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Kermit and Belle Roosevelt will be returning to the United States for a visit and he hopes to be able to introduce Belle to the Fergusons. They had a fun honeymoon and are very happy together.
1914-06-22
Kermit Roosevelt describes playing with Martha and Robert Munro Ferguson in New York. He wishes Robert Harry Munro Ferguson and Isabella Ferguson could have come along on the last Mayflower trip. Roosevelt practiced his photography while on board. He asks when he should arrive at Saranac Lake.
Unknown
Kermit Roosevelt expresses his gratitude for the telegram, letter, and flowers from Isabella Ferguson. Belle Roosevelt is feeling better and they hope to visit the Fergusons soon.
1914
The Greenways have settled into their new home in Ajo, Arizona, for the winter and would like Kermit and Belle Roosevelt to visit. John Campbell Greenway cannot attend the Boone and Crockett Club dinner but encloses a check for his entrance fee and dues. He regrets not being able to see the unveiling of the Theodore Roosevelt monument in Cuba.
1924-12-04
Theodore Roosevelt does not know the date of Kermit and Belle Roosevelt’s arrival.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-05-21
Theodore Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt have spent two weeks with Ethel Roosevelt Derby and her family. Eleanor Butler Roosevelt and Richard Derby have both written that Archibald Roosevelt should have been sent home for treatment. Quentin Roosevelt’s last letters are arriving and his grave is now within the French lines.
1918-08-09
Theodore Roosevelt was pleased to receive a letter from Archie Roosevelt and is hosting his family, Grace Stackpole Lockwood Roosevelt and their son, Archibald Roosevelt, at Sagamore Hill. Ethel Roosevelt Derby and Richard Derby also visited and Roosevelt was amused when Richard rode Archie’s old pony, Algonquin. Kermit Roosevelt has been appointed a Captain of Artillery in the American Expeditionary Force and now all of Roosevelt’s sons are fighting under the same flag. Ted Roosevelt is likely at the front with the 1st Division and Quentin Roosevelt is distressed at the lack of aircraft preventing him from serving at the front.
1918-04-28
Theodore Roosevelt is proud of Archibald Roosevelt and his three brothers for their military service. Although Roosevelt agrees with Archie’s complaints about inefficiencies in the military, he cautions against being too vocal as it could make Archie’s situation more difficult. Roosevelt is seeing signs that the public is beginning to comprehend the extent of military shortages and inefficiencies. There has been some backlash against Roosevelt’s outspokenness on the war effort and he would like the government to move against him as it would only help carry his message farther. He concludes with updates on Roosevelt family members.
1918-01-20
Theodore Roosevelt hopes that Quentin Roosevelt’s trip is going better. He thinks it is nonsense to start a trip by traveling ninety-four miles in two days. Even though the trip has been difficult, he hopes that Quentin has been able to do some rifle practice and believes that overall it will be a good experience. Belle Roosevelt contracted typhoid fever but is doing well. Kermit Roosevelt was “nearly wild” with concern for his wife. Roosevelt is being sued by William Barnes for libel.
1914-08-02
Quentin Roosevelt’s letter from March 29 has arrived, and Theodore Roosevelt is indignant at the lack of fighter planes and machine guns. Quentin has been a “perfect trump,” and hopefully he will be given some active air service at the front. Ted Roosevelt is likely in the thick of the fighting. Kermit Roosevelt has been transferred to the American military as a captain of artillery. Grace Stackpole Lockwood Roosevelt, Archibald Roosevelt, Edith Roosevelt Derby, and Richard Derby Jr., are staying at Sagamore Hill.
1918-04-25
Theodore Roosevelt is enjoying spending time with Ethel Roosevelt Derby’s children, Richard Derby, Jr., and Edith Roosevelt Derby. He received an interesting letter from Rudyard Kipling, who had hosted Kermit and Belle Roosevelt. Kermit received a captaincy from the British and Roosevelt is proud of his family’s contribution to the war effort.
1917-08-23
Theodore Roosevelt knows that Ethel Roosevelt Derby and Richard Derby are having a difficult time, but he thinks of them often and is proud of their efforts. Roosevelt is sick of the Wilson administration’s neutrality and has said so in an article. Richard Derby Jr. has been a great comfort and they call him “Littlejohn Bottlejohn.” As Roosevelt expected, the Progressive Party went down in an “utter and hopeless defeat.” He does not believe that the Progressives can remain a party for much longer, and he will be relieved when the party disbands. They are concerned about Kermit and Belle Roosevelt and hope the newlyweds boarded the earliest possible ship.
1914-11-04
Kermit Roosevelt has been a great comfort on the trip but Theodore Roosevelt wishes Kermit had immediately married Belle Wyatt Willard instead of joining the expedition. He is pleased that Kermit will be married and already loves Belle devotedly. Roosevelt enjoyed having Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt along for so much of the trip. He is not enjoying the continuous speech making and banquets. However, they have entered the natural history and exploration part of the expedition and Roosevelt is feeling more comfortable and rested.
1913-12-10
Theodore Roosevelt is beginning to plan the organization of a division of the military and has directed mailed applications and letters accordingly. He updates Anna Roosevelt Cowles on Archibald Roosevelt and Quentin Roosevelt at Plattsburg, and discusses his frustration with President Wilson and the recent Republican National Convention.
1916-07-23
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Anna Roosevelt Cowles for the wooden bowl and wishes they could have spent time together. He describes a lovely Christmas with the grandchildren.
1914-12-29
A picture letter caricaturing Theodore Roosevelt’s son Kermit and daughter-in-law Belle. It depicts the “Hurrahs” reading instead of preparing to catch a train while an upset clock and sister-in-law look on.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1916-1918
Photograph of the Roosevelt’s family picnic at Lloyd’s Neck in Oyster Bay, New York. From left to right: son Archie, son Quentin, daughter Ethel, Kermit’s wife Belle, former president Theodore Roosevelt, and his wife Edith.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1915
Article reporting the birth of Theodore Roosevelt Jr. and Eleanor Butler Roosevelt’s second child and first son, Theodore Roosevelt III. His grandfather, former president Theodore Roosevelt, was cabled the news in England, where he had arrived from Spain after attending the wedding of his son Kermit and Belle Wyatt Willard.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1914-06-16
Portrait painting of Belle Willard Roosevelt by famous French painter Paul Emile Chabas.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Unknown
Invitation to the wedding of Kermit Roosevelt and Belle Wyatt Willard. The invitation is addressed to “Miss Roosevelt,” possibly meaning Grace Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1914