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Safaris--Economic aspects

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Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

President Roosevelt has asked his safari guide R. J. Cunninghame to engage Leslie J. Tarlton. Roosevelt is concerned about the growing expense of the trip but does not want to disregard Cunninghame’s suggestions. He is also reluctant to allow anyone other than himself to shoot big game. Roosevelt is very busy with work leading up to the end of his presidency.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Dalzell

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Dalzell

President Roosevelt chides Representative Dalzell for remarks he made criticizing Roosevelt’s post-presidential safari trip. Roosevelt clarifies that he is paying for the safari himself, and that the Smithsonian’s contribution to the trip comes in the form of hiring three naturalists and taxidermists who will travel with Roosevelt for the purpose of preparing and shipping the animals that Roosevelt hunts, which will subsequently be donated to the Smithsonian’s collections. Roosevelt himself is not receiving anything from the government for going on his safari.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles D. Walcott

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles D. Walcott

President Roosevelt writes to Charles D. Walcott, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, to explain his plans for his African safari. Roosevelt plans to depart around April 1, which he says will put him in Mombasa by May 1. He plans to spend about ten months in Africa, and hopes to collect specimens for the Smithsonian Institution, not only of big game animals, but also of birds and smaller game. Roosevelt will make arrangements to publish a book chronicling his travels which should pay for his travels, but he would also like to bring along field taxidermists and naturalists to assist with the collection of animals, and he does not have the means to pay the way for their accompaniment. Roosevelt wonders if the Smithsonian would be able to hire the services of a field taxidermist. If it will not, Roosevelt says, he may be able to try to get a congressional appropriation, or see if the Carnegie Institute would be able to help.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-20

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from R. J. Cunninghame to Frederick Courteney Selous

Letter from R. J. Cunninghame to Frederick Courteney Selous

R. J. Cunninghame has recently returned from being on safari, and wishes to clarify a few points from his last letter to Frederick Courteney Selous now that he has the opportunity. Cunninghame discourages the hiring of Somali porters for President Roosevelt’s safari, as they will not be native to the country they are traveling through. While they are expert guides in their own country, bringing them on Roosevelt’s proposed route, Cunninghame says, will likely just result in increased expense for services that could be better done by other people. Additionally, Cunninghame believes strongly that Roosevelt should hire Leslie J. Tarlton as an additional safari guide. He suggests the importance of having another very competent person help manage the safari and be able to accompany Roosevelt or his son, Kermit Roosevelt, when they are out hunting.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-25

Creator(s)

Cunninghame, R. J. (Richard John), 1871-1925

Letter from Frederick Courteney Selous to Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from Frederick Courteney Selous to Theodore Roosevelt

Frederick Courteney Selous visited the offices of Lawn & Alder after receiving President Roosevelt’s last letter, and reports on the details of the visit, as well as other preparations for Roosevelt’s upcoming African safari. Selous gives details and advice on several topics, including: types of preserved food to bring; tents; the hiring and pay of “native” porters; medical supplies and health concerns; sun protection; climate; where to store gear during expeditions; and shipping. Selous advises Roosevelt to allow Lawn & Alder to take care of every detail, so that the trip is more of a holiday for him than a chore, and recommends William C. Judd as a manager for the “native” guides and porters. Finally, Selous reports that Edward North Buxton is seeing Lord Crewe about any other assistance Roosevelt might need.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-08

Creator(s)

Selous, Frederick Courteney, 1851-1917

Letter from Edward North Buxton to Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from Edward North Buxton to Theodore Roosevelt

Edward North Buxton provides President Roosevelt with extensive details and advice regarding his upcoming African safari, including: boots, rifle stocks, and rifle and sights Buxton is ordering; the logistical benefits of using Alfred E. Pease’s farm as a base from which to make smaller excursions; routes and timings for various side trips; the logistical benefits of two six-week excursions over one long three month excursion from Pease’s farm; the different types of country and where different types of game may be found; shipping and suppliers; opening a line of credit with Smith, Mackenzie & Co Ltd to purchase necessities in Africa.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-09

Creator(s)

Buxton, Edward North, 1840-1924

Letter from Alfred E. Pease to Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from Alfred E. Pease to Theodore Roosevelt

Alfred E. Pease tells President Roosevelt it is a pleasure and an honor to help him with his trip to British East Africa and includes details and recommendations on several topics, including: depositing money into the National Bank of India in Nairobi to purchase horses and saddles; the best binoculars and telescopes; location and types of game; camping equipment, including baths and candles; and how to avoid mosquitoes. Pease assures Roosevelt he need not worry about being out of shape.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-11

Creator(s)

Pease, Alfred E. (Alfred Edward), Sir, 1857-1939

Letter from Percy C. Madeira to Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from Percy C. Madeira to Theodore Roosevelt

Percy C. Madeira sends President Roosevelt details related to his upcoming African safari, answering many of his previous questions. Madeira mentions several books for Roosevelt to read, and recommends the best sources for maps of the region. He also outlines some short trips for Roosevelt to start out with after arriving in Mombasa, with Roosevelt’s goal of shooting various types of gazelles in mind. Madeira says that four or five months is ample time for his main safari. Madeira makes suggestions for Roosevelt’s Nile trip, including contacts for outfitters, recommendations for shipping equipment, and notes about climate and servants. Finally, Madeira warns Roosevelt that due to his status, he might be quoted very high prices by various vendors, and offers to keep his name secret to get better prices.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-30

Creator(s)

Madeira, Percy C. (Percy Childs), 1862-1942

Letter from Cyrus Adler to Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from Cyrus Adler to Theodore Roosevelt

Cyrus Adler, acting secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, confirms receipt of President Roosevelt’s letter addressed to Charles D. Walcott, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. Walcott has recently left Washington, D.C., to spend time in the field, but the letter will be forwarded to him at once. Adler thanks Roosevelt for giving the Smithsonian Institution preference in receiving any specimens he collects on his safari, and asks that Roosevelt not communicate with any other museum until Walcott has a chance to receive the forwarded letter and respond. While Adler cannot promise anything, he feels justified saying that it is likely that the men and money necessary for Roosevelt’s trip will be forthcoming.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-23

Creator(s)

Adler, Cyrus, 1863-1940