Safari guides

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt has decided to take Frederick Courteney Selous’s advice and hire a white man to manage the caravan on his African safari, despite objections from Edward North Buxton. Roosevelt asks Selous to hire either R. J. Cunninghame or William C. Judd for the job if they are available. He provides a list of provisions that he would like to bring on the trip.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt is pleased that Frederick Courteney Selous was able to hire R. J. Cunninghame to manage his upcoming safari. He agrees with Selous about how to engage Shikari guides, and thinks it wise to ship most of his supplies to Nairobi and leave logistics to Cunninghame’s judgment. Roosevelt tells Selous that he likely will not go straight to Nairobi when he arrives in Africa, as he wants to avoid press and public attention.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

Theodore Roosevelt provides Frederick Courteney Selous with an excerpt of a letter that Frederick John Jackson sent another American about Roosevelt’s upcoming safari. The letter included various recommendations about suppliers and itinerary. Roosevelt likes the itinerary, but is concerned about whether he can prevent the press from following his caravan. He asks if the government could refuse to issue them licenses to travel.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to R. J. Cunninghame

President Roosevelt officially engages R. J. Cunninghame to lead the caravan on his upcoming safari. He gives Cunninghame the freedom to hire whomever he wishes, and to make whatever choices he thinks best.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-31

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt received Frederick Courteney Selous’s letters, and the letter from R. J. Cunninghame. Roosevelt has directed Cunninghame to hire Leslie J. Tarlton, but he might reduce the expedition size later in the trip. It is becoming more expensive than he had anticipated. However, Roosevelt does not want to immediately disregard Cunninghame’s experience and advice. The end of his presidency is keeping Roosevelt very busy, and he looks forward to seeing Selous in April.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to R. J. Cunninghame

President Roosevelt reiterates that R. J. Cunninghame has full authority over the caravan management for his safari. Roosevelt has already cabled about hiring Leslie J. Tarlton, but wonders if Tarlton could initially be hired for only the first part of the trip. Roosevelt knows himself to be an inexpert marksman, but he does not want others to kill the game for him. After updating Cunninghame on the permissions he recently received from the Belgian government, Roosevelt outlines his hunting goals and tentative schedule for his first few weeks in Africa. He encloses a paraphrased letter he just received from a “Boer sympathizer” who has made a potentially advantageous offer.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-07

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to R. J. Cunninghame

President Roosevelt authorizes R. J. Cunninghame to employ Leslie J. Tarlton. The message is crossed out in pen.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-06

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to R. J. Cunninghame

President Roosevelt authorizes R. J. Cunninghame to employ Leslie J. Tarlton.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Jay White

President Roosevelt thanks John Jay White for the letter and advice about his upcoming Africa trip. Reverend W. S. Rainsford wrote to him along similar lines. Roosevelt has directed R. J. Cunninghame to hire the necessary support staff, and he mentioned the names White suggested. He hopes to begin the hunting expedition very soon after arriving in Africa, and will travel during the rainy season if at all possible. He invites White to come see him in Washington on his return from Richmond.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt updates Frederick Courteney Selous on the preparations for his Africa trip. He is giving caravan manager R. J. Cunninghame the “power commensurate with his responsibility,” and has directed him to hire support staff. Roosevelt wants to pay his bills before leaving for Africa, and asks Selous to request that they be sent over. He likes the double-barreled Holland rifle, and looks forward to seeing Selous on the steamer at Naples. In a postscript, he wonders if Selous could arrange for pipe tobacco to be sent to Nairobi for Kermit.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-04

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to R. J. Cunninghame

President Roosevelt instructs R. J. Cunninghame to hire anyone necessary for their trip, which will begin immediately after his arrival.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt provides Frederick Courteney Selous with an excerpt of a letter from Governor Frederick John Jackson which outlines a potential itinerary for his African safari. Jackson suggests starting at Alfred E. Pease’s ranch and staying close to Nairobi before going further afield. Roosevelt plans to amend the itinerary to make a loop into hunting grounds where J. H. Patterson hunted. Roosevelt expresses concern that reporters might try to arrange a caravan to follow him on his trip, and wonders if Jackson can prevent them from doing so.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt encloses a telegram from W. S. Rainsford, a New York sportsman staying with Frederick John Jackson, the lieutenant-governor of British East Africa. Roosevelt believes Rainsford’s view also represents how Jackson feels. He tells Frederick Courteney Selous that it appears they were wise to hire R. J. Cunninghame as the guide.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt is pleased to learn that Frederick Courteney Selous has engaged R. J. Cunninghame as head man for his upcoming hunting trip in Africa. He believes that they can get all the Shikari guides they need from William Northrup McMillan. He agrees with Selous’s suggestion of sending the boxes of provisions to Nairobi. Roosevelt notes that he would like to go straight to Alfred E. Pease’s ranch and not go to Nairobi until later, unless his friends think that would be inadvisable. He discusses several routes he might take to hunt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt is pleased to hear that Frederick Courteney Selous has written to R. J. Cunninghame about being head man on his upcoming trip to Africa. He is also glad to hear that William Northrup McMillan is willing to provide him with hunters for the trip. However, Roosevelt wants it made clear that Cunninghame has the final say on personnel on the trip. Roosevelt is glad he will have the opportunity to try to kill buffalo, but wants to make it clear that he is more focused on acquiring the main big game. He also clarifies that he does not aim to get record specimens but simply good ones.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt tells Frederick Courteney Selous that Sir Harry Johnston has been staying with him and has advised that he should find some Gulf Arabs to accompany him on his African trip. Johnston also has recommended a man to serve as shikari. Roosevelt inquires as to which Cunningham Selous wrote him about.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt has had a nice letter from William Northrup McMillan; he hopes that Frederick Courteney Selous will visit McMillan while he is in Africa, and that perhaps they can take the same steamer there. He will receive maps and itineraries from J. H. Patterson, Lieutenant-Governor Frederick John Jackson, and a German officer, all suggesting different trips and routes he can take. He sends Jackson’s and the German’s itineraries to Selous. Roosevelt will decide which exact trips he wants to take when he gets to Africa.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-02

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. H. Patterson

President Roosevelt would like J. H. Patterson to tell him when he and his wife can visit the White House. He is glad that Patterson is sending an itinerary of the journey he took, and that he can arrange for a native guide who knows the country. Roosevelt will ask his son Kermit about flashlights. Roosevelt is sending Patterson itineraries from Uganda Governor Frederick John Jackson, as well as from a German officer, for trips in Uganda and German East Africa.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-02

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt has heard from John Jay White that William C. Judd is an “admirable man in every way.” Roosevelt tells Frederick Courteney Selous that White believes that Roosevelt could trust his son Kermit to Judd on their African safari. He encloses copies of notes by Hubert Silberrad, including his thoughts on Judd and R. J. Cunninghame.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward North Buxton

President Roosevelt tells Edward North Buxton that the zoologist Surgeon Major Edgar Alexander Mearns will be accompanying him on his trip. Roosevelt discusses his plans for hunting in Africa and notes that only he and his son Kermit will be shooting on the trip. He discusses the different boots, supplies, and maps that Buxton has written him about, and asks about the Earl of Warwick, Leopold Guy Francis Maynard Greville, who has been to Africa and says he knows Buxton. Roosevelt is heartened to hear that Greville is fifty-five and in good health and says he felt good and had fun in Africa.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-23