Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Roosevelt, Theodore (1858-1919) to Mrs. W. Chandler

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05726 Author/Creator: Roosevelt, Theodore (1858-1919) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 14 June 1894 Pagination: 4 p. + envelope ; 20 x 13.4 cm Order a Copy

On stationery of US Civil Service Commission. "There must be failure and sorrow, where life is as it should be, eager, strenuous, vigorous. It has been a hobby of mine that intellect was of small moment compared to character." With envelope.

June 14th '94
Dear Mrs. Chanler,
I am very much pleased that you liked my review. I sent a copy to Pearson; but he has just died; I received a very sweet note from Mrs. Pearson.
Tell Winty there was no enclosure at all in his last note to me. [2] I was greatly interested in Kidd's book. There are a number of points on which I should differ from him; but the book is a good one; it has the [struck: st] ring of strength and hope to it; it anticipates the growth of happiness and well being, and yet does not look forward to a dead-level; Kidd realizes that there must be failure and sorrow, where life is as it should be, eager, strenuous, vigorous. It has [3] been a hobby of mine that intellect was of small moment compared to character.
Winty's note has just come. I fear it is out of the question for me to try to get to Tuxedo, But I shall be passing through New York about July 1st. Can't you two, and the fearsome Eater of Elephants, lunch with at Dels, or elsewhere, on that day?
With the keen instinct of the Editor I am anxious to get your african brother in law [4] to write me just one hunting story - one that will in no way interfere with his own book - for the next volume of the Boone v Crockett. Make Winty show him the first volume, so as to lead him gently up to the idea.
The Lodges are dear. Cabot has had doubts about Kidds book, since he has found that Berry recommended it to Nannie; he fears it may contain some hidden amorousness.
Always yours
Theodore Roosevelt

[envelope]
Mrs. Winthrop Chanler
Tuxedo Park
N. Y.

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

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