Williams, Edith Derby, 1917-2008 | - Theodore Roosevelt Center

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Richard Derby

After Quentin Roosevelt’s death, it has been a great comfort for Theodore Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt to visit Ethel Roosevelt Derby and the children. Roosevelt relates an incident where Richard Derby, Jr., angled to get a new toy and he describes Edith Roosevelt Derby as a “fairy princess.” Flora Whitney will be visiting tomorrow and Quentin’s death has been very difficult for her. The Derby’s neighbors have been friendly, and Roosevelt gave them a speech in response.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-08-05

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Richard Derby

Ethel Roosevelt Derby and her children are all well and will be leaving Sagamore Hill today. Richard Derby’s letters to Ethel have been “absorbingly interesting” and Theodore Roosevelt feels that he can see Richard’s life and work before his eyes. Roosevelt is pleased that the United States now has “600,000 fighting soldiers” which he is sure are first class. He has been writing and speaking occasionally; a small effort at “speeding up the war.”

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-07-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Richard Derby

Ethel Roosevelt Derby and her children will be leaving Sagamore Hill in a few days, and Theodore Roosevelt enjoyed spending time with them. Everyone enjoys receiving Richard Derby’s letters as they are the most consistent source of overseas information. Roosevelt is proud of the work of the 1st and 2nd divisions and is glad they have crossed the Rhine River. He hopes that everyone will be brought home as soon as peace is assured.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-12-30

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Richard Derby

Theodore Roosevelt updates Richard Derby on his family who are staying at Sagamore Hill. They are all doing well. Roosevelt can do little regarding public affairs but speaks out occasionally when something needs to be said. He feels that the Wilson administration was flanked into “reluctant, dilatory, and too often inefficient, action.” Roosevelt believes that the troops are being sent abroad haphazardly and that General Wood is being sidelined out of spite. However, America’s resources are so vast that intervention will prove decisive despite the “folly” and partisan politics which absorb the Wilson administration.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-06-02

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Richard Derby

Theodore Roosevelt appreciates Richard Derby’s letter, which provided the first full information on Archibald Roosevelt’s condition. Everyone is very anxious as it appears that General Pershing has agreed to assist the Allied generals, which will place Richard, Ted Roosevelt, and Quentin Roosevelt at the front. Roosevelt is proud of their service and would not want them anywhere else. Spending time with Ethel Roosevelt Derby and the children over the winter has meant a great deal to Roosevelt and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-04-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Richard Derby

Theodore Roosevelt is afraid that it will not be a happy New Year for much of the world but he is glad that his sons were equal to the “mighty days.” It has been very cold at Sagamore Hill but the children’s rooms are warm and one bathroom remains unfrozen. Roosevelt describes waking up the children in the morning, and Richard Derby Jr. helping him prepare breakfast. Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt and Ethel Roosevelt Derby are feeling better.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-01-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Richard Derby

Richard Derby’s letter was a great relief and joy for Ethel Roosevelt Derby. Ethel is feeling better and is enjoying seeing her children in the home where she grew up. Theodore Roosevelt has been having fun with the children; sledding with Richard Derby, Jr. and cuddling with Edith Roosevelt Derby. He visited the National Army camp at Chillicothe, Ohio where admirable work is being done, but the men lack weapons.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-12-18

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ethel Roosevelt Derby

Theodore Roosevelt remarks that Uncle Douglas (Robinson’s) death is sad, but even sadder is the loss of the young, with life ahead of them. He comments, “That was fine, about the notary public and Quentin’s legacy.” Roosevelt misses Ethel Roosevelt Derby’s children, Richard Derby and Edith Roosevelt Derby.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-09-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ethel Roosevelt Derby

Ethel Roosevelt Derby’s letter made Theodore Roosevelt homesick for the Derby family. He is now always at breakfast on time as Ethel’s daughter, Edith Roosevelt Derby, is no longer there to keep his attention. When mounting his horse recently, Roosevelt laughed after recalling Richard Derby, Jr., frightening the horse with loud tricycling. They are excited over press reports that Quentin Roosevelt claimed an aerial victory which Roosevelt describes as Quentin’s “day of honor and triumph.” Archibald Roosevelt is having an arm operation and may need eight months to recover before returning to active service.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-07-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ethel Roosevelt Derby

Theodore Roosevelt is enjoying spending time with Ethel Roosevelt Derby’s children, Richard Derby, Jr., and Edith Roosevelt Derby. He received an interesting letter from Rudyard Kipling, who had hosted Kermit and Belle Roosevelt. Kermit received a captaincy from the British and Roosevelt is proud of his family’s contribution to the war effort.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-08-23

Theodore Roosevelt and Edith Derby

Theodore Roosevelt hugs his granddaughter, Edith Derby, daughter of Ethel Roosevelt Derby and Richard Derby.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site

Creation Date

1918

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Ethel Roosevelt Derby

Theodore Roosevelt reminisces about the two weeks spent at his daughter Ethel’s house in the wake of his son Quentin Roosevelt’s death. He details his time with his grandchildren, Richard, Jr. and little Edith. He closes by talking of Quentin and saying there is no use pretending his death is anything but a calamity.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-08-13