Travels

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to R. J. Cunninghame

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.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-31

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to Melville Elijah Stone

President Roosevelt informs Melville Elijah Stone that he remains certain that he does not want any journalists, even Lawrence F. Abbott, accompanying his upcoming trip. While on the steamer, Roosevelt will not personally communicate with newspapers and will request that the crew remain similarly silent about his actions.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-31

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Caspar Whitney

President Roosevelt declines Caspar Whitney’s proposal to either author or authorize an account detailing the plans for his upcoming trip to Africa, as he claims it has already received enough publicity and that it is a “scientific trip” above all else. Roosevelt also does not wish to publicize his exact whereabouts and plans prior to the trip.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. Alden Loring

If J. Alden Loring wishes to join the expedition to Africa, President Roosevelt will inform Charles D. Walcott, secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. However, he advises Loring that no member of the expedition party will be able to write about the trip until after Roosevelt has published his own articles and book as per his agreement with Scribner’s. The big game hunting will also only be done by Theodore and Kermit Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-01-02

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles A. Moore

President Roosevelt understands Charles A. Moore’s goal, and sympathizes with it. He believes that the “epic feat” that Moore wishes to undertake in Western Asia will interest President-Elect William H. Taft just as much.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edgar Alexander Mearns

Following the publication of Theodore Roosevelt’s article, Roosevelt would like Edgar Alexander Mearns to write a scientific report on the expedition.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-06

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James Bryce

President Roosevelt encloses a letter relating to Tibet and India for British Ambassador Bryce to share with the Foreign Office or any other part of the British government he believes appropriate, but that should otherwise be kept in strict confidence. Roosevelt believes William H. Taft will be elected president, but it is too early to be certain. Roosevelt tells Bryce about his plans for his African safari.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-02

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to J. J. Jusserand

President Roosevelt thanks French Ambassador Jusserand for the books he sent. Roosevelt tells Jusserand he is glad to have the distraction of his upcoming African Safari. Roosevelt shares his thoughts about leaving office, and the duty of a president to make the office as strong as possible, while at the same time not grasping for permanent power. Roosevelt discusses the problems with Turkey and Venezuela, adding that he wishes France could solve everything.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-03

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 Edgar Alexander Mearns

Theodore Roosevelt asks for Edgar Alexander Mearns’ feedback on the propositions regarding Mearns work as naturalist and medical advisor on the Africa expedition.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-29

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to F. R. Wingate

President Roosevelt asks F. R. Wingate several questions regarding his upcoming African safari, including where to find the best game, the best way to travel up the Nile, and when the best time would be to start writing to make arrangements for hunters, equipment shipments, and so on. Roosevelt emphasizes that he expects no special favors or treatment and that he is “no game butcher.” He intends to get hunting trophies for the National Museum of Natural History and perhaps a bull elephant of his own if “entirely proper.” Roosevelt is eager to see how the British are governing Egypt and East Africa, having recently read Modern Egypt by Evelyn Baring Cromer, and sympathises with the difficulty of colonial rule.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-29

Telegram from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles S. Sperry

President Roosevelt telegraphs Admiral Sperry his congratulations, both personally and to the officers and enlisted men of the Navy more broadly, on the eve of the Great White Fleet’s departure. The trip around South America has already shown the efficiency and devotion to duty of the fleet, and Roosevelt is confident that the trip through the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans will continue in this same vein.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Archibald B. Roosevelt

President Roosevelt writes to Archibald B. Roosevelt to update him on some things going on with their family. Roosevelt praises his son for his monthly report, and warns him against working too hard, as he does not want to get more headaches. Joseph Wilmer is going on the Mississippi River trip. Douglas Robinson and Corinne Roosevelt Robinson are visiting currently, and are having a nice time. Roosevelt believes that public school and the Y.M.C.A. have been good for Quentin Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-16

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Archibald B. Roosevelt

President Roosevelt has heard that his son Archibald B. Roosevelt has befriended young Leonard Opdyke while at Groton School, and encourages him to invite his school friends to visit over the holidays. He tells Archie about his trip, which he believes will be his last trip of consequence while in office. Roosevelt thinks Archie would quite enjoy his own trip up the Mississippi River next spring.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-10-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ralph Delahaye Paine

President Roosevelt will ask the naval authorities if the writer Ralph Delahaye Paine will be able to travel with them. He believes that Paine will be able to get good material if he can travel with the fleet.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Leonard Wood and James Francis Smith

President Roosevelt sends General Wood and Governor Smith a letter of introduction for William W. Cocks and his party of representatives. Cocks is on a tour of the Philippines, China, and Japan.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05-23

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Wingate Sewall

President Roosevelt explains his upcoming Panama trip to William Wingate Sewall. He is traveling by battleship and will only have a few men in official positions accompany him. As Sewall has no official business in Panama, he is not welcomed. Roosevelt has refused hundreds of requests similar to Sewall’s.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-27

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Ziegler

President Roosevelt informs William Ziegler that he is interested in Walter Wellman’s work on an Arctic expedition, and endorses Wellman’s administrative abilities. Roosevelt notes he will help Wellman in any way, just as he helped Robert E. Peary’s arctic endeavors.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Hermann Speck von Sternburg

President Roosevelt asks Hermann Speck von Sternburg to invite St. George Littledale to Washington, D.C. Roosevelt was interested in the map Sternburg shared with him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-07-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to French Ensor Chadwick

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt sees no reason why French Ensor Chadwick and his wife, Cornelia Jones Miller Chadwick, should not go to Spain, as it seems unlikely there will be trouble with the country. Roosevelt is obliged to Chadwick and shares that Secretary of the Navy John Davis Long is pleased.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1897-09-30