Theodore Roosevelt’s Sporting Universe

Theodore Roosevelt’s Sporting Universe

Photos © by Vicky Moon and Leonard Shapiro

Theodore Roosevelt (American, 1858–1919) “Riding to Hounds on Long Island,” c. 1886 Manuscript, ink on lined paper, National Sporting Library & Museum F. Ambrose Clark Rare Book Room, John H. and Martha Daniels Collection. Photo by Claudia Pfeiffer.

Tweed Roosevelt offered an enthralling presentation of “Theodore Roosevelt’s Sporting Universe” in the Founder’s Room at the National Sporting Library recently. The evening included cocktails with Colleen Yarger, the George L. Ohrstrom, Jr. Curator of Library Collections. Tweed, the great grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt, escorted his step-mother, Lucky Roosevelt, to the gathering. The talk covered “TR” and his lifelong love of horses highlighted by a 100-mile round trip on horseback he made during a blizzard, switching horses along the way, from the White House to Warrenton and back in 17 hours. This included a stop at the Warren Green Hotel. The circa 1828 building served as a hospital during the Civil War and remains in use to this day as a county office building on Hotel Street. As we returned home from this delightful evening, there was an email notice waiting from the Fauquier County Planning Commission informing us about an upcoming meeting in that very same Warren Green Building. (We love it when these things happen.) The exhibit in the library’s Forrest E. Mars, Sr. Exhibit Hall covers Teddy Roosevelt’s love of horses and his devotion to many outdoor activities as “one of the greatest sportsmen and naturalists of his day.” There are books, photos and illustrations in the riveting collection. The 26th president was a non-stop writer with thirty plus books to his credit and 130,000 letters. On view – March 3, 2024 at NSLM at 102 The Plains Road, Middleburg, VA 20117. More: info@nationalsporting.org.

Marcia Woolman, Brad Ryder and Amy Orr.

Susan and Jim Kelly.

Elizabeth von Hassell, executive director of the NSLM, with Garrick Steele.

Mark and Betsy Davis.

Selwa Carmen Showker “Lucky” Roosevelt was Chief of Protocol of the United States from 1982-1989 and is Chairman Emeritus of Blair House, with Tweed Roosevelt. With a tip of the hat to Bundles Murdock, who, after a distinguished career in the State Department in Washington, and beyond, facilitated this gathering.