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Photograph of Harold Lyle Schafer throwing water on the front of the Rough Riders Hotel in Medora, North Dakota to cool down a brand mark he placed above the doorway.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1969-06
Jim Fuglie lavishes Rolf Sletten’s Medora: Boom, Bust, and Resurrection with praise in his brief review. Fuglie lists some of the familiar Badlands characters who make appearances, and he focuses on the efforts of North Dakota businessman Harold Lyle Schafer to bring Medora, North Dakota, back to life as a tourist destination. The book’s front cover illustration, two photographs of Theodore Roosevelt’s Maltese Cross cabin, two photographs of landmark buildings in Medora rebuilt by Schafer, and a letter from Roosevelt to his first wife Alice Lee Roosevelt enhance the essay.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
2013
P. James Roosevelt confers the Theodore Roosevelt Distinguished Service Medal on Harold Lyle Schafer and Sheila Schafer. Roosevelt quotes extensively from Theodore Roosevelt in his remarks in which he notes the philanthropic work done by the Schafers, the roots of their success in the Gold Seal Company, and their restoration of the town of Medora, North Dakota.
A photograph of the Schafers with Roosevelt and William Davison Johnston of the Theodore Roosevelt Association accompanies the citation. A text box with the “Vision Statement of the Theodore Roosevelt Association” supplements the speech.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
1983-10-27
Obituary for Harold Lyle Shafer who resurrected the town of Medora, North Dakota, and transformed it into the number one tourist attraction in North Dakota. The obituary traces Shafer’s hard scrabble childhood, his family’s frequent moves, and his relentless hard work, and it follows the rise and success of his Gold Seal Company, the vehicle he used to transform Medora. The obituary highlights his generosity, and it notes many of the awards he received in his lifetime, including those from the state of North Dakota and the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA).
In addition to a photograph of Shafer and his wife Sheila Shafer, two text boxes supplement the obituary: one notes that this issue of the journal is dedicated to Shafer while the other promotes the TRA’s website.
Report on the Roosevelt family reunion held in Bismarck and Medora, North Dakota. The report notes that the group was hosted by Ed Schafer, the governor of North Dakota, and was accompanied by historians John A. Gable and Douglas Brinkley. The report highlights and lists the Roosevelt family members who have contributed to a fund established by the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) to support a lecture series in honor of P. James Roosevelt. A photograph of the group assembled in Medora appears on the first page of the report.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
1997
The “News and Notes” section highlights the expansion of the Theodore Roosevelt Association’s (TRA) Public Speaking Contests and Police Awards to Long Island, New York, and it provides notices of the deaths of three TRA members who served on the association’s Board of Trustees. The section also notes an upcoming PBS documentary on Theodore Roosevelt, considers the operation of Sagamore Hill in the face of budget cuts, and includes a recollection of Roosevelt by Frank Ross McCoy, a former President of the TRA.
Four photographs, two from the ceremonies marking the TRA Police Award for New York City, supplement the text.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
1994-1995
John A. Gable reviews Douglas Brinkley’s The Majic Bus: An American Odyssey and highlights the work’s section on Medora, North Dakota. Gable notes that some of the royalties from the sale of the book will go to the Theodore Roosevelt Association, and he quotes at length from Brinkley’s call for a return to basics in teaching American history. The review is followed by an excerpt from The Majic Bus. “Book Notes” also discusses the conferring of the 1993 Theodore and Franklin D. Roosevelt Naval History Prize to Brinkley and his co-author Townsend Hoopes for their biography of James Forrestal, and it lists all of the recipients of the prize from 1986 to 1993. The section also includes a meditation of Theodore Roosevelt by William Hard in which he asserts that Roosevelt’s magnetic personality could transform the ordinary into the “immortally interesting.”
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
1993
Robert D. Dalziel speaks on the occasion of being elected 12th President of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA). He recalls the beginning of his interest in Theodore Roosevelt, as well as his involvement with the TRA and how the TRA has developed. The TRA has grown greatly and strengthened its ties with a number of Roosevelt-related sites, and Dalziel hopes to continue growing the membership of the TRA across the country. Other areas that Dalziel hopes to focus on include putting the TRA on a firmer financial footing and enhancing the scholarly reputation of the TRA.
Accompanying Dalziel’s speech is a brief list of recent recipients of the TRA’s Theodore Roosevelt Distinguished Service Medal, and photographs of President George Bush interacting with members of the TRA at a lecture by David G. McCullough.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
1990
Much of this edition of the “News and Notes” column is dedicated to a report on the annual meeting and dinner of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) held in Dallas, Texas, in October 1988. The report notes the meeting of the Board of Trustees, highlights the annual election of the leadership of the TRA, and discusses the various talks and reports presented at the meeting. The column details the opening of a special exhibit at the DeGolyer Library at Southern Methodist University, “The Incredible Teddy Roosevelt,” that comes from the Theodore Roosevelt collection of Lawrence H. Budner and Doris Albert Budner of Dallas, and it quotes from various Dallas newspaper editorials on Theodore Roosevelt.
The column also announces that the 1989 TRA Annual Meeting will be held at the Roosevelt Study Center in the Netherlands and notes the publication of a previously unpublished article by Roosevelt, “Sou’-Sou’ Southerly,” in Gray’s Sporting Journal. The column includes Roosevelt related news from Buffalo, New York, Bethlehem, New Hampshire, and from the USS Theodore Roosevelt. “News and Notes” concludes with John A. Gable’s speaking engagements and reminders about Roosevelt related publications available from Meckler Publishing, including a reissue of the Theodore Roosevelt Cyclopedia.
The column features seven photographs of guests at the TRA annual dinner, a portrait painting of Roosevelt, and a photograph of the Budners in their Dallas home. An illustration of both sides of the TRA medallion appears on the last page of the column.
This edition of “News and Notes” features an obituary of Jessica Van Ausdall Kraft who served as the personal secretary to Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, Curator of Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, and in various roles with the Theodore Roosevelt Association. The section also explains the decision of Harold and Sheila Schafer of Medora, North Dakota, to found the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation to run the various motels and shops in the tourist town formerly run by Harold Schafer’s Gold Seal Company. “News and Notes” closes with an announcement about a new musical, “Teddy and Alice,” which depicts the life of President Theodore Roosevelt and his daughter Alice Roosevelt Longworth in the White House.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
1987
This edition of “News and Notes” opens with coverage of the commissioning of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. A letter from Captain Paul W. Parcells, Commanding Officer of the ship, praises the work of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) in making the commissioning a success. The section also discusses the thirteen flags donated by the TRA to the carrier. Each flag of the city, state, or entity is identified and is followed by a brief paragraph about its history and meaning to Theodore Roosevelt. The individual responsible for donating the flag is also noted. A notice about a new prize, the Roosevelts Gold Medal, awarded by the New York Council of the Navy League of the United States, also features in the section.
“News and Notes” reviews the plans of Prism Entertainment to issue a video cassette of the film “The Indomitable Teddy Roosevelt,” and it notes that the company will establish a fund to promote historical and environmental films, and will donate money to the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Fund at the American Museum of Natural History. The section also highlights two recent publications by John A. Gable, Editor of the TRA Journal, and it quotes from a letter from President Ronald Reagan on the occasion of the opening of the Roosevelt Study Center in the Netherlands. “News and Notes” closes by quoting from three letters by members of the TRA praising its work.
Six photographs appear in “News and Notes”: two depict scenes of the carrier’s commissioning; three show Roosevelt, one in a dynamic speaking pose and two with members of the United States Navy; and one shows dignitaries at the opening of the Roosevelt Study Center. An illustration of both sides of the TRA medallion also appears in the section.
Report on the ceremonies and events surrounding the commissioning of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt from October 24 to October 28, 1986 in Newport News, Virginia. The report covers the work of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) in raising funds and supplies for the ship’s crew and lists many of the members of the TRA who facilitated the work. The report also discusses the annual dinner of the TRA held on board the ship, the commissioning of the carrier, the ecumenical religious services held on board the ship, and the two balls held for the ship’s crew. The report names the descendants of Theodore Roosevelt who attended the commissioning, highlights the organization of a ship’s museum dedicated to Roosevelt, and covers the history of other U.S. Navy ships named Theodore Roosevelt.
Five photographs depicting the construction and commissioning of the carrier appear in the report. A brief notice in an article box about the TRA and its journal appears on the fourth page of the report.
William Davison Johnston, President of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA), explains that the commissioning of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt will be funded and overseen by the TRA. Johnston details the many components of the commissioning, including providing commemorative gifts for the crew, supplying the ship and its crew with books, movies, and athletic equipment, and aiding in the design and outfitting of an onboard museum devoted to Theodore Roosevelt. Johnston lists the members of the commissioning committee as well as the heads of the five subcommittees, and he notes that the TRA has rented space solely to manage the many aspects of the commissioning scheduled for October 27, 1986.
The article includes a column “Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) Facts and Figures” that lists forty different aspects about the ship such as her length, and it also includes a listing of the officers of the TRA as well as the members of its executive committee. Photographs of the carrier and of Roosevelt appear in the article.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
1986
History of the Theodore Roosevelt Distinguished Service Medal awarded by the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA). The article highlights twenty-one of the winners, lists the thirteen different fields of endeavor for which individuals are honored, and details the design of the medal by James Earle Fraser. It also discusses the various venues at which the Medal has been awarded. An illustration of both sides of the medal accompanies the article.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
1985
Report on the 65th Annual Dinner and Meeting of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) held in Williamsburg, Virginia, on October 27, 1984, following the launch of the USS Theodore Roosevelt. The report quotes from the address given by the President of the TRA, William Davison Johnston, and from the letter sent to the TRA by President Ronald Reagan. The report lists many of the guests in attendance, including Theodore Roosevelt historians and biographers, employees of the National Park Service, and members of the Roosevelt family. It also reviews the financial state of the TRA, noting that it had run a deficit for the past two fiscal years, covers the election of officers, and notes the changes implemented to the Board of Trustees. The report concludes with a review of gifts given to the leadership of the USS Theodore Roosevelt.
A photograph of Roosevelt with his granddaughter Grace Roosevelt and three photographs of various guests, dignitaries, and members of the Roosevelt family at the annual dinner accompany the report.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
1985
This article provides a biography of each of the winners of the 1983 Theodore Roosevelt Distinguished Service Medal. Three paragraphs cover the four winners: Captain Edward L. Beach, Ambassador Philip C. Habib, Harold Lyle Schafer, and Sheila Schafer. The paragraphs provide highlights of the careers of each of the winners. Each of the paragraphs is accompanied by a photograph of the medal recipient(s).
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
1984
P. James Roosevelt confers the Theodore Roosevelt Distinguished Service Medal on Harold Lyle Schafer and Sheila Schafer. Roosevelt quotes extensively from Theodore Roosevelt in his remarks in which he notes the philanthropic work done by the Schafers, the roots of their success in the Gold Seal Company, and their restoration of the town of Medora, North Dakota.
A photograph of the Schafers with Roosevelt and William Davison Johnston of the Theodore Roosevelt Association accompanies the citation.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
1983-10-27
John A. Gable provides a brief history of the Theodore Roosevelt Distinguished Service Medal awarded by the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA). Gable highlights twenty-one of the winners, lists the thirteen different fields of endeavor for which individuals are honored, and details the design of the medal by James Earle Fraser. Gable also discusses the various venues at which the Medal has been awarded.
A photograph of TRA President William Davison Johnston presenting the Theodore Roosevelt Distinguished Service Medal to Captain Edward L. Beach is found on the second page of the article.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal
1984
John A. Gable gives a detailed report on the annual dinner of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) held on the 125th anniversary of Theodore Roosevelt’s birth on October 27, 1983, at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Gable provides some history about the Museum, quotes from the address given by President Ronald Reagan, and lists some of the various dignitaries and politicians who sent messages to the assembled guests. An excerpt from the speech given by the TRA President, William Davison Johnston, the presentation of a check to the American Museum of Natural History, and the awarding of the Theodore Roosevelt Distinguished Service Medal to four individuals are also covered in detail. Gable also lists many of the guests, including members of the Roosevelt family, and closes with remarks on some of the other events held to mark the 125th anniversary of Roosevelt’s birth.
Seven photographs of various guests, speakers, award winners, and members of the TRA leadership accompany the article. Photographs of the equestrian statue of Theodore Roosevelt in front of the American Museum of Natural History and of President Ronald Reagan addressing the dinner guests on a video screen are also found in the article.
A listing of the officers of the TRA, along with the members of its executive, finance, and Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace committees, is found on the article’s second page.
This four page edition of “News and Notes” is divided into six sections and is mostly concerned with a series of celebrations and commemorations of the 125th anniversary of Theodore Roosevelt’s birth. The article details the celebrations held in Indianapolis, Indiana, in New York State in New York City, Oyster Bay, and Buffalo, and at Harvard University. The Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace hosted events as did the American Museum of Natural History. Oyster Bay held a parade while the Indianapolis gathering saw the planting of a tree at the home of Roosevelt’s Vice President, Charles W. Fairbanks. The meeting at the American Museum of Natural History saw the awarding of the Theodore Roosevelt Distinguished Service Medal to four recipients. A dinner was held in Buffalo while at Harvard, John Morton Blum gave a lecture.
The article also discusses the 1983 Theodore Roosevelt Public Speaking Contest for the New York City public high schools held at the Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace, and it details the premiere of the documentary film The Indomitable Teddy Roosevelt at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. “News and Notes” closes with an obituary for Helen M. MacLachlan who worked for both the Theodore Roosevelt Association and the National Park Service at the Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace in New York City.
A photograph from the Oyster Bay parade and two photographs of members of the Roosevelt family at Theodore Roosevelt Island in Washington, D.C., are included in the article.