Selous, Frederick Courteney, 1851-1917

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edmund Heller

President Roosevelt is pleased that Edmund Heller has agreed to join him and his son Kermit Roosevelt on the African safari. Heller will be joining J. Alden Loring and Edgar Alexander Mearns to work as a naturalist and collect zoological samples on the trip. Roosevelt clarifies that only he and Kermit will be shooting big game, as two rifles is the limit for a good hunt. Roosevelt also discusses the itinerary for the trip and the supplies that Heller, Loring, and Mearns will need to acquire for themselves.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Francis Richard Charles Guy Greville

President Roosevelt would like to have Francis Richard Charles Guy Greville, the Earl of Warwick, come to the White House and tell him about the big game in Africa. Roosevelt was especially pleased to hear that Warwick, at fifty-five, felt healthy and happy in British East Africa. Roosevelt himself is only fifty but has “led a very sedentary and harassing life,” and has “rather a game leg,” and acknowledges that his trip will have to be an “elderly gentleman’s trip.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-22

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. H. Patterson

President Roosevelt is finishing arrangements for his African safari with the help of Edward North Buxton and Frederick Courteney Selous. He discusses where he will hunt and notes that he would like to travel to where J. H. Patterson went last year, as he saw many animals there. He asks Patterson to tell him where it is and how long it would take to go there. Roosevelt hopes to see Patterson soon.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alfred E. Pease

In spite of Edward North Buxton’s assertion that it is a “fearful instance of effeminacy,” President Roosevelt has decided to follow the advice of Frederick Courteney Selous and hire a man to manage his caravan on his African safari. Roosevelt tells Sir Alfred E. Pease that he would like to hire R. J. Cunninghame or William Judd. Roosevelt explains that he would like to hire someone because he wants to devote his time to hunting and studying animals, and because it would make things easier for him. Roosevelt also discusses where he would like to hunt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-10-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward North Buxton

President Roosevelt asks Edward North Buxton several questions regarding boots, firearms, staff, and finances for his upcoming African safari. Roosevelt mentions that he is worried that his son Kermit Roosevelt might become ill with fever during the trip. Roosevelt asks Buxton to let him know if Count Ernst Karl Hoyos-Sprinzenstein, is able to visit him in Oyster Bay so he can show him his trophies and discuss the hunting trips Hoyos has written about. Roosevelt encloses some letters and asks Buxton about the status of the writers. In a handwritten postscript, Roosevelt expresses his excitement to see Africa.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alfred E. Pease

President Roosevelt heartily accepts Sir Alfred E. Pease’s invitation to stay at his ranch in Africa. Roosevelt gives many details and asks questions about his safari planning, including: his itinerary to Mombasa; game he would like to find; his lack of physical fitness and the necessity to start out slowly; how much money he should advance to various outfitters; pack horses and saddles; taxidermists and naturalists he plans to bring along; hunting rifles and ammunition for the trip.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-28

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick John Jackson

President Roosevelt consults Frederick John Jackson, Lieutenant-Governor of British East Africa, about his upcoming safari. Roosevelt plans to spend at least six months in British East Africa, and perhaps German East Africa, to collect specimens for the Smithsonian Institution. Roosevelt does not want to be a bother, but ventures to ask Jackson if he has any recommendations about where he should go to get porters, or which stores he should use for supplies. Roosevelt does not want any undue consideration when he is in Africa, as he will be a private citizen.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. H. Patterson

President Roosevelt thanks J. H. Patterson for the letter, saying that it told him exactly what he wanted to know. Roosevelt is very excited about his upcoming safari in Africa, and says he will follow Patterson’s advice to make his main trip British East Africa, and describes his plans there. Much of his hunting will be done for the Smithsonian Institution, with whom he is partnering for the trip, although he would like to take two or three trophies for his own use, if it is permitted. Roosevelt would be very glad if Patterson would be able to visit him at the White House before he leaves office, and describes a visit he had with some other people.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

Both President Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt were interested in Ambassador Reid’s previous letters, although Roosevelt is not sure what Rudyard Kipling meant by his remark comparing the people of South Africa to Filipinos. Secretary of War William H. Taft was successfully nominated at the Republican National Convention, although Roosevelt tells Reid that he had to step in to prevent a stampede to renominate him. Roosevelt asks if Reid would speak to someone in the government to arrange things for the African safari that he plans to take after leaving office. He would like permission to shoot some animals, as he plans to donate them to the Smithsonian Institute.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Otto Trevelyan

President Roosevelt writes to George Otto Trevelyan, reflecting on his time as President and his decision to not seek reelection. Roosevelt admits that there are arguments for him to run for another term as president, but believes that the arguments against are stronger. Roosevelt is proud that while in the presidency he has fully used the powers available to him and acted as a strong central executive, and is gratified by the love that the population has for him. Once he leaves the presidency, Roosevelt plans to go on safari in Africa. He would like to visit England and see his friends there if he could do so as a private citizen without being forced to attend to diplomatic affairs, but if this is not possible he might just return to the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

President Roosevelt encloses several letters for his son Kermit regarding their upcoming trip to Africa. Roosevelt discusses the guns that the two of them should bring, and tells Kermit that it is time to discuss when they should make the trip. He also includes a letter from Seth Bullock about the upcoming Republican National Convention. Roosevelt believes that Secretary of War William H. Taft can be nominated on the first ballot. Additionally, Roosevelt has heard from Endicott Peabody, the Rector of Groton school, and has decided that the best course of action regarding Archibald Roosevelt’s education is to hold him back a year.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. H. Patterson

President Roosevelt tells J. H. Patterson that he will likely be able to make the hunting trip in Africa. He describes the guns he hopes to bring, outlines his tentative travel plans, and discusses the game he would like to shoot. He asks Patterson to advise him “in rough fashion” about his plan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Sharp

President Roosevelt appreciates Henry Sharp’s letter, and thinks that the gun Sharp suggests is exactly what he wants for his African trip, but he would like to get opinions from Frederick Courteney Selous and Edward North Buxton before making a decision.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-15

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

President Roosevelt updates Kermit Roosevelt on the plans for an upcoming trip to Africa. He believes if it happens, Kermit will be able to complete his freshman year at Harvard before they go. He encloses material from Edward North Buxton and promises his son that whenever he goes to Africa, he will take him with him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward North Buxton

President Roosevelt discusses the potential timing of his trip to Africa, the game he would like to shoot, and the guns he plans to bring.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-05-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edward North Buxton

President Roosevelt sends Edward North Buxton his preferred itinerary for his trip to Africa. He would like to balance having plenty of time hunting in game country with other activities. Roosevelt also tells Buxton that his son Kermit will be coming on the trip.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. H. Patterson

President Roosevelt thanks J. H. Patterson for the copy of his book, and agrees that the lion story is truly excellent. Roosevelt is impressed with Edward North Buxton’s conservation efforts in East Africa, and wishes that he had the good fortune to take a hunting excursion there.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Harry Storey

President Roosevelt thanks Harry Storey for sending a copy of his book, Hunting and Shooting in Ceylon. Roosevelt has been corresponding with hunter Frederick Courteney Selous and hopes that he will write a book “on the natural history of big game.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles Robert Eustace Radclyffe

President Roosevelt would like Charles Robert Eustace Radclyffe to let him know as soon as he knows when he will arrive in Washington, D.C. Frederick Courteney Selous stayed for a few days last fall.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-03-03

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Alexander Angus Airlie Kinloch

President Roosevelt would like Alexander Angus Airlie Kinloch to send him an autographed copy of the latest edition of his book on hunting. He recently had a visit from Frederick Courteney Selous, and wants Selous to write about the natural history of big game as much as possible.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-02-12