Your TR Source
Theodore Roosevelt enjoyed reading Courtship of Animals. Roosevelt would not have sent W. P. Pycraft his book if he had known that war was about to break out.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1914-10-05
Theodore Roosevelt shares his observations on animal coloration with C. Hart Merriam and asks where he can get some of Merriam’s lectures on protective coloration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1913-04-09
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-07
President Roosevelt places R. J. Cunninghame in charge of managing his safari caravan, and details his expectations for the trip. Roosevelt wants to begin hunting as quickly as possible after arriving in British East Africa and spending several weeks at Alfred E. Pease’s ranch to improve his physical fitness. Cunninghame should hire the necessary support staff and porters at his discretion. Roosevelt wants to hunt some of the “common game” near the railroad so that their skins can be easily transported, but he also hopes to kill big game and is willing to “go to any trouble” to do so.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-31
President Roosevelt requests that Newland, Tarlton & Company deliver the enclosed letter to his caravan manager, R. J. Cunninghame, who has instructions to buy supplies from them. Roosevelt will bring six rifles to supplement those that W. S. Rainsford left for him, and he has already sent two lots of ammunition ahead.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-31
President Roosevelt is pleased with the double barreled .450 Edward North Buxton sent him as a gift from a number of people. Roosevelt discusses the amount of cartridges he would need for hunting game in Africa, will try to take care of himself on the trip and asks if there is any way he could thank all the gun donors. In a handwritten postscript, Roosevelt declares that even Holland has not made a better rifle; it fits him exactly and he will personally take it to Africa.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-27
President Roosevelt was pleased to learn from Frederick Courteney Selous that R. J. Cunninghame had been hired to lead his upcoming African safari. He explains his current plans for the trip, hunting through East Africa for eight or nine months and then meeting boats at Gondokoro and traveling down the Nile River. Roosevelt hopes to hunt some big game to be given as specimens to the National Museum, but does not wish to indiscriminately slaughter animals while he is there. He would also like to avoid hunting in the vicinity of Nairobi, as there are sure to be newspapermen, and instead plans to head to the ranches of Sir Alfred E. Pease and Sir William Northrup McMillan at first. Roosevelt asks Cunninghame to communicate with Smith, Mackenzie & Co., and Newland, Tarlton & Co. to find out when his supplies reach Africa, and to make any arrangements necessary.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-26
President Roosevelt hopes that by sending this letter care of Frederick Courteney Selous it will reach William Northrup McMillan, as he fears the ones sent to McMillan’s London address have not reached him. Roosevelt would be very pleased to visit McMillan’s ranch after he leaves Alfred E. Pease’s ranch. He asks McMillan to communicate with R. J. Cunninghame about the need for shikaris for the caravan, as he will be managing that for Roosevelt. Roosevelt recently had lunch with Sir John L. Harrington and Lady Amy McMillan Harrington. Roosevelt would like for McMillan to come spend a night at the White House before he leaves for Africa, if that is at all possible.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-26
President Roosevelt has spoken with a number of people about his upcoming African safari, and informs Alfred E. Pease of his plans as they now stand.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-26
President Roosevelt agrees with Edward North Buxton regarding the cartridge size, and thinks Buxton is correct about sending him the rifle to try. Roosevelt sends Buxton his head measurements for a pith helmet, and asks him to order various other necessary supplies to have sent to Mombasa. Roosevelt recently spoke with Francis Richard Charles Guy Greville, Lord Warwick, who seemed to be “a good fellow.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-26
President Roosevelt tells Edward North Buxton that with the election of president-elect William H. Taft successfully concluded he can go abroad with “a clear conscience and an easy heart.” Roosevelt sends Buxton a copy of a letter he received, and asks for Buxton’s opinion on several matters raised by the author of the letter, primarily in reference to the sorts of guns and traveling supplies Roosevelt will bring with him on safari. Roosevelt asks Buxton to procure some of the mentioned supplies.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-01
President Roosevelt was very interested in John St. Loe Strachey’s article about American ex-Presidents, although he is not sure if he entirely agrees with him about his own particular position. After leaving the presidency Roosevelt is looking forward to being an entirely private citizen once more, and says it would be “an unpleasant thing to be pensioned and given some honorary position.” He plans to go on a hunting safari in Africa, write for The Outlook, and, in the case of war, would like to serve in another volunteer cavalry division if he is still physically fit. Roosevelt does acknowledge, however, that his position is somewhat unique, and that the issue of how to support ex-presidents still stands in the abstract. He hopes to see Strachey sometime when he visits England, as well as Evelyn Baring Cromer and Frederick Courteney Selous.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-28
President Roosevelt cannot accept N. J. Elwes’s invitation out of hand because his stay in England will be so short, and does not want to make any plans at present that are not connected to his delivery of the Romanes Lecture at the University of Oxford. However, he would like to see Elwes, along with Frederick Courteney Selous, St. George Littledale, Edward North Buxton, and John Guille Millais.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-20
President Roosevelt thanks Ambassador Reid for what he said to Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes, and will accept the offer of the special shooting license for himself and his son Kermit. He is glad that Crewe-Milnes understands that he does not want a fuss in Nairobi when he first arrives. Roosevelt wants to go directly to Mombasa, and from there to Alfred E. Pease’s ranch. Roosevelt also states that Reid’s feeling about the complications in the Balkans was justified, and that what Reid heard about his answer to the women’s suffrage people is true. He is amused with the cartoon of himself and the article on Reid, and shares Reid’s feeling on caricatures.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-17
President Roosevelt thanks James J. Harrison for writing to Frederick Courtney Selous. He is interested in Harrison’s suggestion that he should not waste time hunting for elephants in British East Africa, and should instead go to Uganda, and then on the Nile.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-12
President Roosevelt tells Alfred E. Pease that he will go to his ranch first upon arriving in Africa and afterward go to William Northrup McMillan’s. Roosevelt discusses Abel Chapman’s book on hunting and is concerned that he will have trouble getting wildebeest and hartebeest due to his poor skill at long-range shooting. He would also like to discuss with the Belgians the best locations for him to shoot a white rhinoceros.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-06
President Roosevelt writes glowingly to Abel Chapman about his book on hunting in Africa. However, the book makes him feel concerned that he will only get a wildebeest or hartebeest by sheer luck. He was reassured, though, that Chapman was over fifty when he took his trip. Roosevelt does note that he has had “an absolutely sedentary life” and that his trip to Africa will be “a very elderly-gentleman’s performance.” He hopes to see Chapman in 1910 when he gives the Romanes Lecture at Oxford.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-08
President Roosevelt thanks Lieutenant-Governor Jackson for his letter and advice on which outfitters to use on his trip to Africa. Roosevelt outlines his initial travel plans, and encloses an itinerary from a German officer, on which he asks Jackson’s opinion. He discusses the many kinds of animals that he and his son Kermit Roosevelt would like to shoot, and assures Jackson that the majority of the trophies will be for the National Museum. Roosevelt asks advice on the types of formal clothes to bring to Africa.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-02
President Roosevelt thanks Sir William Northrup McMillan for his letter, and the invitation to stay at his ranch while on safari in British East Africa. Roosevelt outlines his initial travel plans and arrangements, and believes he will stay with McMillan after he visits Alfred E. Pease’s ranch. He discusses the different types of big game he would like himself and his son Kermit to shoot, but clarifies that his intent is to collect specimens for the National Museum, rather than to butcher game.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-11-02
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-10-23