Recollections of Full Years · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in Recollections of Full Years by Helen Herron Taft.
William Howard Taft
major
Also known as Mr. Taft, Taft, Governor Taft, President Taft, Will Taft, William H. Taft, Mr. Wm. H. Taft, the Hon. William H. Taft
The central figure, serving as Governor of the Philippines and later U.S. President.
Helen Herron Taft
major
Also known as Nellie, Helen, Helen Taft, Mrs. William Howard Taft, Mrs. Taft
The author and narrator, wife of William Howard Taft, chronicling their life abroad.
Charles P. Taft
supporting
Also known as Charles, Charlie, Charlie Taft, Charles Taft, Charles P. Taft, Mrs. Charles Taft
The Tafts' eldest son, often accompanying them on travels.
Theodore Roosevelt
supporting
Also known as Mr. Roosevelt, Roosevelt, President Roosevelt, Theodore, Colonel Roosevelt
U.S. President and close friend of Taft, a frequent correspondent and political figure.
General Arthur MacArthur
supporting
Also known as General MacArthur, MacArthur
Military governor of the Philippines during the early American occupation.
General Luke E. Wright
supporting
Also known as General Luke E. Wright, General Wright, Wright
Member of the Philippine Commission and later Governor-General.
Maria Herron
supporting
Also known as Maria, Miss Herron, Miss Maria Herron
Helen Taft's sister, who traveled with the family to the Philippines.
Emilio Aguinaldo
supporting
Also known as Aguinaldo, General Aguinaldo
Filipino revolutionary leader captured during the Philippine-American War.
Captain Archibald Butt
supporting
Also known as Captain Archibald Butt, Captain Butt, Archie Butt
Aide to President Taft, a close family friend who perished on the Titanic.
Pope Leo XIII
supporting
Also known as Pope Leo, Pope Leo XIII, Leo XIII, Leo
Pope during the Taft mission to Rome regarding Philippine church lands.
Elihu Root
supporting
Also known as Mr. Root, Root, Secretary Root
U.S. Secretary of War who oversaw Philippine policy.
Dean C. Worcester
supporting
Also known as Mr. Worcester, Mr. Dean C. Worcester
Member of the Philippine Commission and authority on Filipino tribes.
Datto Piang
supporting
Also known as Piang, Datto Piang
A powerful Moro chieftain in Mindanao who allied with the Americans.
William McKinley
minor
Also known as McKinley, Mr. McKinley, President McKinley
U.S. President who initiated American rule in the Philippines.
William Jennings Bryan
minor
Also known as Mr. Bryan, Bryan
Political rival of Taft, debated Philippine annexation.
James A. LeRoy
supporting
Also known as Mr. LeRoy
Secretary to the Philippine Commission and historian.
Annie Ide
minor
Also known as Annie, Anne, Miss Anne Ide, Miss Ide
Daughter of Judge Ide, a family friend of the Tafts.
Señor Montt
minor
Also known as Señor Montt
Chilean diplomat encountered during the Tafts' travels.
Alphonso Taft
minor
Also known as Judge Alphonso Taft, Judge Taft, Judge
William Howard Taft's father, a former U.S. Attorney General.
Tom Campbell
minor
Also known as Tom Campbell, Campbell
A friend or associate of the Tafts in the Philippines.
Mrs. Luke E. Wright
minor
Also known as Mrs. Wright
Wife of General Wright, a social companion in Manila.
Arthur Fergusson
minor
Also known as Mr. Arthur Fergusson, Mr. Fergusson, Arthur
A member of the Philippine Commission staff.
Benito Legarda
minor
Also known as Mr. Benito Legarda, Mr. Legarda
Filipino member of the Philippine Commission.
General Frederick Funston
minor
Also known as General Funston, General Frederick Funston
U.S. Army general who captured Aguinaldo.
General Adna Chaffee
minor
Also known as General Chaffee
U.S. military commander in the Philippines.
Gregorio Aglipay
minor
Also known as Gregorio Aglipay, Aglipay
Filipino nationalist and religious leader of the Philippine Independent Church.
Henry C. Ide
minor
Also known as Judge Henry C. Ide of Vermont, Judge Ide, Henry
American judge and member of the Philippine Commission.
Mrs. Scidmore
minor
Also known as Mrs. Scidmore
A friend or acquaintance of the Tafts in Washington.
General J. Franklin Bell
minor
Also known as Isabella, General Bell
U.S. Army general who served in the Philippines.
Pedro A. Paterno
minor
Also known as Pedro A. Paterno, Pedro, Paterno, Pedro Paterno
Filipino politician and intellectual involved in peace negotiations.
Captain Bowman McCalla
minor
Also known as Captain McCalla
U.S. Navy officer who assisted in Philippine operations.
Robert Louis Stevenson
minor
Also known as Robert, Robert Louis Stevenson
Author whose works are referenced; not a direct character.
Baron Tajiri Inajiro
minor
Also known as Baron Tajiri Inajiro, Tajiri, Baron Tajiri
Japanese diplomat encountered during the Tafts' trip to Japan.
James McKim
minor
Also known as Mr. James McKim, Mr. McKim, McKim
An architect or associate involved in Philippine projects.
John Barrett
minor
Also known as Mr. John Barrett, Mr. Barrett
American diplomat and director of the Pan American Union.
Aunt Delia
minor
Also known as Aunt Delia
A relative of Helen Taft, possibly a family caretaker.
George Dewey
minor
Also known as Dewey, Admiral Dewey
U.S. admiral who won the Battle of Manila Bay.
Rafael Palma
minor
Also known as President Palma, the Palma
Filipino politician and later president of the University of the Philippines.
Mrs. J. Franklin Bell
minor
Also known as Mrs. J. Franklin Bell, Mrs. Bell
Wife of General Bell, a social figure in Manila.
Mrs. Grey
minor
Also known as Mrs. Grey
An acquaintance of the Tafts, possibly in Washington.
Mabel Boardman
minor
Also known as Miss Mabel Boardman, Miss Boardman
A leader of the American Red Cross and socialite.
Mrs. Moses
minor
Also known as Mrs. Moses
A friend or relative of the Tafts.
Archbishop Placide Chapelle
minor
Also known as Archbishop Chapelle
Catholic archbishop involved in Philippine church negotiations.
Sir Robert Hart
minor
Also known as Sir Robert Hart, Robert
British diplomat and customs official in China.
Arthur Brooks
minor
Also known as Arthur Brooks, Arthur
An American official or traveler in the Philippines.
Fred C. Carpenter
minor
Also known as Will, Mr. Fred C. Carpenter
An American artist or photographer who accompanied the Tafts.
Mrs. Dean C. Worcester
minor
Also known as Mrs. Worcester
Wife of Dean Worcester, a social companion in Manila.
Ah Sing
minor
Also known as Ah Sing
A Chinese servant or employee of the Tafts.
General James F. Smith
minor
Also known as General Smith, General James F. Smith, Governor Smith
U.S. general and later Governor-General of the Philippines.
Don José Mills
minor
Also known as Don José Mills, Don José
A Spanish-Filipino landowner or official.
Alice Roosevelt Longworth
minor
Also known as Miss Alice Roosevelt, Miss Roosevelt, Miss Alice, Alice
Daughter of Theodore Roosevelt, a socialite who visited the Philippines.
E. V. Morgan
minor
Also known as Mr. E. V. Morgan, Mr. Morgan
An American businessman or diplomat in the Philippines.
Bobby
minor
Also known as Bobby, Bob
A young relative or family friend of the Tafts.
Matsu
minor
Also known as Matsu
A Japanese servant or attendant during the Tafts' stay in Japan.
Felipe Calderón
minor
Also known as Don Felipe Calderón, Señor Don Felipe Calderón, Felipe Calderón
Filipino lawyer and politician involved in drafting the constitution.
Justice Llorente
minor
Also known as Llorente, Justice Llorente
A Filipino justice on the Philippine Supreme Court.
Datto Mandi
minor
Also known as Datto Mandi, Mandi
A Moro chieftain in Mindanao.
Judge Smith
minor
Also known as Judge Smith
An American judge serving in the Philippines.
Bishop Charles Brent
minor
Also known as Bishop Brent
Episcopal bishop in the Philippines, a friend of the Tafts.
Mrs. Charles Anderson
minor
Also known as Mrs. Anderson, Charlie, Charles, Mrs. Charles Anderson
A social acquaintance of the Tafts in Manila.
Willard D. Straight
minor
Also known as Mr. Willard D. Straight, Mr. Straight, Will
American diplomat and journalist in Asia.
Cayetano Arellano
minor
Also known as Chief Justice Arellano
First Chief Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court.
Robert Bacon
minor
Also known as Mr. Robert Bacon, Mr. Bacon, Robert
U.S. Secretary of State and friend of Taft.
Charles Magoon
minor
Also known as Mr. Magoon, Governor Magoon
American lawyer and Governor of the Panama Canal Zone.
Mrs. Hayes
minor
Also known as Mrs. Hayes, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, Mr. Hayes, the Hayes
Friends or relatives of the Tafts.
Major Butterworth
minor
Also known as Major Butterworth
A U.S. Army officer in the Philippines.
General Elwell Otis
minor
Also known as General Otis
Early U.S. military governor of the Philippines.
Bishop O'Gorman
minor
Also known as Bishop O’Gorman
Catholic bishop in the Philippines.
Theodore Thomas
minor
Also known as Theodore Thomas, the Thomas
A musician or conductor referenced in the narrative.
Harriet Collins
minor
Also known as Harriet Collins
A friend or acquaintance of Helen Taft.
Chester A. Arthur
minor
Also known as President Arthur, Arthur
Former U.S. President, mentioned in passing.
Mrs. Joseph Choate
minor
Also known as Mrs. Joseph Choate, Joseph
Wife of diplomat Joseph Choate, a social acquaintance.
Bessie
minor
Also known as Bessie
A young relative or family friend of the Tafts.
General Kodama Gentaro
minor
Also known as General Kodama
Japanese general and statesman met during travels.
Mrs. Robert Bacon
minor
Also known as Mrs. Bacon
Wife of Robert Bacon, a social figure.
Mrs. Louis More
minor
Also known as Mrs. Louis More
A friend or acquaintance of the Tafts.
W. Cameron Forbes
minor
Also known as Mr. W. Cameron Forbes, Mr. Forbes
Later Governor-General of the Philippines, met during Taft's term.
Abraham Lincoln
minor
Also known as Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln
Historical figure referenced in the narrative.
Mr. Moore
minor
Also known as Mr. Moore
An American official or acquaintance in the Philippines.
