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President Roosevelt has confidentially told Gutzon Borglum that he will be visiting Mount Rushmore. Borglum plans to officially unveil the “great heads” of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln during the visit. He suggests that Representative Greenway could deliver a speech.
1936-07-13
Gutzon Borglum outlines the original philosophy and purpose behind the selection of the figures for Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
1936-05-13
Superintendent Taylor reviews the rules, judging, and awards for the Mount Rushmore inscription contest.
1934-03-22
Manuscript summarizing the westward expansion and development of the United States. The text was created as part of a contest to decide on an inscription to be placed at Mount Rushmore.
Unknown
Report on costs, materials, and labor needed for the completion of Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Report includes estimated costs and timeline for completion of each figure, labor costs for each employee, and inventory and costs of new equipment and maintenance.
1935
Legislation creating the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Commission and laying out its powers and responsibilities. The purpose of the commission is to complete the carving of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial consisting of “heroic figures of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt.”
1929-02-25
Invitation to the ceremonial unveiling of George Washington’s “colossal portrait” at the Mount Rushmore National Memorial.
1930
The Committee on the Library approves the appropriation of $200,000 of additional funds for the completion of Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Any future appropriations have been deemed out of order.
1935-07-10
This draft of a satirical magazine articles discusses what will happen when President Roosevelt leaves the White House and embarks on his travels. It suggests that Roosevelt’s greatness will increase as he sails farther away from America and that his trip will outdo those of other former presidents. The article concludes by suggesting that Roosevelt’s hunting trip to Africa will be a “tremendous success.”
1908
Uncle Sam, looking a bit startled, sits in a chair, holding a page from a calendar with “February 22” printed in red, for George Washington’s birthday. Theodore Roosevelt stands next to him with a paint brush full of red paint which he has used to change the color of his birthday, “October 27,” on the calendar, suggesting that he, too, might be considered the “Father of His Country.” A silhouette portrait of George Washington hangs on the wall next to the calendar. Caption: A question of dates.
The subject of L. M. Glackens’s cartoon is Washington’s Birthday — the issue of Puck celebrates it — but the object of the cartoon is to ridicule Theodore Roosevelt. The outgoing president, who would retire in less than three weeks, is dressed in his old Rough Rider uniform and has rudely painted his own birthday on the calendar. It was an ad hominem attack upon Roosevelt; a comment on his supposed ego.
Hugh Gordon Miller addresses the Annual Lincoln Dinner of the Republican Club of the City of New York. He jokes about his previous speaking engagement in New York. He describes the historical and contemporary relationship between Virginians and New York. He celebrates the rebuilt union of states. Miller reviews the accomplishments of the United States and New South since the American Civil War. He teases about Kentucky’s politics. He pays tribute to Abraham Lincoln, Robert E. Lee, William McKinley, and Rough Riders. Miller regrets that the South is aligned with the Democratic Party and calls on Republicans in the North to help settle “the problem of the suffrage and of the races.” Miller concludes with a vision of the ideal United States. Club President Henry Edwin Tremain introduces Senator John M. Thurston.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901-02-12
President Roosevelt speaks at the reburial of William S. Rosencrans at Arlington National Cemetery. Roosevelt honors veterans of the American Civil War, like Rosencrans, without whom, “the work of Washington would have crumbled into bloody chaos.” Roosevelt asserts that without the work of the soldiers in the Civil War, the accomplishments of soldiers in the Revolutionary War would have meant nothing. Roosevelt also declares that it does not matter what rank one held in the army, as long as he did his duty.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-05-17
President Roosevelt addresses the citizens of San Jose, remarking on the agricultural surroundings. He also discusses the educational system of the state, including the college at Santa Clara, the University of the Pacific, Lick Observatory, and Leland Stanford University. Roosevelt also remarks on citizenship and character.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-05-11
Several former presidents of the United States, including Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Grant, and Cleveland, rest their elbows on a wall and hold out their hands, collectively saying “Good Luck, Theodore! We had to suffer the same kind of abuse in our day.”
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1913-05-27
The Great White Fleet returning from the world cruise to Hampton Roads, Virginia.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1909-02-22
At center, George Washington is being questioned about cutting down a cherry tree. Vignettes around him show Washington as a lover, a joke writer, a lawyer, a preacher, a street vendor selling food, a husband arriving home late and drunk, a friend, and a newspaper editor. In each vignette Washington strives to “Always Tell the Truth,” which in all situations fails him. He has no clients, no parishioners, no sales, and is about to be sued for “Libel.” He is not likely to sell any jokes, get a date, or mollify an angry wife.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
1898-02-23
Typed draft of Theodore Roosevelt’s speech at the semi-centennial celebration of Nebraska’s statehood. Roosevelt recalls America’s two wars up to the present, the Revolutionary and the Civil Wars, and says that they were good for the country because they established liberties for its citizens. He warns that World War I is threatening those liberties due to pacifists and a lack of military preparation by the United States. He calls for loyalty to America from its immigrant population and for voluntary service in the military and aid organizations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1917-06-14
Theodore Roosevelt’s copy of his speech at the semi-centennial celebration of Nebraska’s statehood. Roosevelt recalls America’s two wars up to the present, the Revolutionary and the Civil Wars, and says that they were good for the country because they established liberties for its citizens. He warns that World War I is threatening those liberties due to pacifists and a lack of military preparation by the United States. He calls for loyalty to America from its immigrant population and for voluntary service in the military and aid organizations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1917-06-14
Typed draft with handwritten edits of Theodore Roosevelt’s speech at the Columbia County Fair. Roosevelt says that while America is a melting pot of many cultures, it is still a single country. He calls for all citizens to be united under one flag and one language. He condemns Germany’s actions during the war and says anyone that does not fully support the United States is a traitor. Americans have an obligation to be loyal to their country and to demand justice for all men regardless of social class. The country needs to be better prepared for war in the future.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1917-09-05
Typed draft with edits of Theodore Roosevelt’s speech at the Columbia County Fair. Roosevelt says that while America is a melting pot of many cultures, it is still a single country. He calls for all citizens to be united under one flag and one language. He condemns Germany’s actions during the war and says anyone that does not fully support the United States is a traitor. Americans have an obligation to be loyal to their country and to demand justice for all men regardless of social class. The country needs to be better prepared for war in the future.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1917-09-05