South Africa

H. Rider Haggard shares with Roosevelt his critiques of the Anglosphere, particularly their love of pleasure and wealth. He then discusses his investments in the African continent, how insider trading is tampering with said investments, and how he believes that the love of nature “seems to be the privilege of the highly educated.” Haggard also predicts that the “white people” living in Africa will be removed within the coming generations, and that overall the “white races” are in noticeable decline.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-05

Harry A. Slattery, the clerk of Gifford Pinchot, informs Theodore Roosevelt that Pinchot is currently traveling to Alaska, but Slattery will nevertheless forward Roosevelt’s letter to him promptly. In the meantime, Slattery will send some conservation literature to the “gentleman in South Africa.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-31

While traveling, Jessie A. Price visited with a socialist family from Ohio who commented that the socialists in the state are fond of Theodore Roosevelt and were prepared to follow his advice during his visit. However, Roosevelt’s strong criticism of “the evils of socialism” caused them to “thr[o]w their votes away recklessly.” Price suggests Roosevelt reach out and “heal the breach” by commending socialism’s high ideals.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-21

Henry Earle Riggs tells President Roosevelt about William H. Brown, an American hunter and naturalist who has lived in South Africa for twenty years. Riggs hopes that Roosevelt will get the opportunity to meet him while Roosevelt is on his Africa trip.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-02-15

William Kent discusses his beliefs on the Japanese racial issue in California and sends President Roosevelt an editorial from California Weekly. Kent compares what is happening on the Hawaiian islands to California and is glad that California is not being settled as rapidly as other parts of the country. Kent believes that in matters of Japanese immigrants “distance will best sanctify our traditional friendship for each other.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-29

Whitelaw Reid updates President Roosevelt on diplomatic affairs in London. Reid has spoken with several British authorities regarding Roosevelt’s upcoming African safari. The Japanese Ambassador to Great Britain, Jutarō Komura, met with Reid at a luncheon given for members of the Olympic committee and emphasized that he and the Japanese Emperor recognized the United States as a friend. The Chinese Ambassador held a dinner and expressed friendly regard toward the United States. Reid provides a detailed description of two controversial Olympic races in London: in the 400 meter race, an American was disqualified for breaking the rules, and in the marathon, the Italian winner was disqualified in favor of an American. Reid notes that the American athletes, while somewhat justified in their frustrations, were seen by the British press as ill-mannered. Finally, Reid says he doubts that Roosevelt can make private visits to Paris and London on his way back from Africa without giving offense to government officials who would expect a state visit.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-11

Edward North Buxton encloses an old map of Africa highlighting the areas from the Cape to Cairo that President Roosevelt may want to visit on his safari. He discusses the merits of several different routes and the best time of year to visit each place.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-15

Andrew Carnegie updates President Roosevelt on matters in Great Britain. Carnegie says Roosevelt’s handling of the “Japanese flurry” was masterful, and says Japan will not make any more trouble due to her financial status. Carnegie notes that many countries are restricting entry to Japanese citizens, and that Roosevelt has solved the problem. Carnegie comments on the stances of Great Britain and Germany at the International Peace Conference at The Hague.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-31

Frederick Courteney Selous informs William Loeb that he contacted Macmillan and Company Publishers on behalf of President Roosevelt. Macmillan will publish J. H. Patterson’s upcoming book, The Man-eaters of Tsavo, about Patterson’s travels in South Africa and his run-in with some lions, in the fall or winter of that year.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-16

Mr. Behyrnes has seen a newspaper report that President Roosevelt wishes to take a big game hunting excursion in Central Africa. He introduces himself as an Englishman who has spent the past twenty-five years in Africa who would be pleased to be called upon by Roosevelt to arrange such an excursion and accompany him on it. He lists a large number of animals that Roosevelt could expect to encounter and is pleased to answer any questions Roosevelt may have.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-06-24

Frederick Courteney Selous describes hunting trips in a game reserve south of the Zambezi River in Africa, in particular the types and behavior of the game animals in the reserve.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903

F. Norton Goddard informs William Loeb that a friend of his who is an expert on South Africa, Edward P. Mathers, will be visiting Washington, D.C., and would like to meet President Roosevelt. Goddard asks Loeb whether he can send a letter of introduction for Mathers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-04

Henry E. Huck briefly outlines three options for implementing his Proclamation for countries to remove their unwanted populations. The plans include means of granting land concessions to the United States and England, reimbursements, possible forms of governance, and international arbitration.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-03

The Philadelphia Evening Item reports on the good economic conditions in various industries, companies, and places in the United States and its trading partners, which it says “give[s] the lie to the calamity howlers.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-12-22

President Roosevelt listens to two hunters tell stories. They say, “These are no long stories,” and “We’ve been there!” Caption: The president listened to stories of real hunters from South Africa today.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Theodore Roosevelt, the famous polymath and (in today’s parlance) multi-tasker, immersed himself in learning everything he could know, and ought to know, about Africa, once he decided upon a safari after retiring from the presidency. He arranged to collect specimens, and with thousands of possibilities (they eventually numbered more than eleven thousand). He needed to expand his considerable knowledge of animal life, the habits and relationships of species known and barely unknown, and the terrain of a continent that was still unknown to Western visitors.

Frederick Courteney Selous tells Montagu White that he has heard from Theodore Roosevelt and that Roosevelt is asking about the Second Boer War, though he feels he cannot take any public position on the issue. Selous does not believe that anything short of an independent republic for the Boers will lead to a lasting peace. Selous argues that the annexation of Dutch territories could lead to the loss of all South Africa.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1900-02-20

In a response to President Roosevelt’s complimentary speech on British rule in India, the author of this article affirms that Roosevelt’s praise is both prized and justified. The author claims that the British administration in India removed cruel rulers, “established the reign of law” in India, and “indoctrinated” Indians with “the learning and theories of the West.” The author concludes that British administration needs to continue to press for social reform in India, in order to “save” Indians.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-19

This handbill for the German East Africa Line describes departure and arrival locations for the steamship enterprise, as well as ticket rates.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908

During a speech given at the Methodist Episcopal Church of Africa’s diamond jubilee, President Roosevelt praises white imperialism. Roosevelt in particular eulogizes British imperialism in India, claiming the British administration to be a greater feat than any of the Roman Empire. Roosevelt states that English control prevents tyrannical leaders from oppressing the common masses. The second portion of this article describes the outrage incited by the summoning of the editors and correspondents of the New York World to testify in a case against Joseph Pulitzer for libeling the United States Government. Representative William F. Willett, of New York, went on an angry tirade against President Roosevelt. Once Willett was declared out of order and prevented from continuing, Senator Isidor Rayner, of Massachusetts, explained that the outrage was due to concerns over violation of the freedom of speech and press.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-19

President Roosevelt expresses to Ambassador Meyer his extreme desire to keep Germany out of the western hemisphere.

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1901-04-12