Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. Brown, James, 1766-1835
2. Madison, James, 1751-1836
3. Minor, Lancelot, 1763-1848 or 1849
4. Monroe, James 1758-1831
5. Page, John, 1744-1808
6. Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803
7. Purviance, Robert
8. Webster, Noah 1758-1843

Description

1. 1.86 linear feet (1 box, 1 oversized folder)

Summary

1. Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) was a Founding Father, statesman, lawyer, and planter. He is considered the principal author of the Declaration of Independence. Jefferson held numerous political offices throughout his career including representative from Virginia in the Second Continental Congress, Governor of Virginia, Minister to France, Secretary of State under George Washington, Vice President of the United States under John Adams, and President of the United States from 1801-1809. The Thomas Jefferson papers, dated 1766-1826, cover Jefferson's career as a statesman, lawyer, and plantation owner. The bulk of the collection consists of outgoing correspondence, 1766 and 1783-1826, concerning Jefferson's thoughts on the formation of a new government, naval and shipping issues, the growth and sale of tobacco on his plantation, and personal and business matters. Correspondents include John Page, James Madison, James Monroe, Edmund Pendleton, Robert Purviance, and Noah Webster. Additional documents notably include Jefferson’s draft of a proposed amendment to the Constitution on the purchase of the Louisiana Territory, containing notes penciled by James Madison, as well as Jefferson's 1771 list of suggested books for a private library. Also present are legal documents, drafts, notes, and autographs.

Subject

1. Lawyers
2. France > Foreign relations > United States
3. United States > Politics and government > 1783-1865
4. Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826
5. Virginia > Politics and government > 1775-1865
6. Diplomats
7. Louisiana Purchase
8. United States > Foreign relations > France
9. Patents
10. Certificates
11. United States > History > Revolution, 1775-1783
12. Presidents > United States
13. Virginia > History > 1775-1865
14. Statesmen

Genre/Form

1. Certificates.
2. Patents.

Call number

1. MssCol 1557

Access (note)

1. Apply to Manuscripts and Archives Division for access at http://www.nypl.org/mssref
2. Digital images must be used in lieu of originals.

Additional formats (note)

1. Available as digital images.
2. Transcripts of much of the correspondence contained in this collection is available via Founders Online (http://founders.archives.gov/). Some letters are available only as abstracts rather than full text.

Funding (note)

1. This project was made possible by a lead gift from The Polonsky Foundation.

Provenance (note)

1. This collection includes transfers from the Ford collection and Thomas Addis Emmet collection. The Ford Collection was compiled by Gordon L. Ford, business manager of the New York Tribune from 1873 to 1881 and collector of documents pertaining to early American history. Ford's collection was later purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan and portions of it were donated to The New York Public Library in 1899. The Emmet Collection was collected by Dr. Thomas Addis Emmet, a collector of early American history manuscripts. His collection was later purchased by John S. Kennedy and donated to The New York Public Library in 1896. A letter from Jefferson to the President of Pennsylvania dated August 18, 1790 was purchased from Emily E.F. Skeel on October 29, 1942. A letter from Jefferson to W.C. Nicholas dated March 20, 1808 was purchased from Mrs. Paul McEwen on March 26, 1954.

Processing action (note)

1. Surveyed
2. Cataloging updated

Author

1. Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826.

Title

1. Thomas Jefferson papers, 1766-1826.

Restricted access

1. Apply to Manuscripts and Archives Division for access at http://www.nypl.org/mssref
2. Digital images must be used in lieu of originals.

Additional formats

1. Available as digital images.
2. Transcripts of much of the correspondence contained in this collection is available via Founders Online (http://founders.archives.gov/). Some letters are available only as abstracts rather than full text.

Funding

1. This project was made possible by a lead gift from The Polonsky Foundation.

Finding aids

1. Collection guide available in repository and on internet.

Provenance

1. This collection includes transfers from the Ford collection and Thomas Addis Emmet collection. The Ford Collection was compiled by Gordon L. Ford, business manager of the New York Tribune from 1873 to 1881 and collector of documents pertaining to early American history. Ford's collection was later purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan and portions of it were donated to The New York Public Library in 1899. The Emmet Collection was collected by Dr. Thomas Addis Emmet, a collector of early American history manuscripts. His collection was later purchased by John S. Kennedy and donated to The New York Public Library in 1896. A letter from Jefferson to the President of Pennsylvania dated August 18, 1790 was purchased from Emily E.F. Skeel on October 29, 1942. A letter from Jefferson to W.C. Nicholas dated March 20, 1808 was purchased from Mrs. Paul McEwen on March 26, 1954.

Source

1. Various gifts and transfers, 1896-1954.

Connect to:

1. NYPL Digital Collections
2. Collection guide and digital images

Occupation

1. Diplomats.
2. Lawyers.
3. Statesmen.

Added author

1. Brown, James, 1766-1835, recipient.
2. Madison, James, 1751-1836, recipient.
3. Minor, Lancelot, 1763-1848 or 1849, recipient.
4. Monroe, James 1758-1831, recipient.
5. Page, John, 1744-1808, recipient.
6. Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803, recipient.
7. Purviance, Robert, recipient.
8. Webster, Noah 1758-1843, recipient.

Research call number

1. MssCol 1557