Your TR Source
William J. Long writes an open letter to President Theodore Roosevelt, demanding that Roosevelt retract his attacks against Long’s work, particularly a story about a wolf killing a caribou, which Roosevelt calls “mathematically impossible.” Long includes statements from witnesses attesting to his honesty.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-29
President Roosevelt writes Mark Sullivan, of Collier’s, in response to Jack London’s article recently published in the magazine. London’s article incorrectly quotes Roosevelt on multiple accounts. Although Roosevelt thoroughly disagrees with London, his disappointment lies with Collier’s for publishing such a poorly constructed and argued piece.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-09
Although he enjoyed William J. Long’s book, President Roosevelt takes issue with the fact that Long presents several anecdotes about animal behavior as absolute fact, when they are not so. Roosevelt highlights a passage about a wolf killing a caribou in an improbable fashion as an example.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-27
Caspar Whitney, editor of The Outing Magazine, thanks President Roosevelt for the galley proofs by George Shiras, but wants to clarify that he can only use the parts of the text which relate to Shiras’ knowledge of wolves, which is a small portion of the full article. Whitney mentions that William J. Long is “making another effort for additional advertising.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-15
George R. Smith relates a story to President Roosevelt in which a pack of wolves killed a deer in much the same way as William J. Long reported, creating controversy between him and Roosevelt.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-06-02
Stephen S. Jones describes how a pack of wolves attacks a horse. The pack nips at a horse’s legs until the horse falls over and then a wolf attacks at the horse’s chest.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-05-24
Robert M. Norbee writes to John M. Phillips regarding wolf puppies and their behavior he has observed.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905
John M. Phillips writes to President Roosevelt regarding the behavior of wolves raising puppies. Phillips refers to a letter from R. M. Norboe and provides information on Norboe’s wilderness and wildlife experience.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-12-29
John Burroughs thanks President Roosevelt for his letter and is delighted that Roosevelt spoke candidly to William J. Long’s publisher. He wishes the general public and especially Long’s readers could see these remarks. Criticizing Long’s ideas on wolves, Burroughs notes that he will not read Long’s “preposterous book” and remarks that others view Long as “a notorious liar,” too. Burroughs’ book, Ways of Nature, will be out in October and he will send a copy to Roosevelt. Burroughs read the recently published account of Roosevelt’s bear hunt and found it “full of meat for the naturalist as well as for the sportsman.” In particular, Roosevelt’s description of human traits in animals resonated with Burroughs’ own observations.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-09-30
Thomas G. Atteberry conveys two stories relative to President Roosevelt’s argument in his article, “With the Cougar Hounds,” that wolves do not attack humans out of hunger. One is the story of a woman who dropped her child for wolves to eat so she could escape when traveling in Montana. Atteberry has also been followed by mountain lions while hunting.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-03-19
T. G. Atteberry conveys two stories relative to President Roosevelt’s argument in his “With the Cougar Hounds” article that wolves do not attack humans out of hunger. One is the story of a woman who dropped her child for wolves to eat so she could escape when traveling in Montana. Atteberry has also been followed by mountain lions while hunting.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-03-19