Primary sourceDocumentary1910

Roosevelt in Africa

Cherry Kearton · 1910

A 1910 film by Cherry Kearton documenting Roosevelt's African safari, one of the earliest films used to shape a politician's public image.

This film documents Roosevelt's African safari and helped build his public image as an adventurer.

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Vintage promotional poster titled 'Roosevelt in Africa'. Two men in pith helmets examine a long rifle; one, with a mustache, holds it while another in a helmet, seen from behind, looks on. Two African men stand in the background. Text box reads 'The poster that caused all Picturedom to sit up and take notice. 25,000 issued, the biggest order ever placed by a picture manufacturer. Selig did it.' Caption reads 'Colonel Roosevelt examining gun before being presented to Chief Akawahki.' — Hunting Big Game in Africa (aka Roosevelt in Africa), movie poster

About this source

What it is

This is a 1910 film shot by Cherry Kearton showing scenes from Theodore Roosevelt's safari in British East Africa, likely filmed in 1909. It is held by the Library of Congress.

Why it matters

The footage shows Roosevelt's safari party alongside scenes of local peoples, landscapes and railway travel in what is now Kenya. As an early example of film used to promote a public figure, it reveals how Roosevelt's image as an adventurer and outdoorsman was shaped for audiences back home. It also records, often inaccurately labeled, the peoples and places Roosevelt encountered.

Why it matters

Look closer

What does the filmmaker choose to show about Roosevelt versus the people living in the areas he traveled through?
Why might some groups in the film be mislabeled, and what does that tell us about how the film was made?
How might this film have been used to build Roosevelt's reputation back in the United States?

This documentary is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Theodore Roosevelt on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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