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President Roosevelt discusses literature and a visit from his friends from North Dakota, the Sewall family and Mrs. Dow and her son. He lists all the attractions they saw in Washington, D.C., and who they met. Roosevelt relates that he has a cold but is very busy, and met the new French ambassador.
1903-02-08
Theodore Roosevelt writes to his sister Anna about an upcoming hunting trip to the Rockies. He is not looking forward to the trip and may stop in Mandan, North Dakota, on his way home to visit his friends, the Selmes. Bill Sewall and Wilmot Dow have sons now.
1886-08-20
Theodore Roosevelt thanks his sister Anna for the toys she sent for Bill Sewall’s child. The round-up is finished and he is nearly finished with his book, Thomas Hart Benton. He has been offered a position as a teacher and he feels sorry for “Lizzie.”
1886-06-28
Theodore Roosevelt writes to his sister Anna about being on the round-up. He also recounts Bill Sewall’s reaction to visiting Anna’s home. She treated him very well.
1886-06-07
Theodore Roosevelt thanks his sister Anna for the news clippings she recently sent. He comments on how much he respects the “hardworking, labouring men” that work for him on his ranch. Roosevelt also asks Anna if she could possibly send some toys for Bill Sewall’s daughter who currently has none.
1886-05-15
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Anna Roosevelt about a recent encounter with a band of thieves. He, Bill Sewall, and Wilmot Dow hunted them down and turned them over to the sheriff. Roosevelt also discusses Leo Tolstoy’s book, Anna Karenina.
1886-04-12
Theodore Roosevelt tells his sister Anna that he arrived safely at Chimney Butte Ranch. He set off for the other ranch and was forced to spend the night in an abandoned hut. He was glad to see Bill Sewall and Will Dow again and is looking into starting a stockmen’s association. Roosevelt would like Anna to send him three or four blank checks from his checkbook as he needs them immediately.
1884-11-23
Theodore Roosevelt writes his sister Anna about happenings on his ranch. Everything has been going well with the cattle and he will be heading to the Bighorn Mountains in a few days. He was so glad to bring his two “backwoods babies” out with him, Bill Sewall and Will Dow. He thinks it will be a good many years before he gets back into politics.
1884-08-12
Theodore Roosevelt’s branding marks for Chimney Butte Ranch (“Maltese Cross Ranch”) and Elkhorn Ranch illustrated and described in the Stockgrowers’ Journal in Miles City, Montana.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1884
Diary of Theodore Roosevelt for the year 1884. Includes entry regarding the deaths of his wife and mother on February 14, with the statement, “The light has gone out of my life.” Also, the diary describes Roosevelt’s hunting and ranching experiences for the year in the Dakota Badlands. A list of photographs taken and his personal finance record is also included in the back of the diary. Only pages on which text appeared are included.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1884
Hermann Hagedorn’s 1919 silent film in which he interviews former friends of Theodore Roosevelt’s from his time in the North Dakota Badlands. Included are images of Medora, North Dakota, in 1919 and a cattle roundup. W. W. Reid was the principal photographer and the film was sponsored by the Roosevelt Memorial Association (Theodore Roosevelt Association).
Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound
1919
Theodore Roosevelt writes to his sister from the Lee residence, where he is visiting. He informs his sister of his upcoming plans to go to Maine and recounts his activities of the past few days, including visits and recreation with the Lees, Whitneys, and Staltonstalls. Roosevelt also mentions the books that we wants for his birthday.
1879-08-22
Theodore Roosevelt writes his sister Anna about hiking and camping in Maine. He describes some of the problems they have encountered as well as some of the more enjoyable parts of the trip.
1879-09-14
Theodore Roosevelt gives details about the current adventure he is on in Maine to his sister Anna. He includes information about the people that are on the trip with him, including cousin Emlen Roosevelt. He mentions that he is surprisingly stronger than the other two men, the flies are really bad, and he has lost one of his shoes.
1879-09-04
Nancy Sewall Cunningham visits a display about her father, William Wingate Sewall, along with her husband, Maurice Vaughn Cunningham (right), and Arthur A. Henderson (left) in the South Unit visitor center of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1959
Photograph of the “Foreman from Maine” interpretive display discussing Elkhorn Ranch manager William Wingate Sewall in the South Unit visitor center of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1967-03-30
Photograph of an informational display entitled “Roosevelt in North Dakota,” which discusses Theodore Roosevelt’s time in the badlands; museum exhibit #18 in the South Unit visitor center of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1967-03-30
Left to right: Wilmot Dow, Theodore Roosevelt and William Wingate Sewall at the Elkhorn Ranch. Dow has a fur coat over his left arm, Roosevelt holds a rifle and wears chaps, and Sewall wears a long fur coat.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1884
Historian Ray H. Mattison reports on his study of the authenticity of the Maltese Cross cabin. Mattison concludes that the cabin in question is the one occupied by Roosevelt when he first moved to Medora, North Dakota. Whether or not it was his home beyond 1885, it continued to be the base of Roosevelt’s cattle ranching operation. In addition to a thorough history of Roosevelt’s time in the Badlands Region and the efforts of others to preserve and/or showcase the Maltese Cross cabin, the report includes photos and sworn affidavits from Medora locals.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1950-05-24
Copy of an article written to argue for the authenticity of the Maltese Cross cabin. The cabin was to be exhibited at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, and some question had arisen regarding its authenticity. This article includes notarized statements from Sylvane M. Ferris, Howard Eaton, and Joseph A. Ferris.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
1904-03-19