Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Expedition

The River of Doubt

For this film, the Roosevelt Memorial Association compiled footage from Theodore Roosevelt’s 1913-1914 trip to South America during which he combined a series of lectures with an expedition in the Amazon Valley of Brazil to collect zoological specimens. The Roosevelt group was combined with a group of Brazilian scientists under the leadership of Colonel Rondon to explore the course of the uncharted Rio da Dúvida, the River of Doubt. In 1926, G. M. Dyott, an English explorer, was asked by the Roosevelt Memorial Association to retrace Roosevelt’s voyage down the River of Doubt and to film his trip in order to supplement the footage from the 1914 trip.

Collection

Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound

Creation Date

1928

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt are in New York City and spending time with the families of Ethel Roosevelt Derby and Ted Roosevelt. Roosevelt’s libel suit is next month and he is unsure of the result. However, he believes his case will be “presented in great shape.” The Royal Geographical Society has published the maps from the Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Expedition and hostile comments against the expedition have died down. Roosevelt has been working hard at Metropolitan Magazine.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1915-03-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt has received Kermit Roosevelt’s letter about visiting Sao Paolo, Brazil, and everyone was interested in reading about Kermit and Belle Roosevelt setting up their new home. The book about the Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Expedition has been sent to all members of the expedition through the Brazilian ambassador. Roosevelt describes the “delightful Xmas” at Sagamore Hill with all of his children, except Kermit, and three grandchildren. He reflects on the war and views Germany as “clearly ahead” and Austria growing stronger. Roosevelt admires German efficiency, which is greater than the efficiency of the Allies, and the Allies are infinitely more efficient than the United States. President Wilson and Secretary Bryan are the “worst creatures” to lead the nation in foreign affairs. Roosevelt believes the United States should have countered the “unscrupulous” behavior of Germany and intervened on behalf of Belgium. He has signed a three year contract with Metropolitan Magazine to publish his social and political views.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1914-12-28

Memoir by Frank Harper

Frank Harper, who accompanied Theodore Roosevelt on his South American expedition and acted as his secretary, details activities of the expedition. There are edits in pencil throughout the manuscript.

Collection

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site

Creation Date

1913-12-10 to 1914-01-14

Members of the Roosevelt-Rondon scientific expedition

Members of the Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Expedition conferring along a river.

Collection

Dickinson State University

Creation Date

1913-1914

Theodore Roosevelt and Cândido Mariano da Silva Rondon

Theodore Roosevelt and Cândido Mariano da Silva Rondon pose with a recent kill during the Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Expedition.

Collection

Dickinson State University

Creation Date

1913-1914

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Aline Jackson

Theodore Roosevelt will do his best to provide the aid that Aline Jackson requests for East Africa, but since most charitable donors have already given to European causes, he is not sure how much he can promise. Roosevelt would like to write to her and her husband, Frederick John Jackson, about his South American expedition, but that seems too trivial to write about when the world is at war.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-11-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to H. R. De Mello

Theodore Roosevelt thanks H. R. De Mello for the letter and the book. In his published account of the Brazilian expedition, Roosevelt included a letter from Colonel Rondon that exposed the claims of Arthur Henry Savage Landor.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-10-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. D. Haseman

Theodore Roosevelt cautions J. D. Haseman that Haseman’s personal experience with piranhas is not enough to ignore the facts regarding piranhas attacking men and animals. If this is Haseman’s state of mind, he is not fit to “write a scientific book worth reading.” Scientists with more experience have stated that piranhas attack people. Roosevelt has personally viewed attacks while in South America. Haseman has a reputation for having a bad temper and ignoring facts. If he ignores the facts about piranhas, his scientific work cannot be taken seriously.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-08-30

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Scott Keltie

Theodore Roosevelt appreciates the work of the Royal Geographical Society and John Scott Keltie on the maps from the Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Expedition. The work of Dr. Lauro Muller and Colonel Rondon deserved to be recognized by the leading geographical magazine and society. Confidentially, the Brazilian preparations for the trip were poor and Roosevelt believes Kermit Roosevelt and Anthony Fiala could have organized a better, faster, and more comfortable journey. He blames many of the problems on the Latin American desire for “splendor,” such as Rondon’s refusal to walk, which would not be in “splendid style,” and free up space for more supplies on pack animals. The lack of supplies forced the expedition to use half rations after reaching the river. Roosevelt did not make information like this public as his companions were “fine fellows” and the trip could not have been completed without them.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-02-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Presley Marion Rixey

The friendship between Dr. Rixey and the Roosevelts has been very meaningful and Theodore Roosevelt believes that Rixey was one of the most positive influences on his children. Roosevelt’s health had been poor and he is nearly “done out.” Rheumatism prevents him from exercising and lack of exercise makes it difficult to stay in good condition. Roosevelt was pleased with the Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Expedition and views it as his last adventure.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-02-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Walter Laidlaw

Theodore Roosevelt can only make one speech and will not attend a second meeting. He offers suggestions on how the meeting and speaking should be handled. Roosevelt’s speech on the Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Expedition is around an hour and should be preceded by no more then four speakers who each speak for twelve minutes or less.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-01-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Francisco P. Moreno

Theodore Roosevelt has received the remains of the Mylodon (an extinct species of ground sloth) and considers them the “most valuable things” in his home. He is especially interested in the skin and hair fragment. Roosevelt fondly recalls spending time with Francisco P. Moreno in Argentina. He hopes Moreno has received his book on the Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Expedition.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-01-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. A. Zahm

Theodore Roosevelt is glad Father Zahm liked his article on Mexico. Roosevelt can not believe how poorly Woodrow Wilson and William Jennings Bryan are as heads of the United States. Roosevelt thanks Zahm for the book for Mrs. Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-12-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Scott Keltie

Theodore Roosevelt claims that on the Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Expedition there would not have been any “observations worth anything” if he had not insisted on it and that his companions’ work was mostly valueless unless he was around. There were many shortcomings in planning and preparation. Roosevelt believes that he, along with Kermit Roosevelt and Anthony Fiala, could have made better preparations. Roosevelt describes the river’s features and will be sending John Scott Keltie a map of the River of Doubt (Roosevelt River) that is incredibly accurate.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-12-17

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edwin V. Morgan

Theodore Roosevelt is concerned about some of the specimens from the Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Exposition which have not arrived at the museum. He is concerned that they might have gone down with the S. S. Vandyck, which was sunk by a German cruiser off the coast of Brazil. Roosevelt requests that Edwin T. Morgan investigate what has happened to the specimens. He is pleased that Morgan translated his Outlook article and will send Morgan a pamphlet of his writings about the ongoing war.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-11-28

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. Alden Loring

If J. Alden Loring wishes to join the expedition to Africa, President Roosevelt will inform Charles D. Walcott, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. However, he advises Loring that no member of the expedition party will be able to write about the trip until after Roosevelt has published his own articles and book as per his agreement with Scribner’s. The big game hunting will also only be done by Theodore and Kermit Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-02

Letter from Alexander Phimister Proctor to Theodore Roosevelt

Alexander Phimister Proctor is thankful that Theodore Roosevelt has safely returned from the South American expedition. He hopes it will be the last time Roosevelt takes “such desperate chances.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1914-05-21

Letter from J. Alden Loring to Theodore Roosevelt

J. Alden Loring cannot find the notes on the life histories of mammals that he let Theodore Roosevelt take when they left Gondokoro. Loring asks Roosevelt to send them to him at his home in New York when he has finished with them since Loring needs them to make his official report.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-03-20

Letter from Kermit Roosevelt to Theodore Roosevelt

Kermit Roosevelt asks Theodore Roosevelt to send copies of a book to several people in Brazil. Kermit Roosevelt also describes how Belle Roosevelt is settling into their new home, and promises to write again soon about business.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915