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The Papers of Thomas Jefferson

A project to prepare the authoritative and comprehensive edition of the correspondence and papers of Thomas Jefferson had its genesis at the time of Jefferson's 200th birthday in 1943.

 
    
The project, known today as "The Papers of Thomas Jefferson," was the brainchild of Julian Boyd, Princeton University librarian, who was then serving as historian to the Thomas Jefferson Bicentennial Commission. Encouraged by the commission's endorsement and a gift of $200,000 from The New York Times Co., the University assumed editorial responsibility as sponsor of the project, and Princeton University Press agreed to publish the 75-volume series (see Nassau Notes regarding a March 31 lecture on the design of a typeface for the project).

Here are more details on the project:

• When completed in 2026, the papers will include a minimum of 18,000 letters written by Jefferson, approximately 27,000 letters written to him, his public papers and his other writings on the varied topics his wide-ranging mind touched upon.

• The first of the volumes appeared in 1950; as of earlier this year, 35 had been published, winning critical acclaim for their thorough editing, impeccable scholarship and beautiful design. They also served as the prototype for such projects as the Hamilton Papers at Columbia, the Franklin Papers at Yale, the Adams Papers at the Massachusetts Historical Society, the Madison Papers at Chicago and Virginia, and the Wilson Papers at Princeton.

• Jefferson visited Princeton in 1783 as a member of the Continental Congress, which met that year in Nassau Hall. Princeton gave him an honorary LL.D. in 1791. Jefferson gave Princeton $100 toward rebuilding Nassau Hall after the fire of 1802.

• The current general editor for the project is Barbara Oberg, who collaborates with a staff of five in an office located on the C-floor of Firestone Library.

Source: "A Princeton Companion" by Alexander Leitch.

 
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March 31, 2003
Vol. 92, No. 21
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Contents

Page one
•Greenstein: Bush a 'less sure-footed' leader in Iraq war, despite his post-Sept. 11 growth
•Princeton scientists have high hopes for hydrogen

Inside
•United Way campaign conclusion celebrated
•The ants go marching -- and manage to avoid traffic jams
•Study in Chile whets appetite for return visit under Dale award

People
•Spotlight
•LeMenager moves to campus life
•Briefs

Sections
•Calendar of events
•Nassau Notes
•By the numbers: The Papers of Thos Jefferson

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Editor: Ruth Stevens
Calendar editor: Carolyn Geller
Staff writers: Jennifer Greenstein Altmann, Steven Schultz
Contributing writers: Karin Dienst, Eric Quinones, Evelyn Tu
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Design: Mahlon Lovett, Laurel Masten Cantor, Margaret Westergaard
Web edition: Mahlon Lovett