Your TR Source
H. I. Hadsell asks Theodore Roosevelt what camera Roosevelt found best in Africa. Hadsell is focused on animal and bird photography and shares what kind of equipment he currently uses.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-06-15
Volney O. Johnson sends Theodore Roosevelt a photograph of deer he took while “being concealed in a brush pile.” Additionally, he encloses a clipping about the park where the deer live.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-04-14
Edward North Buxton congratulates President Roosevelt on his recent victory in United States presidential election, and says that while he is sure Roosevelt would have appreciated some rest, his victory will make “all thoughtful people […] rejoice.” He regrets he has not been able to accept Roosevelt’s invitation to visit the United States yet, but wonders if he might be able to make it to Roosevelt’s inauguration. Buxton would like to visit some National Parks as well in order to do some wildlife photography, but is unsure how accessible they will be in winter, and asks for Roosevelt’s advice on the matter. He briefly comments on the Dogger Bank incident, and on relations with Russia.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-11-09
President Roosevelt informs Frank M. Chapman that Oyster Bay is not a suitable venue for him to show his wildlife photographs, and invites him to show them at the White House in the fall. Roosevelt also discusses some birds that he recently observed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-07
President Roosevelt informs the Eaton Brothers that the photographs of the buffalo migrating to Canada are interesting and that they should be preserved. He suggests that they send the photographs to a magazine.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-08
President Roosevelt introduces Major Pitcher, Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park to William H. Wright. Wright is interested in taking photographs in the park, and Roosevelt asks if he be allowed to do so.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-02-19
President Roosevelt greatly admires George Shiras’s photographs of wildlife in National Geographic Magazine, and encourages him to write “a big book – a book of bulk as well as worth” giving details about the photographs and animals that he observed, saying that such a work would be a great boon to the country.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-14
President Roosevelt urges George Shiras to publish a book that contains not only his pictures, but also his notes on wild animals.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-02-07
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt informs Walter S. Cash that he is not interested in A. G. Wallihan’s book. If further editions of the book are produced, Roosevelt requests that his introduction be amended to refer specifically to those pictures he mentions. The photographs of the wild game are admirable, but Wallihan included some fake pictures of taxidermy animals without Roosevelt’s knowledge. If Wallihan removes those images, Roosevelt will write a preface.
The book Theodore Roosevelt refers to is Hoofs, claws and antlers of the Rocky Mountains, by the camera.
Richard Kearton thanks Theodore Roosevelt for his letter, and informs Roosevelt that he hosted Edward A. Clark, and attempted to show him all he could in his neighborhood. Kearton thinks his brother, Cherry Kearton, will be delighted to learn about Roosevelt’s praise of his pictures of Africa. Cherry Kearton is currently in Borneo with an intended stop in India before returning home, and Kearton will convey Roosevelt’s compliments in his next letter. Kearton mentions that his sister in law and her husband are on their second trip to East Africa, and intend to write a book on their experiences.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-05-31
William L. Finley had previously promised to get Theodore Roosevelt an enlargement of some of the photographs of birds he showed to Roosevelt while Roosevelt was still president, but was unfortunately not able to do so before Roosevelt left. He offers to bring them to Portland, Oregon, so that Roosevelt can pick them up on his trip along the West Coast, but acknowledges that Roosevelt may have too many gifts already. Finley would like to speak with Roosevelt some day about the wild bird conservation efforts he is involved in on the Pacific coast.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-26
Edmund Heller discusses Paul James Rainey and his offer to collect specimens in British East Africa for the Smithsonian. Museum officials urge Heller to accompany Painey, but he feels responsible for completing the work on Roosevelt’s collection. He asks Roosevelt’s opinion on the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-01-31
Edmund Heller informs Theodore Roosevelt the hunting trophies are ready to send to James L. Clark and includes a list of items. He had some of his African photographs enlarged and framed and will send some to Roosevelt. Newland Tarleton and Co. reports that Carl Ethan Akeley was in British East Africa as of six weeks ago.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1910-08-08
Harry Johnston takes great pleasure in corresponding with President Roosevelt, not just because it is an honor to have private letters from an important head of state, but also because Johnston is elated that Roosevelt shares his opinions about the treatment of Black people. Johnston outlines some of his beliefs, including the fact that better treatment of Africans in British colonies makes good economic sense. Johnston will be in the United States in the autumn, and hopes to meet with Roosevelt and discuss a number of matters he hopes to write about, including a history of African people in the Western Hemisphere, the problems of Liberia, and the preservation of big game. In a postscript, Johnston writes in “phonetic English,” saying if English spelling were simplified it would become the “universal medium of international relations.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-08-06
George Shiras had planned to visit President Roosevelt to talk about wilderness matters, but was called away by the sudden death of his father-in-law, Peter Q. White. Shiras wanted to give Roosevelt an explanation about his recent article in National Geographic Magazine, and tells him his plan to collect his photography work together in several such articles before overhauling all of his material. Shiras plans to go to Yellowstone and the Rocky Mountains soon to take more picture of deer and bear. He sends several copies of National Geographic Magazine, including one particularly addressed to Kermit Roosevelt for him to look at in case he ends up being Roosevelt’s photographer during his African safari.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-23
Frank M. Chapman would like to show President Roosevelt slides of the pictures of birds he took on Pelican Island last March. He suggests going to Oyster Bay when Roosevelt returns there. He believes the pictures will illustrate how naturalists are making “permanent, graphic records of natural history facts in demonstrable form.” Chapman also discusses a new Biograph camera, which may be useful for Roosevelt to take on his trip to Africa to photograph wildlife.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-06-05
George Shiras is glad that President Roosevelt has taken an interest in his wildlife photography, and he describes the circumstances under which a large number of his recent prints were acquired by National Geographic Magazine. Shiras tells Roosevelt that his previous appeal did not “fall on deaf ears,” and he will decline to be nominated for Congress this year. Shiras hopes that Roosevelt will “keep within reasonable distance of the eight hour law.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-28
Dr. Lambert forwards to President Roosevelt a letter from Dr. William Crawford Gorgas which might interest him. Lambert notes that Anna Roosevelt Cowles saw his wolf pictures and spoke to Whitelaw Reid about them. Reid is anxious to show them to King Edward and the Prince of Wales. Lambert has not seen his own bear pictures yet, which were less successful, but will have them some day this week. He asks if Roosevelt, when he comes to Brooklyn, would like Lambert to meet him somewhere and bring some of his bear hunt pictures.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-05-22
Kermit Roosevelt describes his travels in Africa. He has hunted giraffe, lion, and cheetah. There have been issues with smallpox, particularly among their native guides.
1910-02-05