Zoological specimens

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Whitelaw Reid

President Roosevelt requests that Ambassador Reid explain to Robert Offley Ashburton Crewe-Milnes that his African trip is a scientific expedition to collect specimens for the National Museum, not “a game butchering trip.” However, if given the opportunity, Roosevelt may collect some trophies. The invitation from the chancellor of Oxford, George Nathaniel Curzon, to present the Romanes lecture gives Roosevelt a genuine reason to visit England on his return from Africa. He details his travel itinerary, plans for appropriate formal attire, and people to call upon. Roosevelt is interested in what the Japanese minister for foreign affairs Jutarō Komura says and includes his letter to Japanese ambassador Kogoro Takahira and the reply. Reid’s full statement on the incidents of the Olympics pleases Roosevelt, who believes intense international matches inevitably result in misunderstandings.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-20

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to C. Hart Merriam

Theodore Roosevelt sends C. Hart Merriam the injured skull of a male wolf he caught in Montana in 1889. The specimen may be of no value.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-27

Letter from Charles D. Walcott to Theodore Roosevelt

Charles D. Walcott acknowledges a letter from Theodore Roosevelt from earlier in the month regarding collections from Roosevelt’s African safari and the American Museum of Natural History, addressing some of his questions and concerns specifically about white rhinoceros specimens and a research paper on giant elands. Walcott agrees with Roosevelt that the collections should be used by the museum and may send Waldron DeWitt Miller to discuss things with Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-13

Letter from Edgar Alexander Mearns to Theodore Roosevelt

Edgar Alexander Mearns writes to Theodore Roosevelt to request his help in obtaining a permit for the collection of moose, caribou, and beaver for the U.S. National Museum. Kermit Roosevelt will obtain the specimens while he is in New Brunswick.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1910-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to C. Hart Merriam

Theodore Roosevelt sends C. Hart Merriam the skin and skeleton of a wolf killed about fifty miles north of Quebec on the Tourelli Club grounds.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1917-01-15

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frederick Courteney Selous

Theodore Roosevelt sends Frederick Courteney Selous an article he wrote for The Outlook and directs him to the footnote about Alfred Russel Wallace’s statement about antelope horns. He finds Wallace and naturalists like him absurd in their writings about protective coloration and similar notions. They develop theories without having practical knowledge. Kermit Roosevelt’s hunts were successful.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to James L. Clark

Theodore Roosevelt wishes he could see the group of hartebeests before they leave James L. Clark’s shop but will have to wait and see them at the National Museum of Natural History. He is glad Clark is working on the white rhinoceros.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-10

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to Mrs. A. S. Buckman

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary explains to Mrs. A. S. Buckman that all of the specimens Roosevelt obtained during his safari have been sent to the Smithsonian Institution and, therefore, he cannot comply with her request.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-11-02

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John B. Sewell

Theodore Roosevelt informs John B. Sewell that he has received his letter and forwarded it to Raymond L. Ditmars at the New York Zoological Park. He notes they have many alligators and are not sure if they can accept Sewell’s offer.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Raymond Lee Ditmars

Theodore Roosevelt offers the Raymond Lee Ditmars the opportunity to receive another alligator, though he is unsure if one is desired. He advises Ditmars to contact Dr. Sewell if interested and notes he will inform Sewell of the referral.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-07

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Edmund Heller

Theodore Roosevelt expresses to Edmund Heller the need to quickly document big game specimens from Africa and urges him to return to Washington to finish his reports, sharing news from Frederick Selous and sending regards to friends.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-11

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Le Baron Russell Briggs

Theodore Roosevelt explains to Le Baron Russell Briggs, the dean of Harvard College, that his son Kermit Roosevelt has been asked by the Smithsonian to gather certain specimen of moose, caribou and beaver in New Brunswick for the National Museum. In order to fulfill this request, Kermit will need to be a few days late in reporting at Harvard, so Theodore Roosevelt asks Briggs if he can excuse his son’s absence.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to C. H. Stigand

Theodore Roosevelt sends C. H. Stigand a pamphlet he wrote on protective coloration in animals. He hopes Stigand enjoyed his trip with Frederick Courteney Selous and that the latter got good specimens of the giant eland. He discusses the differences between the ordinary eland and the giant eland and contemplates the coloration of Mrs. Gray’s waterbuck. Roosevelt makes “a special plea” to Stigand, asking him to write another book that includes his personal experiences, such as the time a lion mauled him.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-08-15

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Henry V. D. Spicer

Theodore Roosevelt attempts to answer Henry V. D. Spicer’s questions about his safari, saying that he was in Africa for eleven months, but could only give the precise number of days by carefully going through his diary. His book, African Game Trails, gives a rough statement of all the specimens collected, but he recommends Spicer contact the Smithsonian Institute to find out if an exact catalog has been published yet.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-06-13

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Horace G. Knowles

Theodore Roosevelt valued the editorial from Horace G. Knowles, and Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt was pleased with the tiger skin.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-19

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Charles D. Walcott

Theodore Roosevelt writes Charles D. Walcott that Andrew Carnegie does not want any further information from Roosevelt on the subject of art. Roosevelt is excited that Walcott will mount the giant eland and white rhino at the Smithsonian. Roosevelt would like to lunch with Walcott before his trip to the Rockies.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-05-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Frank M. Chapman

Theodore Roosevelt relates to Frank M. Chapman that while visiting Archibald Roosevelt at his school in Mesa, Arizona, he noticed a number of birds which he failed at the time to recognize as cactus wren, due to the solid black coloration of their throats and their vigorous, familiar behavior. Roosevelt is forwarding several specimens to Chapman to ascertain whether his identification of the birds was correct. Roosevelt will soon begin writing an article on concealing coloration, as he is surprised that scientists have accepted Abbott Handerson Thayer’s theories on the subject so readily.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to A. M. Corwin

Theodore Roosevelt shares A. M. Corwin’s concerns about Carl Ethan Akeley, particularly as he has heard reports that Akeley was injured by an elephant and has been suffering from a fever. When he saw Akeley in Africa, Roosevelt tried to convince him to be satisfied with taking an elephant with tusks weighing sixty pounds each and to return home and have his specimen mounted. Akeley, however, would not consent to do so, wishing to travel on to Uganda to pursue gorilla.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-04-21

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John J. White

Theodore Roosevelt arranges for payment to John J. White for expenses from the Africa hunting trip. He informs White he will be sending a check for the gun to John Rigby & Company. Roosevelt thanks White for a gun given to one of Roosevelt’s sons and discusses the spearing of a Nandi lion.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-17

Letter from Secretary of Theodore Roosevelt to B. F. Boos

Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary inquires about the delivery of an elk’s head to Roosevelt’s home in Oyster Bay, New York.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-02-15