Keller family history archive

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Hello Cuzzes --

A couple of days ago, searching my shelves for a holiday gift for my grandchildren, I came across a treasure which will certainly fill the bill. It's a rare book -- a first edition (1906) of The Roosevelt Bears: Their Travels and Adventures by Seymour Eaton. I wonder who amongst us (other than Bob and me) remembers this book from childhood. It's a wonderful narrative about two prank-loving bears -- Teddy B and Teddy G -- who leave their mountain home and enjoy life in Chicago, Niagara Falls, Boston and New York. They take a balloon ride, an automobile ride, star in a circus, and go to Harvard. Their wardrobe and the scenes around them, illustrated by V. Floyd Campbell, are a delight. Originally the book was published serially by twenty leading American newspapers.

Uncle Paul and Uncle Charles sent me the book from 91 CPW in October of 1939 to mark my birth the previous May. Here's the poem that accompanied the gift:

                   The tales of Teddies B + G,
                   We give to nephew Anthony.
                   And tho' they come a trifle late,
                   His birthday they commemorate.
                   In lieu of brushes, spoons and combs
                   We give with joy this book of pomes.
                   Let others send the things he wears,
                   For better far are Roosevelt Bears.
                   The muse is dry. She's out of gas.
                   Much love from uncles Paul + Chas.

                   P.S.  Join forces with your brother
                   To wrest the book from Dad + Mother.

                              October 3, 1939

Some photos to follow. Love, Tony

Keller Machine

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