Your TR Source
Richard Harding Davis offers his thoughts on the most important elements to bring along while hiking or marching long distances, backed up by his experiences as a war correspondent.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-04
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.
1915-03-07
President Roosevelt is pleased that following a successful election in the United States, he can leave for his African safari with “a clear conscience and an easy heart.” Roosevelt questions Edward North Buxton at length about the specifications of the hunting rifles and ammunition he should use on the trip. He would like to avoid having a rifle sent over for him to try if it is possible, because he wants to avoid paying a heavy duty on it.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-01
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-02-25
President Roosevelt has received Hermann Woolley’s letter asking him to speak to the Alpine Club, but does not wish to make any firm plans until he is in London. Roosevelt would particularly like to meet the members of the Alpine Club and the Royal Geographical Society, but he is not sure if he will be able to address the club. If he is able to, Roosevelt believes it would have to be an informal talk, although even this he is not able to commit to at present.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-21
President Roosevelt does not intend to make any set addresses in England apart from his Romanes Lecture. He says that if Leonard Darwin and the Royal Geographical Society wishes for him to make a few remarks when he attends he will, but he hopes they will be treated as informal and that they will not be reported upon. Roosevelt is looking forward to meeting the members of the society.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-12
President Roosevelt tells Edward North Buxton that with the election of president-elect William H. Taft successfully concluded he can go abroad with “a clear conscience and an easy heart.” Roosevelt sends Buxton a copy of a letter he received, and asks for Buxton’s opinion on several matters raised by the author of the letter, primarily in reference to the sorts of guns and traveling supplies Roosevelt will bring with him on safari. Roosevelt asks Buxton to procure some of the mentioned supplies.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-01
President Roosevelt is somewhat hesitant about Leonard Darwin referring to Roosevelt’s talk to the Royal Geographical Society as a “lecture.” Roosevelt would like it to be a more informal talk to the members and for it not to be published, as he does not have the time to prepare it for publication.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-30
President Roosevelt cannot accept William Ridgeway’s invitation to speak; he only intends to make the Oxford Romanes Lecture and an informal talk at the Royal Geographical Society when he is in England. Roosevelt disagrees with the pamphlet Ridgeway recently sent him, which identifies races and languages with each other. He points out that in the United States and Caribbean Islands, many people speak European languages but do not have European blood.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-09
President Roosevelt tells Leonard Darwin that he will accept honorary membership into the Royal Geographical Society. However, he will do so on the condition that if he addresses the club, it can be about what he saw in Africa. He also notes that he may wish to do only an informal talk for members, rather than something for publication.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-08
President Roosevelt cannot at present accept William Martin Conway’s invitation because he does not yet know how long he will be in England. He would like to come meet with the Royal Geographical Society and the Alpine Club while he is there.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-06
President Roosevelt tells Sir Goldie that he is extremely grateful for the honorary membership in the Royal Geographic Society.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-28
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt asks Judge Francis C. Lowell if outgoing Assistant Secretary of State William Woodville Rockhill can be awarded an honorary degree from Harvard University. Roosevelt considers Rockhill the best assistant secretary of state and recalls that Rockhill explored Tibet, China, for which he received a gold medal from the Royal Geographical Society.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-04-30
Leonard Darwin, President of the Royal Geographical Society, asks if President Roosevelt would be able to speak to the society first before giving lectures elsewhere in London. Darwin acknowledges, however, that the final choice of the date is up to Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-01
Leonard Darwin is pleased that President Roosevelt accepted his invitation to speak to the Royal Geographical Society after his trip to Africa. The Society would be glad to hear Roosevelt’s impressions of Africa, but will leave the topic of the lecture to him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-17
William Martin Conway hopes that when President Roosevelt is in England following his trip to Africa he will spend the night at Allington Castle, where he can speak with a few men from the Alpine Club.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-14
Leonard Darwin, as President of the Royal Geographical Society, invites President Roosevelt to speak to the society while he is in England next year, following his trip to Africa.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-30
Ambassador Reid writes to Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, describing three dinners he recently attended which were hosted by the Chinese Minister, the Pilgrim’s Society, and the Royal Geographical Society, respectively. Reid includes anecdotes about British politicians like Prime Minister Henry Campbell-Bannerman, Winston Churchill, Augustine Birrell, John Morley, and George Curzon. Reid also references issues associated with the education bill, the administration of India, “trouble” in Natal, and negotiations with Russia over Seistan. Reid felt that the details he included might be of interest to Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-04-12
Theodore Roosevelt has used a map of South America, where he has charted the Rio da Duvida, to knock over statues of the explorers Vasco Núñez de Balboa, Christopher Columbus, Amerigo Vespucci, and Hernando de Soto. A book by the Royal Geographical Society has also landed on the floor.
This cartoon is of a category of articles, speeches, and cartoons that often confronted Theodore Roosevelt through his career, about the Spanish-American War; His African safari; the Brazilian exploration. Critics sometimes doubted his accounts and accomplishments. The cartoonist implied that Roosevelt prioritized his Brazilian trip over campaigning for the Progressive Pin 1914 midterm elections.
Theodore Roosevelt thanks Ambassador Page for inviting him to dinner, but writes that he will not have time for formal engagements during his trip to London. He writes that he may speak to the Royal Geographic Society and will stop by the Embassy.
1914-05-23