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Manuscripts
Theodore Roosevelt correspondence with William M. Van der Weyde concerning Thomas Paine
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- Description
- Volume contains correspondence between Theodore Roosevelt and William M. Van der Weyde regarding Roosevelt's reference to Thomas Paine as a "filthy little atheist" in his publication Gouverneur Morris (1888). Roosevelt alleged his description of Paine was partly based on a quote from statesman Gouverneur Morris's journal. The letters discuss the origin of the Morris quote and histories of Paine by authors Jared Sparks and Moncure Daniel Conway. Roosevelt expounds upon the definitions of "atheist" and "deist" in several letters. The final Roosevelt letter is sent by his secretary on his behalf (1918 September 4, mssHM 6026). Roosevelt's letters to Van der Weyde are all signed typescripts; most contain autograph edits. In addition, the volume contains typescript and facsimile copies of a letter from Roosevelt to "Mr. Hartmann," 1917 October 23 (FAC 50). Van der Weyde's letters are typescript signed copies. An introduction to the correspondence by Van der Weyde and images of Paine, Morris, Roosevelt, Van der Weyde, and others are also present in the volume. Two images are original photographs of Roosevelt, one a portrait and the other at his desk, taken by Van der Weyde and signed by him (undated). Items were bound together by Van Der Weyde for preservation purposes; title on binding is "Roosevelt - Van der Weyde Correspondnce concerning Thomas Paine." Volume contains five Theodore Roosevelt typescript letters signed dated: 1918 April 4 (mssHM 6015), 1918 April 19 (mssHM 6016), 1918 July 1 (mssHM 6019), 1918 July 9 (mssHM 6021), and 1918 August 21 (mssHM 6024).
