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Primary sourcePhotograph

Theodore Roosevelt with the Bull Elephant He Killed

Edmund Heller

A photograph by naturalist Edmund Heller showing Theodore Roosevelt with an elephant he shot during his African hunting expedition.

Depicts Roosevelt during his post-presidency African expedition, reflecting his interest in natural history and big-game hunting.

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Sepia photograph of a large elephant lying on its side on forest floor, with long tusks visible. A standing man in a wide-brimmed hat and light shirt stands behind it among dense jungle foliage.
Edmund Heller, Theodore Roosevelt with the bull elephant he killed. Smithsonian Institution.

About this source

What it is

This photograph, taken by naturalist Edmund Heller, shows former President Theodore Roosevelt standing behind a large bull elephant he had shot during an expedition in Africa. The photograph is held by the Smithsonian Institution.

Why it matters

After leaving the presidency, Roosevelt led a major hunting and scientific expedition in Africa, collecting specimens for the Smithsonian. Edmund Heller, a professional naturalist, documented the trip, and images like this one reveal how big-game hunting was tied to natural history collecting in this era. It also shows a different side of Roosevelt beyond politics: his lifelong interest in the outdoors, wildlife, and exploration.

Why it matters

Look closer

  • What does this photograph suggest about the relationship between hunting and science in Roosevelt's time?
  • Why might Heller have chosen to photograph Roosevelt this way?
  • What does the image leave out about the expedition's purpose or impact?

This photograph 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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