Remington Typewriter in the Gun Room
In 1874 gunmakers Remington and Sons manufactured the first commercially successful typewriters. In 1886 they sold their typewriter interests to Wyckoff, Seamans and Benedict who in 1892 began selling typewriters under the name Remington Standard Typewriter Company.
In 1902 they changed their name to simply the Remington Typewriter Company. In 1927 they merged with the Rand Kardex Company to become Remington Rand.
In 1952, a year before Sagamore Hill opened to the public, Gen. Douglas MacArthur became the company's CEO. He’d continue to hold that position until his death n 1964.
While TR was president MacArthur worked as an aide helping to organize and plan functions and events at the White House
According to Amy Verone, curator at Sagamore Hill from 1994 to 2018, Douglas MacArthur gave the Remington No. 6 typewriter to the site for display. The No. 6 is period correct having been manufactured between 1894 and 1914.
If the typewriter was given to the site in 1952-1953 the curator at the time was Jessica Kraft who was the first curator and who worked for Edith in the final years of her life.
Roosevelt's typewritten letters are found either in correspondence from Albany, The White House, or letters from when he worked for the Outlook. You don't come across typewritten letters dated Sagamore Hill. There is no evidence Roosevelt knew how to type and its generally concluded he most often dictated his correspondence. The typewriter can be best described as a gift to the site simply for period display.
Years later TR and Ted Jr. would become the second father and son team to be awarded the Medal of Honor. The first were the MacArthur's. Douglas MacArthur received his for preparing the Philippine Islands in defense of Japan during World War II and his father "Arthur” MacArthur earned his distinction during the Civil War at the Battle of Missionary Ridge in Chattanooga.
MacArthur winds up in the Philippines reportedly sent there by Pershing for marrying Louise Cromwell Brooks after Pershing had fallen in love with her. Although Pershing denied it, within a year of their honeymoon MacArthur was sent to the Pacific. It’s the reason they face one another at either end of the parade ground at West Point.
In American Military history there have only been five 5-Star Generals; MacArthur, Marshall, Ike, Bradley and “Hap” Arnold. In World War II Pershing is a 4-star general who outranked Eisenhower. In 1919 Pershing was given the title of General of the Armies which is senior to a five-star general. He was given the title for his service in World War I.
There have only been three Generals of the Armies: Washington, Grant and Pershing. In his office TR had portraits of the only two named Generals of the Armies at the time he was alive. Pershing was promoted to General of the Armies September 3, 1919 after TR’s death.
Remington Rand continued to sell typewriters until it was acquired by the Sperry Corporation in 1955.
