San Francisco Earthquake (California : 1906)

Letter from L. J. Wright to Theodore Roosevelt

L. J. Wright is glad to have seen Theodore Roosevelt again and shares the “many strange things” that have occurred since she last saw him in Springfield, Illinois. She hopes that Roosevelt will be able to help her sons better positions and wages. She informs Roosevelt that she and her family feel that “every thing goes wrong since you are no longer at the head of the nation.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-06

Creator(s)

Wright, L. J.

Letter from Homer N. Bryant to Theodore Roosevelt

Homer N. Bryant expresses his deep admiration for Theodore Roosevelt, and would have liked to meet him while he was on the West coast. Because of Roosevelt’s busy schedule, however, Bryant simply sends him a letter introducing himself and wishing Roosevelt well.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-28

Creator(s)

Bryant, Homer N., 1843-

The address of John L. Hamilton

In an address to the American Bankers Association, John L. Hamilton comments on the growth of the organization’s annual conventions, the enlargement of the executive council, and the organization’s aid sent for the San Francisco Earthquake relief effort. Hamilton then discusses the need for bank examinations to help deter bank failures, the responsibility the press bears for sensationalizing such failures, and his opposition to federal, state, or municipal ownership of public utilities. He praises President Roosevelt and Secretary of the Treasury Leslie M. Shaw for their leadership in financial matters, which has supported the country’s rapid growth. He believes new federal laws are needed to ensure this continues, and he urges members of the association to work for legislation that is in the interests of the country as a whole.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10

Creator(s)

Hamilton, John L. (John Lawrence), 1862-1927

Telegram from Alvey A. Adee to William Loeb

Theodore Roosevelt’s telegram to Germán Riesco, President of Chile, has been cabled. The Chilean government expressed sympathy for the San Francisco Earthquake, but did not offer financial support.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-20

Creator(s)

Adee, Alvey A. (Alvey Augustus), 1842-1924

Letter from Presley Marion Rixey to Theodore Roosevelt

Surgeon General of the Navy, Presley Marion Rixey, writes to President Roosevelt while he is in transit to Honolulu with Governor Carter. The ship is half full because of the recent earthquake and fire in San Francisco, but Rixey is confident that the city will soon recover. Rixey also informs Roosevelt that he has studied the naval station at Yerba Buena and will be making a full report on needed sanitary reforms shortly.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-29

Creator(s)

Rixey, Presley Marion, 1852-1928

Letter from F. P. Stearns to Joseph Hopkins Millard

F. P. Stearns compares the design of the Panama Canal locks to a concrete dam in San Francisco, California, as a method to evaluate the canal’s integrity in the event of an earthquake.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-21

Creator(s)

Stearns, F. P. (Frederic Pike), 1851-1919

Letter from James Franklin Bell to Theodore Roosevelt

James Franklin Bell, Chief of Staff of the War Department, returns a revised draft of a letter to the Secretary of War from President Roosevelt. He has reviewed the letter regarding the conduct of the Army in San Francisco and recommends it be sent upon receipt of the Secretary’s report on San Francisco, as it will be beneficial to the Army and well deserved.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-10

Creator(s)

Bell, James Franklin, 1856-1919

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft sends President Roosevelt an account of the San Francisco earthquake and General Frederick Funston’s handling of the crisis. Taft states that he does not know of any objections to publishing the account, which was written by George M. Dunn, the Judge-Advocate of the Department of California.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-06

Creator(s)

Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930

Letter from Melville Elijah Stone to William Loeb

Melville Elijah Stone of the Associated Press informs President Roosevelt’s secretary, William Loeb, that his organization did not receive a copy of Roosevelt’s speech on disaster relief for San Francisco until nearly two hours after it had been given to other news organizations. While he assumes it was unintentional, Stone tells Loeb that it was “pretty severe on us.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-05-05

Creator(s)

Stone, Melville Elijah, 1848-1929

Telegram from Victor Howard Metcalf to Theodore Roosevelt

Victor Howard Metcalf updates President Roosevelt on the conditions following the earthquake in San Fransisco, California.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-26

Creator(s)

Metcalf, Victor Howard, 1853-1936

Letter from Cecil Spring Rice to Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt

Cecil Spring Rice thanks Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt for her letter and gives personal updates on his life. He wishes he could bring his wife to see Roosevelt, but she is in London and is expecting a baby soon. Spring Rice wishes he could be with her, but is doing his duty in St. Petersburg. He comments on the state of politics in Russia, particularly between Sergei Witte and Pyotr Durnovo. The Emperor believes the army is loyal to him, but Spring Rice believes that the situation will not last very long and that a revolution will come sooner or later. He mentions the San Francisco earthquake, commenting on how well the military responded and how quickly the city is likely to be rebuilt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-25

Creator(s)

Spring Rice, Cecil, Sir, 1859-1918

Letter from Henry L. Einstein to Theodore Roosevelt

Henry L. Einstein expresses his concern to President Roosevelt regarding distribution of funds to the Red Cross for California victims of the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. He suggests sending General Humphrey to San Francisco to administer aid directly.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-24

Creator(s)

Einstein, Henry L., 1849-1918

Letter from John St. Loe Strachey to Theodore Roosevelt

John St. Loe Strachey sends his condolences to President Roosevelt for the San Francisco earthquake. Strachey also discusses ways to prevent monopolies and a new company in the British army.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-23

Creator(s)

Strachey, John St. Loe, 1860-1927

Letter from William Emlen Roosevelt to Theodore Roosevelt

William Emlen Roosevelt tells President Roosevelt that he agrees it would be unwise for the President to speak out on the strike matter and the “other questions at the present time.” The San Francisco disaster has pushed everything else out of mind for the past few days. Emlen Roosevelt was also in Oyster Bay and went over the land. He hopes Ted is all right, but has been unable to determine if he needed a second surgery.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-23

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, William Emlen, 1857-1930

Letter from David Starr Jordan to Theodore Roosevelt

The earthquake caused significant damage to Stanford University. David Starr Jordan, Stanford’ s president, will be unable to go on the planned expedition to Japan since he must stay at Stanford during the summer. Jordan has asked his colleague, Professor Gilbert, to assume Jordan’s responsibilities on the expedition.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-20

Creator(s)

Jordan, David Starr, 1851-1931

Red Cross flyer

This flyer from the Brooklyn Division of the American Red Cross follows the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and includes an appeal from President Roosevelt. He implores all Americans to channel their charitable urges towards the Red Cross because they are more capable of helping victims of the earthquake than other organizations. Governor Higgins of New York adds a similar appeal.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-19

Creator(s)

American Red Cross

Report on the causes of municipal corruption in San Francisco

Various forms of graft, fraud, and bribery were committed by San Francisco mayor Eugene Schmitz and members of the Board of Supervisors. Following trials of many offenders, a report is published on the causes of the corruption and recommendations made on how to prevent municipal corruption in the future.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-01-05

Creator(s)

Denman, William, 1872-1959; French, Will J. (Will John), 1871-; Gibbons, Henry, 1840-1911; Goldstein, Alexander, 1861-1921; Guthrie, William K. (William Kirk), 1868-1954; Kent, William, 1895-1964

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to Eugene E. Schmitz

President Roosevelt tells San Francisco Mayor Eugene E. Schmitz that he is horrified by the catastrophe that has befallen San Francisco, and pledges that the Federal Government will help however it can.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-18

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919