Your TR Source
President Roosevelt sends a list of nominations for the Council of Fine Arts and encloses a copy of the executive order he issued to create such a council.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-18
President Roosevelt agrees with the American Institute of Architects’s suggestion to create a Council of Fine Arts to advise the government in matters relating to architecture, monuments, and the arts. He instructs the American Institute of Architects to compose a list of thirty men from around the country to serve as members of the Council, and expects that they will advocate for legislation to make the Council permanent. President Roosevelt also requests that the Council immediately report and advise on the creation of the Lincoln Memorial.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-11
President Roosevelt describes his appreciation of the artist Frederic Remington to Arthur W. Little. Roosevelt appreciates Remington’s depiction of a “vanishing type of American life,” notably the soldiers, cowboys, ranchers, and Native Americans of the American West. Roosevelt also remarks on Remington’s mastery of not only sculpture but also painting and literature.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-17
President Roosevelt agrees to meet with a sculptor at Dana Estes’ request, but explains that he would prefer to meet with the artist once he returns to Washington, D.C., after his vacation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-10
President Roosevelt tells Maurice Francis Egan that he wants to accept the bronze sculpture that John Boyle sent him. However, he does not feel that it would be fair to the competition, so he cannot accept it. Roosevelt wants Egan to contact Boyle to know how much the bronze figure costs so Roosevelt might discretely purchase it later.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-08
President Roosevelt shares with Senator Wetmore that he likes the work of the sculptor John Boyle and believes he should do the statue of John Barry.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-08
President Roosevelt agrees with John La Farge on creating a commission, although he admits he is still uncertain as to what La Farge is referring. Roosevelt agrees to appoint the commission if it is within his power but cannot act where the law “distinctly puts the authority somewhere else.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-09
President Roosevelt changed his mind and tells Maurice Francis Egan that if John Boyle’s entry is selected for the John Barry monument then he would like to accept the statuette that Boyle sent him.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-11
President Roosevelt introduces Andrew Carnegie to Alice Jones, who requests Carnegie commission a monument to be created by sculptor William Frederick MacMonnies. Roosevelt praises MacMonnies and fellow sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens as great artists who the current generation will be most indebted to.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-04-09
President Roosevelt asks Augustus Saint-Gaudens if it is wise to select Gutzon Borglum to do the work in question.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-20
Theodore Roosevelt sends sympathy on the death of Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, a sculptor.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-10-05
President Roosevelt encloses a letter from a sculptor for Andrew Carnegie to consider at his leisure. Roosevelt would like this artist to make a fountain for the Capitol, but has not been able to convince “a sufficient number of statesmen at the other end of the Avenue” to agree.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-04-18
President Roosevelt is interested in the work of Edward Kemeys, the sculptor. Roosevelt has heard that Kemeys is not to be allowed to exhibit at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition and asks Augustus Saint-Gaudens for further information.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-07-28
President Roosevelt sends a letter of introduction for sculptor Edward Kemeys.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-05-29
President Roosevelt introduces sculptor Edward Kemeys. Roosevelt is interested in acquiring a fountain by Kemeys for Washington, D.C., and asks Henry B. F. Macfarland for his assistance.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-05-29
Robert T. Walker shares with Theodore Roosevelt that he wishes Johannes S. Gelert, a sculptor he represents, to be considered for the memorial monument of George Rogers Clark to be built in Jefferson County, Kentucky. Walker praises Gelert’s past work and accomplishments. He would be pleased to share photographs of Gelert’s past work with Roosevelt, and Gelert would be pleased to create a sketch for the committee to consider.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-10-18
Maurice Francis Egan is delighted by President Roosevelt’s response. Egan has always been a fan of John Boyle’s work because he “does not mistake virility for brutality.” The John Barry commission was to be decided by a contest, and therefore, the statuette should not have been sent to Roosevelt. Boyle has insisted that if Roosevelt will not accept the statuette he sent to him, then he will not sell it. Egan will hold onto it and if Roosevelt wants to buy it later, he may.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-09
Maurice Francis Egan writes to President Roosevelt regarding the competition to produce a bronze sculpture of Commodore John Barry. John Boyle has sent Roosevelt a bronze model already and is attempting to sway the competition in his favor.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-07
Senator Wetmore writes to President Roosevelt, returning two letters, one from Emily Tuckerman and the other from Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Wetmore has written Saint-Gaudens regarding a sculptor to do a bust of the president, and he will notify Roosevelt when he receives a reply.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-04
Emily Tuckerman encourages President Roosevelt to take the advice of Augustus Saint-Gaudens regarding a prospective sculptor. She had no specific interest in the other man and had only forwarded his letter to Roosevelt out of good nature.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-02