Thayer, Abbott Handerson, 1849-1921

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

Theodore Roosevelt has not heard from Frederick Courteney Selous for some time and wants to hear how his safari in the Lado Enclave went. He hopes Selous killed a giraffe as he is curious about what species is in the area and that he solved the questions of Mrs. Grey’s waterbuck. Roosevelt encourages Selous to write a book on his experiences and praises his previous works, especially as other hunter-naturalists’ books are “utterly dry.” He sends a copy of his pamphlet on protective coloration in animals and his follow-up article. Kermit Roosevelt misses Africa and is currently hunting in Mexico, with a trip to New Brunswick planned for September. Roosevelt wants Selous and his wife, Marie Catherine Gladys Selous, to visit him at Sagamore Hill.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Burroughs

Theodore Roosevelt notes that he and John Burroughs have fought side by side against diverse kinds of “nature fakers.” Roosevelt sends Burroughs an article that he wrote partly in response to Abbott Thayer’s article in Popular Science Monthly. Roosevelt believes that Thayer may be more dangerous than William J. Long, because Thayer is so much more plausible.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frank M. Chapman

Theodore Roosevelt submits footnotes and changes to galley proofs reviewing Abbott H. Thayer’s article in the July issue of Popular Science Monthly. The changes focus on concealing coloration of some species.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-11

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Fairfield Osborn

Theodore Roosevelt tells Professor Osborn that he is pleased with J. A. Allen’s comments and accepts his list of contents. He wonders whether Osborn’s statement about not being able to make any further corrections also means that the changes he mentioned to Frank M. Chapman last month, particularly the footnotes answering Abbott Handerson Thayer’s Popular Science article, can be adopted. He would be very sorry if the corrections to the galley could not be made and would like to know more. He is also writing to Chapman.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-11

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frank M. Chapman

Theodore Roosevelt writes Frank M. Chapman of his wish that he could work exclusively as a naturalist — or the more modern “biologist.” He will look at Camps and Cruises, page 235, to see how Chapman views the relationship between color and haunt and may include a few sentences if the galley proofs of Roosevelt’s article arrive. Roosevelt is “well aware that there are plenty of men who could have done this criticism much better” and he would rather do the work than have it left undone. He encloses a page to go in an appropriate place and will include a long footnote to address Thayer’s Popular Science Monthly criticism, even though Thayer’s opinion changes from one page to another.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-07-05

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frank M. Chapman

Theodore Roosevelt writes to Frank M. Chapman about the Popular Science article and a criticism of Roosevelt’s “Appendix E” by Thayer, in a letter to the Tribune. He also finds Chapman’s Trinidad article very interesting and disagrees on several points about the birds of Trinidad, although he concedes that Chapman’s experience and training is greater than his own. Roosevelt further discusses his arguments about the coloration, cover, behavior, and habit of birds in the United States, Africa, and Latin America. He thanks Chapman for the interest in his article, thoroughly enjoyed his visit the other day, and will take his notes on the galley sheets into advisement. He returns The Awk and Osborn’s copy of Nature. In the addendum, Roosevelt answers Thayer’s criticism in the Popular Science magazine.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-29

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to A. K. Fisher

Theodore Roosevelt is pleased to send A. K. Fisher the book, and recalls how, while in Africa, he frequently heard Edgar Alexander Mearns and J. Alden Loring speaking about Fisher. Roosevelt recently wrote a pamphlet for the American Museum of Natural History on protective coloration, and hopes Fisher will read it when it comes out.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-13

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Fairfield Osborn

Theodore Roosevelt sends Henry Fairfield Osborn a draft of his article on “concealing coloration” in animals so that he may discuss it with him during lunch on Friday.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-30

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frank M. Chapman

Theodore Roosevelt relates to Frank M. Chapman that while visiting Archibald Roosevelt at his school in Mesa, Arizona, he noticed a number of birds which he failed at the time to recognize as cactus wren, due to the solid black coloration of their throats and their vigorous, familiar behavior. Roosevelt is forwarding several specimens to Chapman to ascertain whether his identification of the birds was correct. Roosevelt will soon begin writing an article on concealing coloration, as he is surprised that scientists have accepted Abbott Handerson Thayer’s theories on the subject so readily.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-24

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry Fairfield Osborn

Theodore Roosevelt believes that Carl Ethan Akeley should be satisfied with getting a bull elephant with tusks that weigh sixty pounds apiece while in Africa. Roosevelt is starting a study of concealing coloration and asks Henry Fairfield Osborn if the American Museum would be interested in publishing such a study. Roosevelt is disappointed that no one in the scientific community has questioned the absurdities in Abbott Handerson Thayer’s book on the subject. Roosevelt adds that he would like to come to the Museum in a few days to see Osborn and Frank M. Chapman.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-21

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles A. Kofoid

Theodore Roosevelt writes to Professor Kofoid of the University of California, Berkeley, regarding articles and pamphlets written by Henry Chester Tracy, Abbott Handerson Thayer, J. A. Allen, and Edward William Nelson on the topic of birds, plumage, and biological research.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-02

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to C. Hart Merriam

Theodore Roosevelt responds to C. Hart Merriam’s criticism by taking out the belligerent attitude and “softening down the hammering of Thayer.” As for the other matters concerning animal coloration, they will agree to disagree. Roosevelt is pleased Merriam likes his autobiography and sends his regards to Merriam’s wife and family.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1913-05-07

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Thomas Barbour

Theodore Roosevelt is delighted that Thomas Barbour will respond to Francis H. Allen’s article about “concealed coloration” in The Auk that attacked Roosevelt. Roosevelt is upset by Allen’s omission and misrepresentation of facts, including on the topics of “counter-shading” and natural selection. Roosevelt wishes Barbour could come to Oyster Bay for experiments regarding colors for concealment at night. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-12-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Witmer Stone

Theodore Roosevelt writes to Witmer Stone, editor of The Auk, regarding a recent article that inaccurately criticized Roosevelt’s prior work on “concealing coloration” and “counter-shading” in response to Abbot Handerson Thayer, including in African Game Trails. Roosevelt also defends photographs he had taken of birds.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-11-22

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Bird Grinnell

Theodore Roosevelt addresses the faked pictures in A. G. Wallihan’s book. When Roosevelt wrote the preface to the book, he vouched only for the pictures that he saw. Wallihan’s name is responsible for all of the pictures.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1898-03-28

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to George Bird Grinnell

Theodore Roosevelt advises George Bird Grinnell how to approach a controversy involving fake pictures in A. G. Wallihan’s book. Wallihan isn’t responsible for the pictures and they were added without his knowledge and “against his protest.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1898-03-15

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from C. Hart Merriam to Theodore Roosevelt

C. Hart Merriam has reviewed Theodore Roosevelt’s chapter on concealing and revealing coloration. His criticisms include a belligerent tone to the article, Roosevelt’s annihilation of Abbott Handerson Thayer, and a disbelief in natural selection.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1913-05-05

Creator(s)

Merriam, C. Hart (Clinton Hart), 1855-1942

Letter from Edward William Nelson to Theodore Roosevelt

Edward William Nelson sends Theodore Roosevelt some of his findings on the natural history of Alaska. He includes reports on the habits of birds and the material culture of the indigenous people of the Bering Strait. Nelson read Roosevelt’s “extremely interesting and valuable” article on animal coloration and agrees that Thayer and other naturalists “have gone beyond all reason” in their conclusions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-12-02

Creator(s)

Nelson, Edward William, 1855-1934

Letter from Charles Sheldon to Theodore Roosevelt

Charles Sheldon agrees to go to Boston with Theodore Roosevelt and will meet him at the train. Sheldon enjoyed Roosevelt’s reply to Abbot Handerson Thayer, who Sheldon believes is hopeless for needing perfect weather conditions to successfully perform experiments. Sheldon asks if Roosevelt has read The Making of Species and believes Roosevelt will want to send his monograph to the authors, Frank Finn and Douglas Dewar.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-26

Creator(s)

Sheldon, Charles, 1867-1928

Letter from Thomas Barbour to Theodore Roosevelt

Thomas Barbour says he and John C. Phillips are upset by something written by Abbott Handerson Thayer in the October Issue of “The Auk” periodical, although it is amusing since it directly follows Francis H. Allen’s positive review of Roosevelt’s work. He encourages Theodore Roosevelt to read the passage as well. Barbour says he and Thayer may have to respond.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-18

Creator(s)

Barbour, Thomas, 1884-1946