Your TR Source
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 enjoyed Grace Stackpole Roosevelt’s letter and misses his grandson Archibald Roosevelt. All the letters from Europe indicate that his son Archibald Roosevelt will soon be returning home but no official information has been received. Archie’s last letter expressed affection for Richard Derby and Roosevelt is pleased that he can show this to Ethel Roosevelt Derby. Ted and Kermit Roosevelt both wrote that Archie has been in considerable pain.
1918-08-18
Rumors about Quentin Roosevelt’s death arrived on July 16 but were not confirmed until today. Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt is suffering and Flora Whitney is brokenhearted. Quentin “died as the heroes of old died.” Congress returned some Nobel Prize money to Roosevelt and he has decided to donate it to the Salvation Army. He agrees with Archie Roosevelt’s thoughts on the government’s failure to prepare for war and that many people, like Quentin, will pay with their blood. Ted Roosevelt was recently injured with a “bullet through his leg.”
1918-07-21
Theodore Roosevelt is disappointed that he will not be able to participate in the war. He has a low opinion of President Wilson and suggests that the Allies will not seek Roosevelt’s services for fear of antagonizing Wilson, a man that would sacrifice anything for personal advancement. Ted Roosevelt and Archie Roosevelt attempted to enlist as privates with General Pershing but they were refused as this would be a “waste of material.” He is pleased that James Russell Parsons is preparing for military service, even though he cannot enlist for many months.
1917-05-24
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Frances Theodora Parsons for the letter and makes arrangements for a weekend visit.
1918-06-26
President Roosevelt sends a recent photograph of himself and asks Dora Watkins what she would like for Christmas. He often tells his children about Watkins and wishes that she could see Ted Roosevelt.
1904-11-29
President Roosevelt describes the family’s Christmas activities. Presents were opened in the morning with Alice Roosevelt Longworth and Representative Nicholas Longworth in attendance. Anna Roosevelt Cowles hosted lunch and the Lodge family visited for Christmas dinner.
1906-12-26
Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt is caring for Ted Roosevelt, who is recovering from an illness. President Roosevelt updates her on the other children and their activities. He has been busy with work, including meetings regarding the Philippines and completing a memorandum on the Schley case. Emperor William II sent a telegram with congratulations on Ted’s recovery and announced that Prince Heinrich had sailed.
1902-02-16
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 is overjoyed with the birth of Archibald Roosevelt’s son, also named Archibald. He regrets he was unable to see Grace Stackpole Lockwood Roosevelt before the baby was born, but Ethel Roosevelt Derby was there for the birth. After protests from William Emlen Roosevelt, Roosevelt has changed his mind about publishing Archie’s articles. He fears that the War Department could identify Archie as the author and cause him trouble. Roosevelt encloses a complimentary letter he received from one of the men in Archie’s company.
1918-02-25
Theodore Roosevelt is “divided between pride and anxiety” after hearing that Archibald Roosevelt was awarded the Croix de guerre and wounded by shrapnel. Roosevelt will not do anything with regard to the War Department until instructed by Archie. Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt led a toast in Archie’s honor after the news of his injury. Afterwards, she led everyone in breaking their glasses, saying, “That glass shall never be drunk out of again.”
1918-03-13
President Roosevelt thanks James Russell Parsons for his note of concern about Ted Roosevelt’s illness.
1902-02-12
Theodore Roosevelt heard of Russell Parsons’s raid on the German trenches from his mother, Frances Theodora Parsons. He compares the raid to an attack by the forlorn hope or storming a breached wall. Roosevelt describes the fighting as a “great war” and wishes Parsons good luck.
1918-09-08
President Roosevelt thanks Frances Theodora Parsons for the book. Ted Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt will also enjoy it.
1902-03-15
Game book with information on animals killed by Theodore Roosevelt and Ted Roosevelt, his son. Information includes place, date, description of game, weapon used, and the hunting situation. References to fuller descriptions in Roosevelt’s writings are available for Theodore Roosevelt’s kills.
Unknown
One page wall calendar for 1908 with a black and white photograph of President Roosevelt and his family.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1907
Winthrop Chanler writes a letter of condolence after the death of Quentin Roosevelt. Chanler fondly remembers meeting Quentin at the Issoudun airfield. He also recently saw “Archie” Roosevelt in Paris and heard that “Ted” Roosevelt had been hurt. Chanler regrets that it is the young who go to fight rather than the “old ones” like himself. Chanler sends his deepest sympathies to Roosevelt’s wife.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1918-09-09
Hand colored print of a black and white photograph of President Roosevelt, Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, and the six Roosevelt children.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1903
Unknown clipping with a large black and white portrait photograph of President Roosevelt. At the bottom are two rows of smaller photographs of Theodore Roosevelt’s family, his birthplace, and Sagamore Hill.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1901
President Roosevelt and his family at their summer home in Sagamore Hill, posed in front of an ivy-covered wall. Pictured from left to right: Kermit, Archie, Theodore, Ethel, Edith, Quentin, Ted.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
1907