Lot. Autograph Material. Roosevelt, Theodore. File of Typed Letters Signed ( & related material). 1903 - 1908. All to the American Naturalist & Author John Burroughs. All on White House letterhead.

Typed letters signed (29):
1) March 7, 1903. 2 1/2 pp., 4to. Discussing the effect of man on the "habits" of wild animals, the [ ecological] role of hunting, offering a critique of then popular literature on wild life behavior, visited Yellowstone. With autograph postscript & corrections.
2) March 12, 1903. 1p., 4to. " Three cheers! I think I shall be able to go into the Yellowstone... I may not hunt...and shall simply look at the game. I shall count on your being with me....With autograph postscript.
3) March, 14, 1903. 1 1/8 pp. " Subject to unforeseen disaster in the Senate I have about arranged my trip... into the Yellowstoneark....When I get to Yosemite I shall spend four days with John Muir....I shall enjoy far more spending the two weeks in the Yellowstone with You....I look forward to being with you when we see the elk, antelope and mountain sheep at close quarters. Bring pretty warm clothing..." With autograph post script. And a note in pencil at the head of the first page in John Burroughs' hand, " Ain't this a jolly letter!"
4) May 19, 1903. 1 1/2 pp., 4to. " Your letter was delightful....I enclose Grinnell's answer to my letter, which I do not regard as satisfactory [ as far as it relates to Burroughs].... I have just come from... a trip.. into the Yosemite with John Muir. Both the Yosemite and the big trees were all that any human being could desire...." With 1 autograph correction.
5) June 11, 1903. 1 1/2pp., 4to. Pejorative comments on Casper William Whitney, edition of Outing magazine, ..." I happen to know that he is entirely untrustworthy as an observer [of wild life behavior]" With autograph additions & corrections.
6) July 6, 1903. 3pp.,4to. Expounding his ideas on the mental capacities of animals, " ...I have not the slightest doubt that there is an immense amount of unconscious teaching by wood- folk of there offspring...." Relating his observations on his own pet baby badger, and on the cowardice of Cougars. With autograph corrections.
7) August 1, 1903. 2pp., 4to. Engaged in a dialogue with Burroughs on unconscious ( & even conscious) teaching among animals, "...is it not possible that emotion and knowledge are not clearly differentiated in the brute mind? Don't you think we are apt to lump all animals together as opposed to man, in a very unwarranted way?.... I should be rather surprised if it proved true that the higher monkey did not occasionally tea hits offspring... in away analogous... to the way in which a Bushman teaches his or her offsprings..." With autograph corrections.
8) September 22, 1903. 1p., 4to. "....My duties will be very observing until after Congress adjourns....I see Lyman Abbott tomorrow and am going to speak to him very plainly about Long....I feel as if he were demented. I never read such nonsense in my life...." With autograph corrections & additions.
9) October 12, 1903, 1 1/2pp. 4to. Continuing the dialogue with Burroughs on unconscious teaching in animals; disparaging John Long's [ published ] account of the behavior of sea-ducks. With autograph additions & corrections. And marginal ink exclamation point likely in Burroughs' hand.
10) November 28, 1903. 1p.,4to. " Just a line to blow off steam..." Disparaging John Long's article on the Canada Lynx, " outrageous falsehoods...[ comparable to accounts of ]catching elephants in the Arabian Nights..." With autograph additions & corrections.
11) December 23, 1903. 1p., 4to. " Marry Christmas to you, and many of them...." Referring to Hart Merriam's and [ Dr.] Grinnell's support in Burroughs ongoing argument with John Long. With autograph additions and corrections.
12) January 2, 1904. 1 1/2 pp., 4to. Disparaging John Long's [ published] account of the hunting behavior of the American Lynx. With autograph additions & corrections.
13) August 12, 1904. 1 1/2 pp., 4to, "...I have just received a letter from Buffalo Jones, describing his experiences in trying to get tin cans off the feet of the [grizzly] bears in the Yellowstone Park...." Reflecting on the changes made by Yellowstone Park in wild beast character, the attractions of the grounds of the White House, visited by red-headed woodpeckers. With small autograph correction.
14) May 17, 1905. 1p, 4to. ".... I wish you could have been along on our bear hunt...." With 3 line autograph postscript.
15) May 29, 1905. 3pp., 4to. Discussing the evolution of the mental faculties in animal & man; advantages of " indistinct coloration of the mother-bird." With autograph additions & corrections.
16) June 12, 1905. 1p.,4to. "....on account of your articles, I have struck out everything I have said about animals teaching their young, in the way of avoiding traps, poisons, ...." With 1 autograph comma added.
17) December 13, 1905. 1p., 4to. "....I am very glad you have written up the Yellowstone trip.Would you mind sending me the proofs of those stories?...."
18) December 18, 1905. 2pp., 4to. " I return the article. The only fault I have to find with it, my dear fellow, is that you look upon me through glasses altogether too rose-colored...." Correcting Burroughs' over estimation of Yellowstone's whitetail dear population in relation to " black-tail" deer.
19) May 14, 1906. 1 1/2 pp., 4to. On the joys of bird watching on the White House grounds. With autograph additions & corrections.
20) May 23, 1907. 1p., 4to. Reporting to have seen "a small party of wild [ passenger] pigeons" in Albemarle County, Virginia. With one autograph comma added.
21) May 27, 1907. 1p., 4to. " ....I do not think it possible I could have been mistaken [ about observing passenger pigeons]..." With autograph additions & corrections.
22) June 2, 1907. 2pp., 4to. On having seen passenger pigeons."....It doesn't seem to me possible that I was mistaken. Nevertheless, I have had one or two curious experiences of the fallibility of human vision...." With autograph corrections.
23) June 8, 1907. 2pp., 4to ." I have corroborative evidence about the wild pigeons ...." His close friend Joseph Wilmer's "colored foreman ," Dick, " with whom I have shot turkeys.... is a singularly close observer...." With autograph additions & corrections.
24) June 15, 1907. 1 p., 4to. "..." We have no quarrel with Mr. Long for the conclusions he draws from facts. Our quarrel with him is because he inverts the facts...." Re disputes in popular natural history periodicals. With autograph postscript.
25) June 22, 1907. 2pp., 4to. Reflections on bird watching, his allusions to birds in his books,Ranch Life and the Huntig Trail. Urging Burroughs, in a 9 line autograph postscript, to accompany him & Mrs. Roosevelt on a Spring bird-watching expedition to Virginia, " and we might see passenger pigeons."
26) July 19. 1907. 3pp., 4to. "... As you well know, my friendship with you has been one of the things I have most valued,..." Recounting recent close encounters ( several with his "boys") with birds foxes & small mammals.Autograph additions & corrections, autograph postscript.
27) September 3, 1907. 1 p., 4to. On appointing a Justice of the Peace ( recommend by Burroughs?), also on publications relating to the " 'nature faker'business." With autograph additions & corrections.
28) April 16, 1908. 1p., 4to. " ' Leaf and Tendrill' has come , and of courseI shall read every word of it with the greatest interest....We are both delighted that you are going to come down with us for three days at Pine Knot...."
29) July 28, 1908. 2 1/2 pp., 4to. ".... The political part of your letter I am not going to discuss now. Perhaps I am too fond of Taft...." Discussing the question of what constitutes a biological species; offering observations on bird life in the Spring. With a 2 line autograph addition in the body of the letter, other autograph additions & corrections.

Lot also includes
Printed invitation and color embossed menu/ program for Luncheon tendered to Theadore Roosevelt, April the Second, 1903, Auditorium Annex, Chicago. The front cover of the menu is signed by Theodore Roosevelt & John Burroughs; 2 searing cards for Burroughs,each signed by him are present. In the original mailing envelope, addressed to Clara Burroughs. Paper clip residue on cards & interior of menu.
Gilt embossed pamphlet with folding map. " Tour of The President to the Pacific Coast, April 1to June 5, 1903" - gilt embossed cover title. In original mailing envelope. With pencil annotation in Burroughs' hand.
Each of the typed letters signed is on White House letterhead. The letter of May 19, 1903 is dated from Sacramento ; those of July 6, August 1, & September 8 of 1903, and those of June, & June 15 & 22, July19, September 3, 1907, & July 28, 1908 from Oyster Bay.
The letters total 49 typed leaves, containing many autograph additions & corrections & approx 40 lines of autograph postscripts & c. All complete legible, showing occasional creasing, other light wear, a few bear paper clip residue. Housed in custom, gilt decorated & lettered scarlet morocco clamshell box.