President Theodore Roosevelt artifacts at Benton County Museum

In preparation for a visit to our museum by Joe Wiegand (who is acclaimed as the nation's premiere Theodore Roosevelt reprisor), Benton County Museum has put on display a variety of artifacts and photographs from the museum’s artifact collection.  Over the span of several months we posted them on our Facebook page, and they're compiled here for a quick reference to this collection of Teddy Roosevelt artifacts. 

 

Sagamore Hill, New York
1960

Sagamore Hill was known as the “Summer White House” during President Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency from 1901-1909.  According to the National Park Service, “Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. and his wife Eleanor Alexander Roosevelt built the house they called ‘Old Orchard’ in 1937-1938 on four acres of land purchased from Ted’s mother in the Sagamore Hill apple orchard.”  A public auction was held after Eleanor’s death in 1960.  Two years later Sagamore Hill became a National Historic Site and it continues to be maintained by the National Park Service.

Teddy Roosevelt's love of coffee was well known.  He often drank a gallon a day, sometimes with as many as seven lumps of sugar in one cup.  His son, Ted, Jr., said his father's coffee cup was "more in the nature of a bathtub."

 

Pink lusterware Tea Service
Maker unknown
circa 1790

This hand-painted pink lusterware tea service came from Old Orchard, Sagamore Hill, Long Island, the home of Theodore Roosevelt, Junior. It was purchased from an estate sale after the death of Roosevelt's wife in 1960.

Lusterware was developed near Baghdad in the ninth century, used by the Moors in Spain, and revived in England in the 1800s. The iridescent effect is created by painting with gold oxide over a glazed object and firing again.

 
 

White House invitation and envelope
from First Lady Edith Carrow Roosevelt
to Hon. & Mrs. Charles C. Reid
Tuesday, April 29, 1902

Congressman Reid (D-AR) served as U.S. Representative from 1901-1911.

 

 

 

In 1911, Theodore Roosevelt was seeking nomination as the Progressive Party’s candidate for President.  Traveling by rail to the party’s convention in Portland, he made a brief stop in Eugene where he spoke for an hour to a large crowd. 

 

 

 

Oregon Trail Monument Expedition Postcard

Washington pioneer and Oregon Trail historian Ezra Meeker met with President Theodore Roosevelt in 1907. Meeker traveled by covered wagon from Puyallup, Washington, to Washington D.C. in support of preserving and commemorating the Oregon Trail.

In a speech in 1899, Theodore Roosevelt set forth his personal philosophy of a “strenuous life.” A part of that speech and a facsimile of his signature appear below a bas relief portrait on this bronze plaque.

Invitation to the dedication and unveiling of the statue of Theodore Roosevelt
Portland, Oregon

In 1922, Dr. Henry Coe, a long-time friend and supporter of Theodore Roosevelt presented this statue to the city of Portland.  The 18-foot bronze statue by New York sculptor Alexander Phimister shows Roosevelt dressed in the Roughrider uniform he wore for the famous assault on San Juan Hill during the Spanish-American War.  The statue is located in Portland’s Park blocks between Jefferson and Madison Streets. 

 

Minton China from the White House
1901-1909

This fine Minton china was imported by Gilman Collamore & Co, which was located at Fifth Ave & 30th Street, New York, from 1861 until approximately 1920.

 
Campaign button

Front and reverse views of a stereograph photo of President Roosevelt's inauguration, March 4, 1905.

 

 

Teddy Roosevelt artifacts at
Benton County Museum
Philomath, Oregon
USA

Some of these artifacts were donated to the Horner Museum.
Oregon State University Horner Museum Collection
sponsored and supported in part by the
Horner Museum Fund.