Wanamaker, John, 1838-1922

Jack Crawford has previously sent Theodore Roosevelt poetry but received unfavorable responses from his secretary. He hopes by introducing himself and his credentials that Roosevelt might let him visit his home at Oyster Bay, and the “Broncho Scout” won’t bother Roosevelt after this letter. The reverse side of the letter contains letters from Crawford’s supporters.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-21

Theodore Roosevelt tells his sister Anna he received a nice letter from their brother Elliott, but he will not be able to visit with him because he is battling Postmaster General John Wanamaker. Hector was a dear but a terrible horse rider. Roosevelt will go with Anna the day before the wedding.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1892

President Roosevelt responds to Outlook editor Lyman Abbott’s comments on the sections of Roosevelt’s recent “muck-rake speech” dealing with the inheritance tax. Roosevelt did not mean to suggest that such a tax would be the only measure necessary to deal with the amassing of large fortunes, but wished to bring attention to the fact that it would help. He believes that a progressive income tax would also be good, but feels that it is harder to frame such a measure, while modifying the tariff would have a minimal effect on such fortunes. Roosevelt is puzzled by Abbott’s comments about taxing land, and asks if he is trying to revive the theories of Henry George, or if he is referring to something else. Regardless, Roosevelt feels the language is too vague to be useful, while he was trying to bring attention to specific measures that could be accomplished. He was surprised the portion of his speech dealing with labor leaders has received little attention; while he feels that the amassing of great fortunes is harmful to the United States, so too is the sort of violence resulting from “unhealthy sentimentality and morbid class consciousness” like that of socialist leader Eugene V. Debs.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-23

President Roosevelt confirms receipt of Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte’s letter concerning John J. McBrearty, and already had some knowledge of the case. Secretary of War William H. Taft has told Roosevelt that McBrearty was “struck off the list of possible bidders in the War Department, for fraudulent practices,” and suggests that there should be cooperation between the War Department and the Department of the Navy regarding cases of this sort so that one department does not accept a contract from a merchant that another department has ruled out for fraud. He tells Bonaparte to follow his judgement regarding a Marine Corps civil service matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-04-05

President Roosevelt thanks John Wanamaker for his letter. Charles Wagner will be spending a night at the White House.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-08-31

An anonymous well wisher is pleased with Representative Pujo’s work exposing the “Money Trust.” The well wisher relates a story of how John Wanamaker faced down bankers that were calling in his loans during the panic of 1907-1908. Publication of the story and Wanamaker’s testimony could be helpful in garnering public sentiment for Pujo’s investigations and reform efforts.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1912-06-17

J. Beggs writes to Theodore Roosevelt to inform Roosevelt his plan, which they discussed at a prior meeting, to curb the yellow press is falling into place and he is only awaiting a response from John Wanamaker to proceed. Beggs says he will advise Roosevelt as soon as he hears back from Wanamaker.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-08

“Captain Jack,” Jack Crawford, expresses frustration to Theodore Roosevelt over his lack of acknowledgement of Crawford’s performing and preaching talent. Crawford encloses a poem about Roosevelt that he recited to a large group, and remarks upon the successes of many of his recent speeches. Crawford questions why Roosevelt has given him little opportunity to preach at the White House, and requests a time to perform at Roosevelt’s house in Oyster Bay. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-18

On behalf of the people of Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, Joseph H. Zerbey invites Theodore Roosevelt to the county’s centennial celebration as the first county to mine anthracite coal. Additionally, they are celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the county’s participation in the Civil War. President William H. Taft has agreed to attend if able. Zerbey describes the county’s demographics and political alignments. He asks Roosevelt for a tentative acceptance with the understanding that Roosevelt’s schedule may change.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-01-14

Ambassador Reid writes to President Roosevelt about a conversation he had with John Wanamaker about international postal rates and improving postal service between London and New York. Reid hopes Roosevelt will listen to Wanamaker when he comes to discuss it. Reid is sending gossip to Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt and will send the president more on political matters in coming days.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-10

Chronology of the daily life of Theodore Roosevelt from January 1884 to December 1891. Notable events include the deaths of Alice Lee Roosevelt and Martha Bulloch Roosevelt, Roosevelt’s time on his ranch, the completion of Sagamore Hill, Roosevelt’s engagement and marriage to Edith Kermit Carow, Theodore “Ted” Roosevelt’s birth, the “Great-Dieup” of cattle in North Dakota, and the founding of the Boone and Crockett Club.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association

Creation Date

1985

Don Arp describes the University of Nebraska’s decision to recruit Theodore Roosevelt to become its chancellor in 1891. Arp notes that Roosevelt was seen as a good fit for the Nebraska post because of his affinity for the West and his work as a historian. Arp details Roosevelt’s immersion in his work as a United States Civil Service Commissioner, and he notes that at the time of the Nebraska offer, Roosevelt was increasingly distracted by the troubles surrounding his brother Elliot Roosevelt. A portrait of Roosevelt by Johann Waldemar de Rehling Quistgaard accompanies the text. 

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Creation Date

2005

In a speech given shortly after Theodore Roosevelt’s death, George Haven Putnam discusses his friendship with Roosevelt, and he highlights aspects of his character, leadership ability, and episodes from his political career. Putnam details Roosevelt’s role in the 1884 presidential contest, his dispute with the Postmaster General during his time as a Civil Service Commissioner, and examines the effort to secure the election of Charles Evans Hughes as Governor of New York in 1908.

A photograph of Roosevelt in 1905 appears on the first page of the speech. A listing of the members of the executive committee of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) supplements the piece along with a text box with the heading ” A Membership Honor Roll” that lists members of the TRA who have enrolled in three premium membership categories.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Buildings connected to Theodore Roosevelt make up much of this edition of the “News and Notes” section. The Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) acquired Roosevelt’s presidential retreat in Virginia, Pine Knot, and the federal government renamed the building housing the Office of Personnel Management the Theodore Roosevelt Federal Building. “News and Notes” also highlights the premiere of a PBS documentary on the 1992 Rio Roosevelt Expedition; discusses the foreign policy focus of this issue TRA Journal; and notes the inauguration of President Bill Clinton.

Two photographs of Pine Knot and three photographs of the ceremonies at the Theodore Roosevelt Federal Building appear in the section.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

Commissioner Roosevelt believes he won a victory over John Wanamaker before the committee. Ted Roosevelt is excited for Hector Munro Ferguson’s visit to the Lodges.

Collection

Arizona Historical Society

Creation Date

1892-05-05

A group of conquistadors labeled “Hoar, Sherman, Depew, Harrison, Reed, McKinley [as Ponce de León], Wanamaker, W. Reid, Boutelle, [and] Foraker” gather around a pool of water labeled “High Protection Doctrine,” drinking the water. Frogs in the lower right corner are labeled “Monopolist.” Caption: They think it is the fountain of political youth and strength; but it is only a stagnant pool that is almost dried up.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1894-01-24

Theodore Roosevelt recommends John Jacob Astor’s book to his sister Anna and informs her of the latest on his battle with journalist Edwin Lawrence Godkin. Roosevelt fights to get his civil service reform work done. Postmaster General John Wanamaker calls President Cleveland’s second administration “lamentable.” Son Kermit had trouble with his knee.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1894-06-24

Trustee Seth Low of the Tuskegee Institute writes to the editor of the Atlanta Constitution, expressing his distress over recent criticism of Booker T. Washington that he has observed spreading in the South. The criticism surrounds Washington’s attendance at a luncheon in a Saratoga Hotel. Low clarifies that while Washington entered and left with John Wanamaker, he was not the escort of anyone in Wanamaker’s party. That said, Low points out that the newspaper reports of the Saratoga incident do not account for differences in race relations between the North and the South.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-08-30

W. B. Cooley, chief clerk in the Post Office Department, has communicated with the Postmaster General about Commissioner Roosevelt’s note and enclosed statement. The Postmaster General suggests a meeting the following day to discuss how he might reply to such a statement.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1890-03-03