Figure 1.--This is Archie in a group portrait of the family. He did not seem very happy about having his photograph taken. Click on the image to see more of the family portrait. |
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Archie, unlike his older brothers and sisters was born in Washington, D.C. He grew up in the White House, very much in the public eye. The public loved to read about his and Quintin's antics. They were both very active, but better behaved than the Lincoln boys. Archie, according to his father, the President, was very "warm-hearted" and "loving." He even befriended the police sentries at the White House, according to report. He was wounded in both World War I and II. He married Grace Lockwood (1893-1971). They had four children (Archbald Bulloch Roosevelt, Jr. (1918-1990), Nancy, Theodora, and Edith).
Archie, unlike his older brothers and sisters was born in Washington, D.C. He grew up in the White House, very much in the public eye. The public loved to read about his and Quintin's antics. They were both very active, but better behaved than the Lincoln boys. Archie, according to his father, the President, was very "warm-hearted" and "loving." He even befriended the police sentries at White House, according to report.
The photograph of Archie here is part of a larger family portrait, probably taken about 1902 (figure 1). Both the President and Archie are wearing what look like riding breeches and high boots. It looks like they have just gone riding together. There is a wonderful photograph of Archie at the age of 9 years old. He is holding a favorite pet in his lap, a badger named Josiah, which he often had
to chase on his knees. You can see that he has worn out the knees of his
black stockings playing with the animal. One can understand why so many
advertisements for boys' long stockings during the 1900s made a point of
recommending doubly reinforced knees. Notice Archie's hair style, neatly cut
bangs. He is wearing play clothes--only a white shirt with white knee pants
(summer wear obviously) and long black stockings.
Archie here has his hair cut in bangs (figure 1). His younger brother Quetin had a similar hair cut.
Archie was a captain in World War I. He was wounded and received the French French Croix de Guerre.
Archie became a businessmen.
He married Grace Lockwood (1893-1971). They had four children: Archbald Bulloch Roosevelt, Jr. (1918-1990); Nancy; Theodora; and Edith.
Archie was also wounded in World War II. He served as a lieutenant colonel and received the Silver Star and Oak Leaf Clusters.
President Roosevelt's letters are full of comments about his children. There are also many letters to them. The letters tell of intimacies with the children as well as interesting comments on world decelopments and meetings with foreign dignataries.
President Roosevelt in 1900 wrote about Kermit and Archie try to chop wood. "It is very cunning to see Kermit and Archie go to the Cove school together. They also come down and chop with me, Archie being armed with a hatchet blunt enough to be suitable for his six years. He is a most industrious small chopper, and the other day gnawed down, or as the
children call it, "beavered" down, a misshapen tulip tree, which was about fifty feet high."
Oyster Bay, Aug. 18, 1906: DEAR KERMIT, Quentin is the same cheerful pagan philosopher as ever. He swims like a little duck; rides well; stands quite severe injuries without complaint,
and is really becoming a manly little fellow. Archie is devoted to the Why (sailboat). The other day while Mother and I were coming in, rowing,
we met him sailing out, and it was too cunning for anything. The Why looks exactly like a little black wooden shoe with a sail in it, and the crew
consisted of Archie, of one of his beloved playmates, a seaman from the Sylph, and of Skip very alert and knowing.
Wead, Doug. All the President's Children: Triumph and Tragedy in the Lives of America's First Families (Atria: New York, 2003), 456p.
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