Twain, Mark, 1835-1910

Douglas Eden dismisses Stephen Kinzer’s The True Flag: Theodore Roosevelt, Mark Twain, and the Birth of the American Empire as a piece of polemical journalism that should not be taken seriously as a work of history. Eden asserts that the work will appeal to certain segments of the academy and media, and he highlights episodes from the early years of the Cold War to demonstrate the author’s bias and lack of understanding of key events of that era, such as the start of the Korean War. Eden also notes that despite appearing in the book’s title, Mark Twain does not figure prominently in the work. The front cover of the The True Flag and one of its photographs supplement the review.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2018

Robert Wexelblatt describes his friendship with William N. Tilchin, the editor of the Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal (TRAJ). Wexelblatt explains how Tilchin made him into a Theodore Roosevelt expert by repeatedly asking him to review books about Roosevelt for the TRAJ. Wexelblatt writes that reviewing Philip James McFarland’s Mark Twain and the Colonel made him an enthusiast for Roosevelt while lowering his estimation of Mark Twain, and he admires Roosevelt for defeating the demon of depression.

A photograph of Wexelblatt and the front cover illustrations of three books supplement the address.

Robert Wexelblatt praises Philip McFarland for his even-handed approach in his dual biography Mark Twain and the Colonel: Samuel L. Clemens, Theodore Roosevelt, and the Arrival of a New Century. Wexelblatt notes that the disagreements between the writer and the politician will interest most readers, and he highlights Twain’s anti-imperialism as the foremost of these issues. Wexelblatt commends McFarland for explaining the views of Twain, Roosevelt, and their contemporaries in the context of their time. He notes that McFarland also covers the similarities between “the two most famous and celebrated Americans,” and he credits McFarland for his research and his lively prose. 

Photographs of Twain and Roosevelt, and the front cover illustration of Mark Twain and the Colonel, accompany the review.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Wallace Finley Dailey presents an exhibit, “Roosevelt Reading: The Pigskin Library, 1909-1910,” that opened at Harvard University in September 2003. Dailey provides an introduction to the exhibit which consists of photographs, excerpts of letters, and illustrations of the numerous pigskin bound volumes that Theodore Roosevelt took with him on his African safari. The exhibit is divided into three parts: “Classics and the Continent,” History and Romance,” and “Americans.” Many of the book illustrations have captions taken from letters or articles written by Roosevelt that comment on the book and its author. 

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2013

In his review of J. Lee Thompson’s Theodore Roosevelt Abroad, which studies Theodore Roosevelt’s 1909 to 1910 journey to Africa and Europe, Robert Wexelblatt highlights Thompson’s discussion of Roosevelt’s hunting ethics, his views on imperialism and race, and his commitment to a strong relationship between the United States and Great Britain. Wexelblatt also focuses on Roosevelt’s interactions with Kaiser William II of Germany. Wexelblatt credits Thompson for pointing out shortcomings in Roosevelt’s thoughts and actions, and he employs several block quotes to highlight passages from Thompson and Roosevelt.

The front cover illustration of the book appears at the center of the second page of the review.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Art Koch reveals the subject and context of the third “TR-era image” which is a political cartoon showing Theodore Roosevelt shooting holes in a dictionary with two revolvers. Koch reveals that this cartoon from September 1906 pokes fun at Roosevelt’s directive to the Government Printing Office to use a simplified form of spelling in government documents, and he lists some notable Americans who supported Roosevelt’s reforms. The fourth image in the series shows a typical street scene of storefronts, horse drawn wagons, and telephone poles. 

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1906

In the “Book Notes” column, Frederick W. Marks reviews William M. Gibson’s Theodore Roosevelt Among the Humorists and John A. Gable reviews Aloysius A. Norton’s Theodore Roosevelt. Marks criticizes Gibson for accepting the judgments of Theodore Roosevelt put forward by humorists such as Mark Twain, and he argues that Gibson, as a literature professor, is not qualified to make evaluations of Roosevelt’s diplomacy. Gable praises Norton’s study of Roosevelt as a writer, and his main criticism is that the book is too short to provide a thorough analysis of all of Roosevelt’s works. Marks and Gable contend that Roosevelt’s image continues to suffer from persistent stereotypes.

A picture of Roosevelt reading accompanies the article.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

John A. Gable provides brief reviews of three books on Theodore Roosevelt and quotes other reviews about Sylvia Jukes Morris’s biography of Edith Kermit Roosevelt. He reviews A. A. Norton’s Theodore Roosevelt, which evaluates Roosevelt as a writer; William M. Gibson’s Theodore Roosevelt Among the Humorists, which looks at Roosevelt’s relationship with William Dean Howells, Mark Twain, and Finley Peter Dunne; and Thomas G. Dyer’s Theodore Roosevelt and the Idea of Race.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

1981

The Lincoln Farm Association invites Theodore Roosevelt to attend the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial Hall. Includes a card about special trains, an invitation from Governor Augustus Everett Willson, and a list of officers and trustees of the Lincoln Farm Association.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-09

A brief history of the Twilight Club and a list of some individuals who have addressed it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-19

The author of this article in The Memphis Commercial Appeal opines that “some good friend of Mark Twain should have gone through his manuscripts and burned those that dealt entirely in personalities” after his death. Some of the documents Twain surely wrote only for himself, and others, such as the one recently published attacking Theodore Roosevelt, are impossible for the target to respond to, as Twain is dead. The author of this piece nevertheless attempts to refute Twain’s criticism of Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-02

In connection to the recent posthumous discovery of a 1909 letter by Mark Twain criticizing Theodore Roosevelt, editor, James E. Edmonds, reprints a 1907 editorial criticizing Twain’s refusal of Roosevelt’s invitation to Mississippi and Twain’s response defending his friendship.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-20

The author reviews the recent posthumous discovery of a 1909 manuscript by Mark Twain criticizing Theodore Roosevelt. The manuscript was in connection with Twain’s 1907 letter to the editor responding to James E. Edmond’s editorial criticizing his refusal of Roosevelt’s invitation to Mississippi wherein Twain defends his friendship with Roosevelt. The author speculates why Twain did not publish the 1909 manuscript.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-20

A circled article from the Hamilton Evening Journal notes that an unpublished manuscript criticizing Theodore Roosevelt was found in the recently-deceased Mark Twain’s belongings. The writer points out that Twain was close friends with some owners of the Standard Oil trust, and suggests he had a reason to dislike Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-06

Robert J. Collier suggests an edited list of people to invite to a breakfast in honor of President Roosevelt before he leaves on his safari.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-04

Theodore Roosevelt writes to Henry Cabot Lodge and his wife, Nannie, in pencil, because he is far out in the African wilderness. Roosevelt discusses Lodge’s response to the tariff question and shares his own thoughts on the constitutional amendment about the income tax. Roosevelt agrees with William Loeb and Lodge on the mayoralty issue. On his trip, Roosevelt has gained a passion for William Shakespeare’s plays, news that will be of interest to Nannie. Roosevelt shares the highlights of his big game hunting in Africa, as well as other books he has been reading.

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1909-09-10

In his article for Ladies’ Home Journal, Theodore Roosevelt describes the benefits of reading and provides advice on how to get people of any age interested in reading “serious literature.” Roosevelt elaborates on his reading habits and book selection processes, which stem from both his current mood and educational desires.

Collection

Marple Collection

Creation Date

1915-04

Kermit Roosevelt is on his travels with Theodore Roosevelt across the Mediterranean and Middle East. They have been busy reading, visiting ruins, and taking photographs.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1909-04-09

President Roosevelt greets a crowd in Hannibal, Missouri, and thanks the National Guard for their service and greeting. He congratulates the citizens on the growth of the city, especially the railway men and their character.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-04-29

Excerpts from the Mark Twain story The Mysterious Stranger are typed out under the title “Some further thoughts on mob psychology and the present discontents.” The quotes are taken from pages 127-129 on the 1916 Harper edition. It is marked with a red “confidential” stamp. This page is pasted at the end of a Roosevelt family album.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1916