Primary Sources in Special Collections
Washington University Libraries owns a substantial collection of primary sources related to early American history, including a number of documents written and signed by influential figures and books from the personal library of the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson. Learn more about these resources and others using the tabs below.
Books from Thomas Jefferson's Library
Washington University Libraries houses 74 books from the library of Thomas Jefferson, the third largest collection of his books in the world. These volumes were originally acquired by the University in 1880 as part of a larger collection from the library of Joseph Coolidge, who had married Jefferson's granddaughter. However, the University was unaware that the books were part of the collection until they were discovered by a researcher in 2011.
Read more about the discovery.
Watch a video about Washington University's Jefferson Collection.
Search for books owned by Thomas Jefferson.
Books Owned by George Washington
The University also owns copies of Critical Reflections on the Character and Actions of Alexander the Great and The History of Rome that were originally from the library of George Washington and contain his bookplate.
Manuscripts Written By or To Founding Fathers
Washington University Libraries owns a number of letters and other documents written by or to the founding fathers and other important figures in American history. These include:
A signed letter from Thomas Jefferson to Mr. Goodman concerning a runaway enslaved man named Hercules and the harvest at Monticello.
Letters from John Adams to Elbridge Gerry in 1775 describing the proceedings of the Second Continental Congress, and an 1808 letter from Thomas Jefferson to the General Assembly of North Carolina explaining his decision not to seek a third term. These items come from the George N. Meissner Collection, which also contains autographs, letters, official documents, engravings, and a few printed items from figures of great historical significance, including items for each of the U.S. presidents through Woodrow Wilson.
Autographs, letters, official documents by John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Thomas Hart Benton, Stephen Douglas, Edmund Gosse, William Godwin, Jay Gould, Ulysses S. Grant, Alexander Hamilton, Rutherford B. Hayes, Andrew Jackson, Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall, Joseph Pulitzer, Theodore Roosevelt, William Tecumseh Sherman, William Makepeace Thackeray, and John Trumbull from the Frederick W. Lehmann Collection.
Autographs, letters, and official documents items by Henry Clay, Alexander Hamilton, John Hancock, Washington Irving, Benjamin Franklin, Andrew Jackson, and Thomas Paine from the William K. Bixby Papers.
Common sense : addressed to the inhabitants of America, on the following interesting subjects by Call Number: E211 P133Publication Date: 1776Thomas Paine was not involved in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, the ideas he espouses in Common Sense were highly influential in steering the country toward declaring their independence from Britain.- A defense of the constitutions of government of the United States of America by Call Number: JK171 A2 1787Publication Date: 1787This copy is both written and signed by John Adams, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the second President of the United States.
- A selection of the patriotic addresses, to the President of the United States. Together with the President's answers by Call Number: E323 S46Publication Date: 1798This resource was printed in 1798 and contains President John Adams' responses to public addresses.
- Memoirs of the administrations of Washington and John Adams, edited from the papers of Oliver Wolcott, Secretary of the Treasury by Call Number: E311 .G4Publication Date: 1846Printed in 1846, this volume contains information on the administrations of our two first presidents compiled from the papers of Oliver Wolcott, who was himself an original signer of the Declaration of Independence.
- Report of the trial of the Hon. Samuel Chase, one of the associate justices of the Supreme court of the United States, before the High court of impeachment, composed of the Senate of the United States, for charges exhibited against him by the House of rep by Call Number: JK1519 C43 A4 1805Publication Date: 1805Samuel Chase was one of the signers of the Declaration and later went on to become a Supreme Court Justice. He went through impeachment hearings and was acquitted in a case that historians say has helped to ensure the independence of the judiciary. This resource documents his impeachment trial.
- The Constitutions of the several independent states of America, the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation between the said states : to which are now added, the declaration of rights, the non-importation agreement, and the petition by Call Number: JK18 1783Publication Date: 1783This 1783 resource contains a number of documents related to the founding of our nation, including original state constitutions from before the United States was officially a nation.
