50 Rarely-Seen Candid Photographs of President Theodore Roosevelt From the Early 20th Century

Theodore Roosevelt is mostly remembered as the twenty-sixth President of the United States, but this dynamic, multi-talented, charismatic man became a hero to millions of Americans for many other reasons. By the time he rose to the presidency at age 42—still the youngest person ever to hold the office—Roosevelt already had served as a New York State Assemblyman, a deputy sheriff in the Dakota Territory, Police Commissioner of New York City, U.S. Civil Service Commissioner, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Colonel of the Rough Riders, Governor of New York, and Vice President.

When Theodore Roosevelt became president of the U.S. in 1901 America’s society and economy were changing rapidly, and with his energy and visionary leadership he set the maturing nation on the path to prosperous growth and diplomatic influence that would last throughout the 20th Century. By the time he left office in March 1909, Roosevelt also had changed forever the influence and scope of the presidency.

Towards the end of his life, Roosevelt was a major voice for military preparedness. He died at the age of 60 on January 6, 1919, at his home, Sagamore Hill, in Oyster Bay, New York. Criticized as a militarist, egotist, and political opportunist, Roosevelt's greatness has been debated, but his importance in American history is as obvious as his face on Mount Rushmore. Much of what he achieved affects Americans everyday and his name and personality have become icons for what America stands for at its best.

President Theodore Roosevelt on Dexter Avenue, in Montgomery, Alabama, 1905.

On May 6, 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt delivered a speech at the Grand Canyon in Arizona asking the citizens not to change the land, but to keep it for future generations to see.

The men in the photograph are, from left to right, William Loeb, Jr., Secretary to the President, Alexander Oswald Brodie, Governor of the Territory of Arizona, and President Theodore Roosevelt. On May 6, 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt delivered a speech at the Grand Canyon in Arizona asking the citizens not to change the land, but to keep it for future generations to see.

On May 19, 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt delivered a speech in Truckee, California.

On May 19, 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt delivered a speech in Truckee, California.

The President with Mr. Burroughs and Secretary Loeb, just before entering Yellowstone National Park, April 1903.

President Theodore Roosevelt, with his party, riding a carriage through the Wawona Tunnel Tree during his 1903 visit to Yellowstone National Park. The man to the left of Roosevelt is William Loeb, Jr. (Presidential Secretary)

President Theodore Roosevelt in Deer Trail, Colorado, May 1903.

On April 15, 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt delivered a speech in Newcastle, Colorado congratulating the citizens for having a remarkable public school system for their children.

On May 4th, 1903, Theodore Roosevelt had breakfast with a group of cowboys in Hugo, Colorado.

On May 28, 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt delivered a speech in Shoshone, Idaho reflecting on the unity and good citizenship of the American people.

On April 29, 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt delivered a speech in Quincy, Illinois about managing United States currency.

President Theodore Roosevelt in Abilene, Kansas. May 2, 1903.

President Theodore Roosevelt in Kansas City, Kansas. September 28, 1900.

On August 25, 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt delivered a speech in Nahant, Massachusetts. Henry C. Lodge, governor of Massachusetts, is seated behind President Roosevelt, with his hand touching his head.

On April 27, 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt delivered a speech in Grand Island, Nebraska congratulating the inhabitants of that state for their great achievement in growing and fostering the growth of trees and staple crops.

Theodore Roosevelt, during his New England tour, at Lake Sunapee in New Hampshire. In the photograph are George B. Cortelyou, Roosevelt's future secretary of Commerce and Labor, on Roosevelt's right, and William Craig, the first Secret Service agent ever killed in the line of duty, on the far right in the photograph. August 29, 1902.

Colonel Roosevelt speaking at Bound Brook, New Jersey. April 25, 1912.

Former President Theodore Roosevelt delivering a speech from a train, Burlington, New Jersey. April 24, 1912.

Former President Theodore Roosevelt Riding in a Carriage along Fifth Ave, in New York City. June 18, 1910.

On August 4, 1904, the Republican Nomination Committee notified Theodore Roosevelt of his nomination for a second Presidential term at his home in New York, Sagamore Hill. Theodore Roosevelt is pictured in the center of the photograph, with Benjamin O'Dell, the 34th Governor of New York, on his left. Chauncey M. Depew, U.S. Senator and Delegate at Large, is pictured to Roosevelt's right. In the second row, George Pardee, Governor of California, is pictured standing directly behind Roosevelt, while Joseph G. Cannon, Delegate at Large and Permanent Chairman of the Republican National Convention of 1904 is standing directly behind Depew.

On May 5, 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt delivered a speech in Santa Fe, New Mexico asking the residents to support him in preserving the forests of New Mexico and pursuing development that will preserve the land.

Taken on April 5th, 1905, this photograph is of Theodore Roosevelt and his party, during a brief stop in Sherman, Texas, while traveling to San Antonio to attend a reunion of the Rough Riders. Speaking for 15 minutes before a crowd of 35,000, he praised Texas as 'one of two or three greatest states in the Union', emphasized his own heritage from the south and the north and his delight in national reunification. Pictured in the foreground of the photograph, from left to right, are an unidentified man, Theodore Roosevelt, President of the United States, an unidentified man, William Loeb, Jr., Secretary to the President, and Cecil A. Lyon, Republican National Committeeman.

On October 4, 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt delivered a speech at the dedication of the new state capitol building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

On October 4, 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt delivered a speech at the dedication of the new state capitol building in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Seated, left to right, are Archibald Bulloch Roosevelt, Jr., Theodore Roosevelt, Grace Stackpole Lockwood Roosevelt, Richard Derby, Jr., Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt, Edith Roosevelt Derby Williams, and Ethel Carow Roosevelt Derby. Richard Derby Jr. is holding a service flag with three stars. The stars symbolize three of Roosevelt's sons, Quentin, Archie, and Theodore Jr., who served the United States in battle.

Colonel Theodore Roosevelt greeting soldiers soon deploying to France at Sagamore Hill, ca. 1917-1918.

President Roosevelt holds one of his grandchildren on his porch. Oyster Bay, Nassau County, New York, ca. 1911-1919.

On April 21, 1915, President Theodore Roosevelt gave a speech at Sagamore in Oyster Bay on the Duty of Every American to help support Liberty Bonds.

President Theodore Roosevelt leaving a building in Oyster Bay after placing his vote in the 1908 election.

On May 13, 1916, Former President Theodore Roosevelt held a 'readiness' celebration at his home in Oyster Bay, New York. The celebration included two detachments of Boy Scouts and members from St. Patrick's Church in Garden City, New York. The celebration coincided with Mrs. Roosevelt's appearance at a preparedness parade in Manhattan.

On August 23, 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt gave a speech in Providence, Rhode Island.

Theodore Roosevelt inside a crowd of sailors and other individuals on the boardwalk in Newport, Rhode Island. July 22, 1908.

President Theodore Roosevelt Standing on the Stern of the Naval Cutter, USS Algonquin, in Charleston, South Carolina, 1902.

President Theodore Roosevelt Greeting Dignitaries on the USS Algonquin, Charleston, South Carolina. April 8, 1902.

Theodore Roosevelt and other members of the presidential party, at the ruins of Fort Dorchester, a tabby fort constructed in 1757 for munitions storage. The figures in the foreground, left to right, are George B. Cortelyou, Presidential Cabinet Secretary, and James Wilson, Secretary of Agriculture. In the background, left to right, are an unidentified Navy lieutenant, an unidentified man, President Theodore Roosevelt, and Edith Carow Roosevelt. Old Dorchester, Dorchester County, South Carolina. April 9, 1902.

On April 9, 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt made a speech at the Charleston Exhibition.

President Theodore Roosevelt shaking hands with Clinton B. Sears, president of the Mississippi River Commission, on the steamboat the USS Mississippi. October 4, 1907.

President Roosevelt on horseback, preparing to survey the battlefield on which the Battle of Chickamauga took place. Chickamauga, Walker County, Georgia. November 13, 1902.

President Theodore Roosevelt on the deck of the USS Mississippi, approaching Memphis, Tennessee. On October 4, 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt made a speech in Memphis on the development of the waterways.

On April 7, 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt delivered a speech at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas.

President Theodore Roosevelt with several local politicians, receiving the troops at Fort Sam Houston, in San Antonio Texas. The man in the right of the photograph has been tentatively identified as being William Loeb, Jr., Secretary to the President. The obscured figure seated directly behind Roosevelt is that of Major General Samuel S. Sumner. April 7, 1905.

President Theodore Roosevelt shaking hands with a locomotive engineer for the Colorado and Southern Railway. Vernon, Wilbarger County, Texas. April 1905.

On September 1, 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt made a speech in Rutland, Vermont.

President Theodore Roosevelt speaking in North Yakima, Washington. May 25, 1903.

Former President Theodore Roosevelt in the car of Dr. Clinton Hart Merriam, biologist and naturalist, at Union Station, Washington D.C. The former President was headed to the new National Museum (now the National Museum of Natural History) to view a new exhibit he helped sponsor. May 26, 1914.

President Theodore Roosevelt posing in the cab of his locomotive, while campaigning for re-election, ca. May 1903. During 1903, Theodore Roosevelt went on an eight-week tour of the Western United States, visiting 25 states, and covering 14,000 miles.

President Theodore Roosevelt receiving a pair of spurs from Francis Warren, United States Senator for Wyoming at the Cheyenne Public Building, which served as courthouse for the District of Wyoming. Presidential Secretary, William Loeb, Jr., is seen immediately behind Senator Warren. President Roosevelt was also given a horse and saddle while in Cheyenne. June 1, 1903.

President Theodore Roosevelt delivering a speech in Bellows Falls, Vermont. September 1, 1902. In the Summer of 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt delivered speeches while on a tour through New England.

On August 26, 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt delivered a speech from a railcar in Biddeford, Maine.

(Photos: Doris A. and Lawrence H. Budner Theodore Roosevelt Photograph Collection)