Is anyone researching Archie Butt

[Dr. Douglas B. Willingham]

Hello.
After scanning the archives on this board for awhile, I'm still looking for others who might be as focused on Archie Butt as myself. Although his life and times are better documented than most of his contemporaries on the "Titanic", he nevertheless remains a question mark to me on several levels.
Is anyone out there?
Doug

 

[Pat Cook]

Dear Dr. Doug,

While I can't say I'm researching Archie Butt, I do have his 2 volume set of letters, "Taft and Roosevelt, The Intimate Letters of Archie Butt", which contains the now notorious note, written just before he sailed on the Titanic, relating what to do "if the ship goes down".

Best regards,
Cook

 

[Dr. Douglas B. Willingham]

Thanks, Pat.

The letters of Archie Butt make great reading, although some of the minutiae might be of interest only to Roosevelt and Taft scholars, such as Edmund Morris who studied these letters in his research for his new book, Theodore Rex. Morris has used this great primary source more than any other biographer of Roosevelt, and it too is a great read.

Apart from the "Titanic" connection, Archie's letters offer fascinating glimpses into the inner workings of the White House and Washington society of that period. Careful readers will catch Archie at meetings or dinner parties with such people as Clarence Moore, John Jacob Astor and Senator William Alden Smith or comparing his taste for interior decoration with his friend, Frank Millet.

Since you have the two-volume set, I'd like to refer you to my favorite letter. It begins on page 323 of Volume 1 and concerns his love for a woman who is engaged to another. His sense of longing and of missing out on the adventure of marriage always moves me--especially knowing what his future held for him.

Take care, Pat
Doug

 

[Phillip Gowan]

Doug,
I put together a research article on a woman that claimed to be Butt's out-of-wedlock daughter. You'll find it under the Titanic Research articles on this site.

The Illegitimate Daughter of Archibald Butt

Does documentary evidence support the sensational claim of Dorothy Eells?

www.encyclopedia-titanica.org

Phil

 

[Dr. Douglas B. Willingham]

Dear Phil,

I went to "Titanic Research" and found only the responses to your article. I can't seem to find the article itself. What am I doing wrong?

Doug

 

[Michael H. Standart]

Doug, you'd have to go to the Index Page, click on Titanic Research, then scroll down to "The Illegitimate Daughter (?) Of Archibald Butt"

The URL to this is
The Illegitimate Daughter of Archibald Butt
Cordially,
Michael H. Standart

 

[Dr. Douglas B. Willingham]

Thank you, Michael. I appreciate everyone's patience with me.

Phil, your article on Major Butt's alleged illegitimate daughter was excellent. I've printed it for my file on him. Thank you for sharing your research on this and other topics. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your posts.

I had seen the newspaper item about his being engaged at the time of his death but have never seen corroboration. His "intimate" letters do not mention Miss Williams, yet he is candid about other personal matters. I must be missing something!

Regards,
Doug

 

[Phillip Gowan]

Doug,
Thanks for the compliment--glad you enjoyed the article.

Phil

 

[Christine Geyer]

Just bought the 1924 edition of "THE LETTERS OF ARCHIE BUTT, Personal Aide to President Roosevelt, edited by Lawrence F. Abbott" for $23. It covers the years from 1908-1908. Good find??

Regards
Christine

 

[George Behe]

Hi, Christine!

Although you paid top dollar for the book, you're guaranteed to have a fascinating read. (After you finish that book, try to obtain the two "Taft and Roosevelt" volumes by Abbott, which cover the final four years of Archie's life.)

For what it's worth, a lengthy biographical essay about Archie is due to appear in an upcoming issue of the Atlantic Daily Bulletin.

All my best,

George

 

[Christine Geyer]

Hi George,

thanks for the tip. I'll keep my eyes open for those volumes as well and of course for the essay. I have the sneaking suspicion that it'll come from you Am much looking forward to it.

Regards
Christine