Your TR Source
President Roosevelt was surprised at the reaction to his dinner with Booker T. Washington. He encloses payment to Philip Battell Stewart for his work with Roosevelt on articles published in Scribner’s Monthly and asks Stewart to meet with Mr. Kent regarding political appointments in Denver, Colorado.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-25
President Roosevelt will send Secretary of State John Hay, Herman Henry Kohlsaat’s letter. He regrets the “views of the South in reference to Booker T. Washington,” but will not change his policy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-10-26
Vice President Roosevelt regrets that he will miss seeing Jacob A. Riis during the Tuskegee, Alabama, trip. He has been called to Buffalo, New York, because of the attempted assassination of President McKinley, but he believes McKinley will recover. Roosevelt agrees with Riis about does; he will not shoot them and has been surprised at how long a wounded deer can run.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-09-07
Vice President Roosevelt can meet with Claris Yeuell when he is in Alabama but he will not give an interview. Roosevelt is comfortable with any attacks he receives from the planned visit to Booker T. Washington at the Tuskegee Institute.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-09-07
Vice President Roosevelt sends Librarian of Congress Herbert Putnam two letters of recommendation, from Franklin Matthews and from Booker T. Washington, on behalf of a Mrs. Matthews. Roosevelt believes these letters show Mrs. Matthews to be qualified, and he asks that if there are any vacancies at the Library of Congress, she be given a chance to prove her merits.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-06-05
Senator Dixon jokes that early indications show Jack Johnson leading Booker T. Washington for the vice presidency on the Progressive Party ticket.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1912-11-05
Louis Edelman admires Theodore Roosevelt. However, he disagrees with his treatment of the soldiers at Brownsville, Texas. He discussed the matter with Senator Joseph B. Foraker, who visited him while in the hospital and always agreed with him. However, Edelman was recently talking about Roosevelt with a “very honorable colored physician” who is adamant about the soldiers’ guilt, supposedly having heard it from several of them.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-13
Arthur W. Mitchell sends Theodore Roosevelt a pamphlet about the West Alabama Normal and Industrial Institute, a school similar to Tuskegee. They are trying to raise $10,000 and ask Roosevelt for a five-dollar donation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-11-07
Albert M. Hyde invites Theodore Roosevelt to the annual “Rally Day” of the largest Congregational Sunday School in Massachusetts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-02
Albert Waters, a “colored boy,” explains his living situation and educational experience. He asks Theodore Roosevelt if he knows anyone who would provide a financial advance to attend Tuskegee Institute or Howard University.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-08-11
G. Eugene Shelly expresses his devotion to the Republican party, and shares his plans to expand party support throughout the South.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-17
On behalf of Seth Low, his secretary Elizabeth Dodds sends Theodore Roosevelt copies of a letter and suggestions to Booker T. Washington about the farm at the Tuskegee Institute.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-24
Horace E. Stockbridge has heard about Theodore Roosevelt’s interest in speaking with Professor Perry C. Parks about agricultural topics, and praises the efforts Parks has been making in Georgia. He sends Roosevelt an address in which he alludes to Parks’s work, but laments that because of Parks’s race he has been met with resistance in the state. Stockbridge encourages Roosevelt to speak to the value of industrial training and of the work done by Parks and Booker T. Washington.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-01
Caroline L. Rodman hopes Theodore Roosevelt and Hamilton Wright Mabie, through whom she sends the letter, would be willing to help the Orange Guild of the Church Institute for Negroes. They hope to endow and support five church schools, similarly to the Tuskegee Institute. Booker T. Washington addressed the group this year, and they hope Roosevelt and Mabie may be able to address a meeting of the group next year.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-02-23
Elias Cottrell asks Theodore Roosevelt to speak to the board members on his behalf to fill the potential vacancy on the Board of Education for the Jeans and Slater Funds.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-09
Andrew A. Hope asks Theodore Roosevelt to review the enclosed manuscript about bettering the financial and social conditions of the laboring class and send his opinion. While Booker T. Washington believes Hope’s suggestions will be of value to African Americans, Hope considers it of benefit to all laboring classes.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-12-07
President-Elect Taft solicits President Roosevelt’s opinion on various political matters, including his inaugural address, pending statehood bills, and cabinet appointments. In particular, Taft would like Roosevelt to review the enclosed passage regarding Asian immigration and related laws. Taft also discusses the rationale behind his potential cabinet appointments, explaining that his choices are based on the individual’s experience, conduct, and character.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-23
President-Elect Taft writes to President Roosevelt about the upcoming inauguration and legislative debates. Taft reiterates that he has not changed his mind about Fowler (presumably the Fowler Bill relating to financial reform, H.R. 12677) but will attempt to subvert any machinations by that bill’s sponsor, Representative Charles N. Fowler. Taft requests feedback on his inaugural address regarding relations with Japan, and shares that several prominent African American leaders, including Booker T. Washington, have evaluated his speech as it relates to African Americans. Taft concludes by warmly accepting an offer to stay in the White House during the last night of the Roosevelt administration, partially to undermine rumors that he and Roosevelt have been in conflict.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-02-25
Harry Johnston discusses his current stay in Haiti and his pleasant experience traveling with American Minister Plenipotentiary H. W. Furniss as his guide. Johnston describes Furniss as “the most influential foreigner” in Haiti and compliments his knowledge of the country, his popularity among locals, and his ability to navigate the “rotten” Haitian government. Johnston urges President Roosevelt to visit Haiti because of its natural beauty but cautions him about the “utterly bad” government and “ignorant” president. Johnston also asks Roosevelt to put in a good word for him when he passes through the Panama Canal at the same time as president-elect William H. Taft, and he requests that Roosevelt send him two War Department maps of Haiti and San Domingo.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-01-13
Alexander Jeffrey McKelway was not aware that he was going to be invited to a conference, but suggests that President Roosevelt also consider inviting Judge Noah B. Feagin, who may be able to contribute to the discussion as well. McKelway suggests several people, both Republicans and Democrats, to consider as possible replacements for the recently-deceased Judged Thomas R. Purnell of North Carolina. McKelway also comments on the development of the Republican party as an opposition party in the South.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-29