Description:

William H. Taft TLS as Secretary of War Re: "Porto Rico exhibit…[at the] Jamestown Exposition"

A 1p typed letter signed by future 27th U.S. President William H. Taft (1857-1930) as "Wm H Taft" in his capacity as U.S. Secretary of War. Dated March 5, 1907. Typed in turquoise ink on a single leaf of stationery with "War Department / Washington" letterhead. Expected paper folds, else near fine. 8" x 10.375."

Taft requested that John C. Scofield, Chief Clerk of the War Department, travel to "San Juan, P.R….on public business pertaining to the War Department in connection with the collection and preparation of the Porto Rico exhibit under your charge for the Jamestown Exposition."

The Jamestown Tercentennial Exposition was an event held in Norfolk, Virginia between April 26-December 1, 1907 to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the English settlement at Jamestown, Virginia. It was a combination fair and festival in the style of the over-the-top national and international expositions popular during the era. The Exposition incorporated many show-stopping novelties, such as a recreation of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake; a model of the Panama Canal, still under construction in 1907; and a reenactment of a Civil War sea battle which had taken place nearby!

Puerto Rico had become a U.S. territory after 1898. Its new status entitled it to be represented in the Exposition. A building called the International Bureau of American Republics housed the "Porto Rico exhibit," as well as a display relating to Mexico. Consulting a copy of "The Official Blue Book of the Jamestown Ter-centennial Exposition A.D. 1907" (Norfolk, Virginia: The Colonial Publishing Company, 1909) reveals some more details about the Puerto Rico exhibit. In addition to showcasing photographs, maps, charts, and models, the exhibit was dominated by a life-sized replica of a "peon or peasant hut" made of royal palm, managua fiber, and sugar cane leaves. Raw material, like tobacco, fruit, sugar, and grain, represented Puerto Rico's agricultural industry, while finished products like baskets, clay crockery, and musical instruments testified to its unique Caribbean economy. (See attached photos of the "Blue Book" included for reference.)

Taft served as Secretary of War during the Roosevelt administration between 1904 and 1908. International issues that fell under Taft’s purview included the first stages of construction of the Panama Canal; administration of the former Spanish colonies of Cuba and the Philippines; and orchestrating a cessation of the Russo-Japanese War. Taft’s tenure as Secretary of War was largely an intermediary step before the 1908 presidential election. He served as president between 1909-1913.

John C. Scofield (1860-1944) served in the War Department for 46 years, until retiring in 1931. He served as Chief Clerk during the early twentieth century and was eventually appointed Assistant Secretary of War per the request of his old boss, President William H. Taft.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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