Roosevelt family

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Quentin Roosevelt

Ethel Roosevelt Derby and Richard Derby have returned home after a month’s absence. Edith Roosevelt Derby was christened last Sunday and Theodore Roosevelt represented Archibald Roosevelt as godfather. Mr. Monroe is “behaving admirably” but wants to get to the front. Roosevelt wishes his son a happy twentieth birthday. William Sheffield Cowles hopes to join the armed forces in March and Roosevelt thinks that Cowles should join the Marines.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-11-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Quentin Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt received a complimentary letter from a New York policeman whose son is in the squad that Quentin Roosevelt reorganized. Roosevelt attended an Allied bazaar as Corinne Roosevelt Robinson had a booth for the Fatherless Children of France. He is generally opposed to bazaars as they have a “vapid country-fair” atmosphere and tend to waste money in order to make a little. Grace Stackpole Lockwood Roosevelt is visiting and brought some of Archibald Roosevelt’s letters. The letters offer a glimpse into the trenches but are full of “violent truthtelling” that Roosevelt has warned Archie not to put in writing. He continues to make occasional speeches but feels very useless during wartime.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-12-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Quentin Roosevelt

A letter from Banner Shull, who had served in the motor company commanded by Quentin Roosevelt, was printed in an Ohio newspaper and was very complimentary of Quentin’s leadership. The family is “proud as peacocks” of the various tributes Quentin has received. Grace Stackpole Lockwood Roosevelt, Ethel Roosevelt Derby, and the two Derby children are staying at Sagamore Hill. Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt is “not very strong” but is “just as pretty as possible.” On Saturday, Roosevelt attended a dinner for Ambassador Jusserand. He then spent the night at Corinne Roosevelt Robinson’s home and was able to see Senator Lodge and General Wood.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-12-10

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Quentin Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt was sorry to hear that Quentin Roosevelt contracted pneumonia and had a melancholy Christmas. At Sagamore Hill, the holiday was enlightened by Richard Derby, Jr., and Edith Roosevelt Derby. Roosevelt is indignant that Ted Roosevelt and Archie Roosevelt have suggested that Quentin is an embusque, a person seeking to avoid military service. He doubts that they were being serious and notes several positive statements that have appeared in print from men that had served with Quentin. Roosevelt encourages Quentin to write steadily to his mother and Flora Whitney. He continues to do nothing; occasionally writing or speaking as poor substitutes for action. Roosevelt hopes that his work will help remedy some of the army’s shortcomings and speed up the war.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-01-18

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Quentin Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt spent four days in Washington, D.C., with Alice Roosevelt Longworth and Representative Nicholas Longworth. Roosevelt was very busy meeting with politicians, journalists, and military officers. It was difficult for Edith as many of her old friends had grown old or died. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hitchcock visited and are very proud of their son, Tommy. Hitchcock had written his parents that he has been practicing shooting all the time, and Roosevelt asks if Quentin has been able to practice. Quentin’s recent letters have been interesting, and Roosevelt encourages Quentin to write regularly to his mother and to Flora Whitney.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-01-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Quentin Roosevelt

A “regular winter” is upon Sagamore Hill. Theodore Roosevelt exercises a little, speaks once or twice a week regarding the war, and writes for the Kansas City Star. He hopes he is doing a little good. The Republicans appear willing to accept Roosevelt’s leadership for the fall campaign to the extent of speeding up the war and only accepting the “peace of complete victory.” Alice Roosevelt Longworth is visiting and is “as amusing and interesting as ever.” Representative Longworth has delivered a strong speech on the military situation. Quentin should be pleased that he is overseas and not being delayed in some camp. Roosevelt wishes that President Wilson had been patriotic, just, and generous enough to accept Roosevelt’s service. However, the essential matter is that his sons have grasped the chance to “prove your truth.”

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-02-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Quentin Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt is “getting on splendidly” but will be in the hospital for another week. Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt is spending some time with Ethel Roosevelt Derby and her children. Roosevelt has been pleased with what he hears about Quentin Roosevelt and is proud of his sons. He thinks that Tommy Hitchcock has “turned out cracker-jack.”

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-02-28

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Quentin Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt was pleased to hear that Quentin Roosevelt is learning how to shoot at the French school. He understands the aviation service’s frustration over the service stripe regulation. Roosevelt encourages Quentin Roosevelt to write to Flora Whitney and her family to ask if Flora could go overseas to marry him. He is confident that Flora wants to marry Quentin under any conditions. General Wood visited and had nice things to say about Quentin. Roosevelt closes by expressing his pride in Quentin.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-03-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Quentin Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt is unsure if Quentin Roosevelt has been able to get to the front but is pleased that he passed through the course at the French shooting school. American shipbuilding and aircraft production are speeding up, but Roosevelt is bitter when he thinks of the men who had to “pay with their blood” because the government was not prepared for war. He continues to advocate for action and preparedness for the future. However, the government is more interested in combating protesters against government inefficiency than those who are indirectly aiding Germany. Archibald Roosevelt’s wound has attracted wide attention.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-04-08

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Quentin Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt is glad that Quentin Roosevelt passed through the French training school as he will be available for the front when American forces receive aircraft. Roosevelt has difficulty restraining himself when those responsible for American military shortcomings lie about their complacency and even boast that being unprepared was meritorious. However, many people are learning of the situation and are humiliated at the limited role the United States has been able to play. Dr. Mason, who has seen Archibald Roosevelt, will be visiting and letters have been received from Archie and Ted Roosevelt.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-04-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Quentin Roosevelt

The American public is beginning to show distress that their military carries “so little weight” in the current fighting. The Wilson administration is attempting to “speed up certain matters” but it may be too late. The administration’s positive forecasts also make it difficult to determine the “probabilities for the future.” For example, Roosevelt has no idea what Quentin is doing or whether he will ever receive a plane and be able to serve at the front. Spring has arrived at Sagamore Hill and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt is doing well. Roosevelt is proud that his sons and Richard Derby have a part to play in the great crisis.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-04-21

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Quentin Roosevelt

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.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-04-25

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to Quentin Roosevelt

The Roosevelt family love Quentin Roosevelt and think of him often.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Quentin Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt spoke for the Red Cross at Carnegie Hall and was surprised when the person leading him to the stage whispered that Harry Davidson was working to get Flora Whitney overseas to marry Quentin Roosevelt. The woman turned out to be Adele Burden. Roosevelt has heard nothing of Davidson’s efforts but he hopes that Flora and Quentin can marry. Grace Lockwood Roosevelt and Archibald Roosevelt have been at Sagamore Hill for a month. Roosevelt will be leaving tomorrow for a speaking trip about the war and Americanism. He continues to balance pointing out the government’s shortcomings while not being perceived as attacking the government. Currently, the people are only half awake to the government’s folly.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-05-23

Drawing from Theodore Roosevelt

Drawing of a young man, possibly Quentin Roosevelt, holding a briefcase with Harvard 1919 written on it. The young man is noted for being severe but kindly to his family, but cannot hide that he knows his place when he hears his mother coming.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1915-1918

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt asks if his father has received the letter he wrote in German. Everyone is happy that Corinne Roosevelt has arrived in Dresden. Roosevelt confronted an acquaintance who swore too much but he has made a new friend named Edward Jacobs. They spent yesterday boxing and swimming. He received a letter from Edith Kermit Carow and Anna Roosevelt who are doing well in Carlsbad.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1873-06-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Roosevelt Roosevelt

Police Commissioner Roosevelt asks if James Roosevelt Roosevelt could give away Anna Roosevelt at her upcoming wedding to William S. Cowles. He cannot be there and is comforted that James can be with her. Roosevelt has been working very hard over the summer.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1895-10-20

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Martha Bulloch Roosevelt

The family misses Martha Bulloch Roosevelt but everyone is well. Five boys visited last Saturday and they had a beautiful time. They were noisy but did not break anything. During Sunday school, everyone laughed at the biblical story of Job’s comforters, whom Anna Roosevelt called “scallawags.”

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1871-04-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Martha Bulloch Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt will miss Martha Bulloch Roosevelt but is glad that she will be staying down south for a while longer. The weather for Easter was beautiful, but Roosevelt was unable to go shooting with Fred Osborn on Good Friday due to a bad cold. Roosevelt’s dance classes are going well, and the new coachman, Fox, is a good employee.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1875-03-28

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Martha Bulloch Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt hopes that his parents are having a good time at the old Burlington house. He always found the house fascinating. The boys of Oyster Bay formed a club for running and jumping and are having “great fun.” William Emlen Roosevelt is the best jumper and Theodore the fastest.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1875-08-29