James Rainey on another expedition to Africa. Heller will put the finishing touches on the white rhinoceros publication on the boat to Naples and send it back for publication. The time that Heller is away will allow the remaining mammal skins to be labeled and prepared for a broad study of the collection. It is too late to change the plan and find another man to go in Heller’s place.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-08

Creator(s)

Walcott, Charles D. (Charles Doolittle), 1850-1927

Charles D. Walcott, Secretary of the Smithsonian, is glad that Theodore Roosevelt agrees that the zoologist Edmund Heller should go accompany Paul James Rainey on a trip to South Abyssinia. Senator Thomas Henry Carter, chairman of the Senate Irrigation Committee, is writing a report of the committee’s investigation into reclamation projects in the west, which Walcott believes discredits work done during Roosevelt’s administration. If this is the case, Walcott is sure that the minority report by Senator Francis G. Newlands will dispute it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-04

Creator(s)

Walcott, Charles D. (Charles Doolittle), 1850-1927

Charles D. Walcott, secretary of the Smithsonian, informs Theodore Roosevelt that the zoologist Edmund Heller has an opportunity to travel to northern British East Africa for eight months with the hunter Paul Rainey. The fauna there will supplement Roosevelt’s collections and Heller is willing to go, but hesitant because it would delay is report on mammals. Walcott asks Roosevelt whether he thinks a delay in the report is warranted under the circumstances.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-02

Creator(s)

Walcott, Charles D. (Charles Doolittle), 1850-1927

Edmund Heller discusses Paul James Rainey and his offer to collect specimens in British East Africa for the Smithsonian. Museum officials urge Heller to accompany Painey, but he feels responsible for completing the work on Roosevelt’s collection. He asks Roosevelt’s opinion on the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-31

Creator(s)

Heller, Edmund, 1875-1939

Charles D. Walcott explains that Edmund Heller has the opportunity to collect zoological specimens in British East Africa with Paul James Rainey. However, Heller is hesitant to delay work on Theodore Roosevelt’s collection. Walcott asks Roosevelt to persuade Heller to accompany Rainey.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-30

Creator(s)

Walcott, Charles D. (Charles Doolittle), 1850-1927

Animated cartoon beginning with a character representing Paul James Rainey, explorer and hunter, being washed overboard. He swims to a barrel, climbs in, then grabs hold of a whale’s tail, who tows him toward shore where he lands. A bird resembling an ostrich lays an egg. Rainey sits on the egg which hatches. He rides a bird while being chased by a lion and is saved by a native. The bird chases the lion and throws him out to sea where he is swallowed by whale. A native takes Rainey to a wedding feast at which Rainey is the intended groom. Rainey runs away, jumps into barrel and floats out to sea while natives gather at shore. The interior titles describing the action of the cartoon are written in the form of limericks.

Collection

Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound

Creation Date

1911

Creator(s)

Unknown