Wilson Pres Library

ALT I am writing to ask if you will do me a very great service; though knowing what a tremendously busy person you are, I hesitate to impose more work upon you. And yet I feel sure you will understand my request; I feel so strongly that now is the time to collect everything possilble relating to Mr. Wilson’s life and work that I am asking you––and each of those who were associated with him––to do me the great favor of writing down and forwarding to me the history of the work done with him or for him. No matter about putting it in finished form, as though to be published, but just to have a complete record for a future historian or biographer relating the facts as you recall them. Of course this will take time; but I will feel easier in my own mind if you will write me of your willingness to help preserve all these vital truths.

ALT Caption Title: "Here They Are-President's Sheep Photographed Today" Image shows sheep grazing on the lawn with the White House in the background. The tagline below the image reads: "Here at the President's sheep, grazing on the White Lot in back of the White House, which can be seen in the background. This is the first picture of the flock of sheep which have been secured by the President and put to grass on the lawn in the rear of the Executive Mansion. They are just beginning to get accustomed to their news surroundings and seem quite contented to be the most aristocratic sheep in the land."

ALT Image shows sheep standing on the lawn with 3 men standing beside them. The White House stands in the background along with trees.

ALT Arrangements are completed with my farmer, James Davidson, to have the sheep delivered at the White House as soon as possible—ten coming yearling ewes and four old ewes with their lambs, the lambs to be as young as can reasonably stand the trip. They will come by wagon, and instructions have been given to ask for you and to indicate at the gate that the sheep come from Belair Farm and are for the President. Shearing time is on at the farm, and as they would look something like picked chickens if shorn, I gave instructions not to shear them, but to trim them up so that they will look nicer. They should leave the farm tomorrow morning, but this rainy day may delay them a day, as the road is a country road and might be too heavy after a rain, and furthermore my farmer is a hardy Scotchman who has a will of his own, and for one reason or another he may be a little slow, but I instructed him and urged him to let no grass grow under his feet, and I think you will have them in hand

ALT I enclose a little photograph taken last October at the farm, which may be of interest to the President as showing the sheep in their native pastures at “Belair”. It is a great pleasure to have this opportunity. Yours very truly, [signature] William Woodward”

ALT Ellen Wilson, "Scene Near Old Lyme, Connecticut" 1905-1911 Oil painting of river with a mountainscape behind

ALT Ellen Wilson "Moonlight Scene" 1912 Oil painting of trees and a river in the background in moonlight

ALT INGREDIENTS 1 cup butter 2 cups sugar 4 eggs 1⁄2 tsp salt 3 cups flour 2 tsp baking powder 2 cups grated chocolate DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat Oven to 350 2. Cream the butter, sugar, eggs, salt and flour carefully. 3. Mix in chopped chocolate to bowl. 4. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart on a greased cookie sheet. 5. Bake 10-12 minutes. 6. Cool 2-3 minutes on cookie sheet and transfer onto a wire cooling rack to cool thoroughly.