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George Walker Jenkins, of the M. Hartley Company, is pleased to send an autoloading rifle for President Roosevelt to examine. Instead of mailing it express, Jenkins will send it via courier who is able to give the president a demonstration. Jenkins would be pleased to leave the rifle with the president in case his son would like to take it on his trip west.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-30
George Bird Grinnell is excited that Theodore Roosevelt will loan his Kit Carson rifle to the Boone and Crockett Club. Grinnell asks Roosevelt to provide ample description of the item’s history so that it can be properly labeled. Grinnell is working on getting Davy Crockett’s rife, which his great-grandson possesses.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-22
William J. Bruff gives William Loeb advance notice of a cable that President Roosevelt will soon receive from President Tomás Estrada Palma of Cuba. Estrada Palma would like to secure ammunition for Cuba from the M. Hartley Company, the United States government’s representative for foreign business.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-08-24
Captain Dickson returns a rifle belonging to President Roosevelt, having put on a new sight.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-21
Hermann Speck von Sternburg discusses the merits of the two types of telescopes that can be attached to one of Theodore Roosevelt’s rifles.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-15
Ohio Senator Marcus Alonzo Hanna holds a “boom for presidency” rifle and has a “patriotism” feather in his hat as he holds an earpiece to a “wireless telegraph call to the presidency.” Caption: “Mr. Hanna is a patriot, and if the country demanded his nomination he would respond if it killed him.”—Gov. Durbin.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-01-21
President Roosevelt watches Uncle Sam hold a rifle pointed toward the rats–dishonest post office officials–going after the money bags in the “U. S. Post Office Department” crib. The White House is in the background. Caption: “Glad to see you, Teddy. Get your gun and we’ll clean out this crib.” A handwritten note is also included: “Teddy, call Jno. R. McLean & McBride as to lottery in Cin Enquirer. it will keep you busy.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-06-06
President Roosevelt holds a rifle and aims at a “presidential aspirations” apple in an “Ohio” tree that a bear–Ohio Senator Marcus Alonzo Hanna–happens to be in. Hanna says, “Don’t shoot! I’ll come down.” There is a sign in the background: “Private grounds. Keep off!” Caption: The president’s got a bear at last.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-05-28
President Roosevelt attempts to send a message while South Carolina Senator Benjamin R. Tillman has his pitchfork in the line to intercept the message. Tillman says, “I’ve struck a live wire with my pitch-fork.” The “Senate” and “House” watch from the window as they hold rifles. Caption: Washington’s revival of the grand old melodrama.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-11
President Roosevelt appears in a variety of advertisements: “Look Out!–Mr. Roosevelt’s Rifle is a . . .,” “Mr. Roosevelt saves time in Africa by using our safety razor,” “The best ivories in Africa are polished with . . .,” “The good time in Africa is kept by the Jones $1.00 watch. Mr. Roosevelt carries one,” “When Mr. Roosevelt sleeps, he sleeps on a felt mat,” and “Bully!” A woman holds a sign: “Situation wanted–By prepossessing young woman, very accomplished, can cook, sing, sweep, play piano, ride, shoot, golf, eat chocolates, breakfast foods, etc., have had experience as cloak & suit model & nurse, good judge of soaps, summer resorts, automobiles, railroad trains, etc., etc. The advertisement lady.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-08
President Roosevelt holds a “my policies” blunderbuss that has just shot “3,000 words of abuse” as he runs away from “Bryan’s demand for proof.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-25
An honorary membership card made out to President Theodore Roosevelt for the Montana Rifle Association, signed by Jesse R. Bevis. The back details goals of the Association.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-22
Theodore Roosevelt notifies the Winchester Repeating Arms Company that he has requested that General William Crozier send the rifles with the silencers as soon as possible. He also mentions that if the representative of the company needs a pass to get on board the ship to deliver the guns and ammunition this letter will serve as such.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
1909-03-12
Winchester rifles and ammunition are the “invariable choice of experience-taught and discriminating big game hunters.” An endorsement from Theodore Roosevelt is included in the advertisement.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
1910
President Roosevelt received the rifles and feels confident about them. However, the .405s might shoot too high and the sights could be adjusted accordingly. He requests another box of the .30 caliber model 1904 cartridges and one cartridge box for the .405.
Buffalo Bill Center of the West
1908-12-05
Theodore Roosevelt introduces James Andrew Drain to George von Lengerke Meyer. Drain has devoted himself to improving the rifle practice of the National Guard.
Massachusetts Historical Society
1909-01-05
President Roosevelt would be pleased to receive from James Andrew Drain a brief statement of what Drain would like Roosevelt to say regarding the national guard, including rifle practice.
1908-10-19
President Roosevelt introduces James Andrew Drain, president of the National Rifle Association. Drain has done a great deal to promote rifle shooting in the National Guard and with the public.
1909-01-02
Gilbert Christian Greenway sends a rifle box to his son, John Campbell Greenway, and wishes him well on his vacation in Michigan. A member of the federal board that oversees the Hot Spring Reservation, the elder Greenway is disgusted with an injunction by Judge Jacob Trieber that alters the board’s powers to regulate access to the springs, particularly as it has given strength to the “low blackguard” that the board was trying to block. Gilbert Greenway feels sure that Congress will “readily right the wrong” if it comes to that. He also reveals that he has resigned the board in protest over its decision to reinstate six “notorious offenders” and notes that board member Dr. C. Travis Drennen changed his vote due to the threat that an old affair and illegitimate child would be exposed. Greenway concludes by telling his son of the family’s struggle to find domestic help and reporting on the health of the immediate family and the dogs.
1904-07-30
President Roosevelt is ending his time as president in “stormy fashion” as everyone in Congress now feels comfortable with attacking him. The press is also on the attack and Roosevelt has started two libel suits against the worst offenders. The statements he will make tomorrow regarding the British in India are being made at the suggestion of Mr. Morley and Mr. Bryce. Roosevelt has received a beautiful Holland rifle from his English friends for use on the African safari.
1909-01-17