Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Expedition

Advertisement for a tour sponsored by the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) to Brazil and the Amazon rainforest and sites visited by Theodore Roosevelt during his river expedition in Brazil in 1914. Six photographs of sites in Brazil populate the advertisement, along with a photograph of Roosevelt and Colonel Candido Mariano da Silva Rondon.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2015

Three titles undergo scrutiny in the “Book Review” section. William N. Tilchin admires Candice Millard’s The River of Doubt about the Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Expedition of Brazil’s River of Doubt, and he provides a summary of its contents, noting that it would meet with Theodore Roosevelt’s approval as a combination of history and literature. Robert Wexelblatt expresses mixed feelings about Morton L. Kurland’s historical novel Theodore Roosevelt Rides Again, noting that the author takes care with historical facts, but that his portrait of Roosevelt is cartoonish and “the writing is uneven and uncertain.” Gregory A. Wynn finds that Mike Thompson’s The Travels and Tribulations of Theodore Roosevelt’s Cabin adds to the understanding of Roosevelt’s time in the Dakota Badlands with its many details about the cabin and the rancher who inhabited it.

Two photographs of Roosevelt during the River of Doubt expedition and one of the Maltese Cross cabin appear in the review section.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Theodore Roosevelt stands next to a large map of South America and points toward it with both his hand and a held device, identifying the area the Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Expedition explored in Brazil. Another man stands across from him and looks on.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1914-1918

Theodore Roosevelt combines a lecture tour with exploration of the River of Doubt (Roosevelt River) in the Amazon Valley during his 1913-1914 trip to South America. In January of 1914, the Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Expedition travels in Brazil on the Paraguay River and the Sepotuba River to Tapirapoan, where the overland portion of their journey to the headwaters of the River of Doubt began. A native trading boat appears to be lashed to the small launch carrying the Roosevelt party; the launch moves slowly toward the camera. The man wearing a white shirt, seated to the right on the boat, is probably Roosevelt. Location may be the Sepotuba River. Camera distance and film quality make positive identification of individuals impossible.

Collection

Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound

Creation Date

1914-01

Magazine advertisement for Kermit Roosevelt’s book, The Long Trail. Roosevelt relates stories about his father, Theodore Roosevelt, and recounts the Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Expedition.

Collection

Newberry Library

Creation Date

Unknown

Theodore Roosevelt introduces Langdon Warner, a first class archeologist and friend. Warner is seeking permits to explore and excavate near the headwaters of the Yenisei River and in Mongolia. Roosevelt vouches for Warner’s abilities and previous work. He requests that his letter be placed before the proper authorities.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-11-12

This photograph shows Theodore Roosevelt and his party; Roosevelt and another man are wearing ponchos, facing a man on horseback.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site

Creation Date

1913

Theodore Roosevelt is shown on a plain with four other men (one on horseback) and several automobiles. The photographer is visible at the far left.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site

Creation Date

1913

This envelope accompanied a letter authenticating the pencil stub that Theodore Roosevelt used to write a letter to Viscount Lee of Fareham from the Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Expedition and subsequently presented to Lee.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site

Creation Date

1925-04-18

Theodore Roosevelt is shown in a headnet and fringed gauntlets, seated in a clearing in a camp chair at folding table, writing.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site

Creation Date

1913-1914

Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt is doing well on board the SS Vandyck, and Margaret Roosevelt has proven to be a successful traveling companion. Theodore Roosevelt is pleased with the “thoroughly good fellows” of the expedition. There are a number of unknowns regarding the expedition, but Roosevelt believes they “shall do something worth doing.” The voyage has been pleasant, and they are just passing the Antilles.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1913-10-08

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.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1913-12-10

Theodore Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt have comfortable rooms on the USS Vandyck, and Edith is getting a lot of rest. They have had good weather, and Roosevelt summarizes their average day aboard ship. Margaret Roosevelt has been a good traveling companion for Edith, and Roosevelt is comfortable with them traveling the west coast of Chile together. He is looking forward to seeing Kermit Roosevelt and is delighted with Father Zahm and the rest of the expedition members.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1913-10-08

Manuscript map of Brazil, showing the entire route of the Roosevelt-Rondon expedition.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site

Creation Date

1914

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

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

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

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 conferring along a river.

Collection

Dickinson State University

Creation Date

1913-1914

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