The familiar imagery of Thanksgiving has been put to many different uses over the years. Let your students explore how one cartoonist used the holiday to make points about President Theodore Roosevelt. Some of your students may only know TR as one of the characters in a popular movie about a museum that comes to life at night. Consider using this cartoon to introduce students to some key facts about this larger-than-life figure in American history and the times in which he lived.
This colorful illustration first appeared in the November 22, 1905 issue of Puck, a humor magazine popular before and during Roosevelt’s presidency. Its quirky depiction of Theodore Roosevelt sharing a Thanksgiving feast in the wilderness with many wild animals immediately captures one’s interest with humorous details, such as a rabbit clearing away dishes and what appears to be a prairie dog raising a glass to join in the group’s toast. As the picture’s caption explains, this toast is given by “The Bear (with deep feeling) ‘Here’s hoping that when next we meet, we see you first.’” If you look closely, can you tell what is leaning against the large rock behind Roosevelt?
Observing the details of the cartoon can provide students with more than just a few laughs; upon closer examination, it offers clues about Roosevelt’s life and passions. For instance, Roosevelt is depicted wearing his Rough Rider uniform, according to the item record. Students can use other Library of Congress resources to learn more about the story of Roosevelt and his Rough Riders, the first volunteer cavalry unit in the Spanish-American War.
Students of all ages may be able to personally relate to the cartoon’s depiction of a kids’ table set up beside the grown-ups’ table at Thanksgiving. The table’s two occupants, Teddy Jr. and a bear cub, each may lead students to dig deeper into the Library’s digitized collections for evidence of Theodore Roosevelt’s personal history. For example, students may read handwritten letters with drawings