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Chronology of the daily life of Theodore Roosevelt between January 1879 to December 1883. Notable events include Theodore Roosevelt’s engagement and marriage to Alice Hathaway Lee, his appointment to the New York State Legislature, and his first visit and buffalo hunt in North Dakota.
Theodore Roosevelt Association
1985
Natalie A. Naylor offers a detailed survey of the contents of Cove Neck: Oyster Bay’s Historic Enclave and less in the way of analysis or scrutiny though she admits that the book demonstrates “the value of local history.” In her review, Naylor demonstrates how the book places Theodore Roosevelt’s life at his home, Sagamore Hill, in a larger context of his neighbors and relatives who lived nearby in the village of Cove Neck. Naylor relates information about numerous Roosevelt family members and highlights the prominence of Sagamore Hill to the history of the area.
Four photographs, a drawing, and a map, all taken from the book, join the work’s front and back covers in illustrating the review.
Margaret P. Griffin chronicles the evolution of Theodore Roosevelt as a naturalist in the years 1874 and 1875. She highlights the creation of a “Natural History Society” composed of Roosevelt and several of his friends who shared nature observations, read papers, and organized outings. Griffin focuses on Roosevelt’s avid interest in ornithology, and she provides excerpts from Roosevelt’s notebooks to demonstrate his detailed knowledge of different species. Griffin notes Roosevelt’s encounters with the now extinct passenger pigeon, and she details the death of Frederick Sturges Osborn, one of Roosevelt’s closest friends and fellow ornithologist.
Seven photographs accompany the essay, including one of Roosevelt and another showing examples of his bird taxidermy.
Joyce M. Bisso opens this edition of “News and Notes” with a report on the effort to gather library books from the greater Oyster Bay, New York, area to build a library for the sailors aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt. The task fell to students from Oyster Bay High School and local public libraries. Bisso quotes the two sailors from the ship, Petty Officer Timothy L. Blackstone and Senior Chief Edward J. Tessier, who came to Oyster Bay to collect the books and other materials gathered by the community. The article also reprints a letter from Captain Paul W. Parcells, Commanding Officer of USS Theodore Roosevelt, to William Davison Johnston, the President of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA). A photograph of students examining books; one of Blackstone and Tessier; and another of the two sailors with Oyster Bay High School students appear in the article.
The section also contains a report on the natural history research grants awarded from the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Fund by the American Museum of Natural History in New York City for 1986. The report notes the members of the TRA who serve on the awards committee, lists the winner of the largest award, Mark L. McKnight, and it provides a history of the involvement of Theodore Roosevelt and his father with the museum. A chart listing the number of award applications, the number of awards, and the value of the grants from 1961 to 1986 appears in this section.
Obituary for Jean Schermerhorn Roosevelt which highlights her volunteer and work history with the Roosevelt Hospital in New York City and the leadership of her sons, P. James Roosevelt and John E. Roosevelt, in the Theodore Roosevelt Association.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
1984
John A. Gable provides a comprehensive report on the work of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) in 1979. He details the TRA’s support of Bulloch Hall in Georgia, Youngs Memorial Cemetery and the adjacent Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary in Oyster Bay, and the American Museum of Natural History. Gable also reports on the association’s support of student essay and speaking contests, additions to the Theodore Roosevelt Collection at Harvard University, and the Roosevelt Genealogical Project. He closes with an assertion that the United States is “in the midst of what can be called a ‘Roosevelt revival'” given the rise in membership of the TRA and the publication of a number of significant works on Roosevelt in 1979, most significantly Edmund Morris’s The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt.
A photograph of a bust of Theodore Roosevelt is found on the third page of the report.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
Obituary of Archibald “Archie” B. Roosevelt, son of Theodore Roosevelt, written by his cousin P. James Roosevelt. He discusses Archibald’s childhood antics in the White House with his brother Quentin and his education at various schools. He details his service in both world wars and how he earned his military decorations, and he examines Archibald’s career in finance in New York and Florida and discusses his charitable and volunteer work, especially in conservation, most notably with the Boone & Crockett Club. The obituary includes a poem written by Archibald, “Canada Geese.”
Four photographs of Archibald Roosevelt accompany the obituary: one shows him as a young man; another shows him and his brother Quentin training for service in World War I; another shows him and his wife Grace Stackpole Lockwood Roosevelt on horseback; and the last one shows him holding one of his father’s hunting rifles.
A listing of the officers of the Theodore Roosevelt Association and of the members of its executive, finance, and Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace committees is on the second page of the obituary.
Executive Director John A. Gable gives a comprehensive report on the work of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) during 1978. He notes an increase in both membership and contributions, and details the day-to-day work of answering phone and letter inquiries about Theodore Roosevelt. In addition to covering aspects of established programs like the student essay and speaking contests and support of research grants made by the American Museum of Natural History, he details the programs surrounding the twenty-fifth anniversary of Sagamore Hill as a public house museum, the TRA’s support of Bulloch Hall, the home of Roosevelt’s mother, Martha Bulloch Roosevelt, in Roswell, Georgia, and the Roosevelt Genealogical Project.
Two photographs and one illustration are included as part of this article. One photograph shows John A. Gable, Executive Director of the Theodore Roosevelt Association, presenting a check to Emmett Rushin of the Roswell (Georgia) Historic Preservation Committee; the other is of Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) President Howard T. Hogan. The illustration is of the front cover of the TRA’s book, Sagamore Hill: An Historical Guide.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
Hermann Hagedorn uses quotes from various friends, family, and colleagues of Theodore Roosevelt to demonstrate that he had an active Christian faith that he nurtured with Bible study and regular church attendance. He employs these quotations to counter the argument that Roosevelt was not a Christian and because Roosevelt himself seldom spoke openly about his faith.
Reverend George E. Talmadge, the Rector of Christ Church in Oyster Bay, New York, provides a view of Theodore Roosevelt the parishioner. He provides a number of anecdotes about Roosevelt’s participation in Sunday services and his support of church ministries. Talmadge discusses Roosevelt’s religious roots in the Dutch Reformed Church, his work with the Boy Scouts, and the death of Quentin Roosevelt.
John A. Gable reports on the work and achievements of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) for 1977. He notes a rise in membership and dues during the past year and discusses the many requests for help that the TRA office received from those pursuing work on Theodore Roosevelt. The report provides brief summaries of the work of the TRA that is covered in more detail in separate articles in this and past issues, such as the renovation and restoration of the Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site and the visit to the White House by a delegation from the TRA.
The report also covers the annual student contests sponsored by the TRA, the research grants awarded by the American Museum of Natural History, the Association’s support of Youngs Memorial Cemetery and the Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary for birds in Oyster Bay, and publications, such as the Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal, produced by the TRA.
Notice about the history, programs, facilities, and leadership of the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Bird Sanctuary located next to Youngs Memorial Cemetery in Oyster Bay, New York. The notice includes a fundraising appeal letter from Mrs. Richard Derby (daughter of Theodore Roosevelt) asking for contributions to the Sanctuary, which is an arm of the National Audubon Society.
Two photographs accompany the article. One shows five children on a field trip undertaken by the Sanctuary and the other shows Mrs. Richard Derby and the President of the Sanctuary, Richard A. Houghton, Jr., at the Trailside Museum.
A state agricultural inspector, accompanied by Charles F. Swan of Oyster Bay, inspected the trees at Sagamore Hill and found a serious infestation of San José scale. Other estates nearby are similarly affected.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-02-18
The Bismarck Tribune reports on the death of Theodore Roosevelt at his home in Oyster Bay, New York, early on the morning of January 6, 1919. His secretary Josephine M. Stricker, who reported it to the press, received the news from Roosevelt’s wife Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt. It is believed that Roosevelt passed away painlessly, and that his death was due to inflammatory rheumatism. News of Roosevelt’s death quickly drew a large number of telegrams expressing condolence and sympathy, and both houses of Congress adjourned out of respect for Roosevelt. Following this article, The Bismarck Tribune also presents a brief biography of Roosevelt’s life and political achievements. Apart from news of Roosevelt’s death, the paper also has several articles related to North Dakota politics, a brief mention of troop movements occurring in Europe, and a comment on the success of a recent Liberty Loan drive for the Ninth federal reserve district.
1919-01-06
President Roosevelt reports to his son Kermit Roosevelt that “life at Oyster Bay is as wonderful as it is pleasant.” He describes how the neighborhood entertained the officers of the Mayflower in a variety of ways. Archibald “Archie” B. Roosevelt spends most of his time boating with his dog Skip. Roosevelt is again busy with work, which includes writing speeches and making arrangements for the Atlantic Fleet. He hopes Kermit is enjoying himself.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-27
Diary of Theodore Roosevelt for the year 1878. Roosevelt attended Harvard College and spent the summer in Oyster Bay, New York, and on an expedition in Maine. The major event of the year was the death of Roosevelt’s father. Roosevelt reflects on the death of his father many times throughout the year. The diary concludes with notes on Roosevelt’s personal finances and his “game record” for the year.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1878
Diary of Theodore Roosevelt for the year 1879. Roosevelt attended Harvard College, spent the summer in Oyster Bay, New York, and went on two expeditions to Maine. The diary concludes with notes on Roosevelt’s personal finances and his “game bag” for the year.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1879
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 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 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.
1875-08-29