Locating Slavery's Legacies @ Virginia Military Institute

Memorial Object

Plaque/Marker

Lost Cause

Roosevelt, Theodore

Stone memorializing Theodore Roosevelt

The Walk of Fame was created in 1929 by then-President Hamilton Holt to honor significant historical figures. The memorial is located in the center of campus around Mills Lawn.

Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) was the 26th president of the United States. He expanded the powers of the presidency and the federal government, attacked monopolies, created the national forest system, and steered the nation toward an active role in world politics, particularly in Europe and Asia.

Roosevelt did break some new ground in terms of race relations by inviting the first African American--Booker T. Washington--to dine at the White House. Despite this, his general view of people of color was unflattering and unhelpful. As president, he did nothing to stop southern states disenfranchising their African American populations. Indeed, he told Henry Cabot Lodge that giving southern African Americans the vote would "reduce parts of the South to the level of Haiti." Roosevelt also embraced the idea of "race suicide," arguing against the "mongrelization" of White Americans.

Most notably, in 1906, a few Black soldiers were accused--with little evidence--of killing a White man. None of the Black troops admitted blame, so Roosevelt dishonorably discharge three Black companies (160 men), including some who had been awarded the medal of honor.; an action that was criticized by Congress. Overall, Roosevelt's racism was part and parcel of his belief in social Darwinism and eugenics.

This stone came from the Roosevelt home in Oyster Bay, New York. Roosevelt's second wife, Edith Roosevelt presented the stone to Rollins College at the request of Theodore's sister, Corinne Roosevelt Robinson in 1931.

Holt, Hamilton

An aging stone cut plaque approximately 2ft width and 3ft in length with Theodore Roosevelt's name across it.

Theodore Roosevelt, 1858–1919, President of the United States, 1901–1909. Stone from the Summer White House, Oyster Bay, New York.

Hamilton Holt
Roosevelt, Edith
Roosevelt Robinson, Corinne

1931

1931

1890-1945: Era of the Lost Cause, Jim Crow legal segregation and discrimination, and organized anti-Black racism

Roosevelt Robinson, Corinne

Walk of Fame

Rollins College; Winter Park, Florida

Theodore Roosevelt - Wikidata

Theodore Roosevelt biography

Roosevelt and Race

Roosevelt and Brownsville incident