Princeton University Press, Rotunda at University of Virginia Press, and the Papers of Thomas Jefferson project at Princeton University announce that on April 13th (Thomas Jefferson’s birthday), The Papers of Thomas Jefferson Digital Edition will be added to Rotunda’s American Founding Era collection. The digital edition of this important collection will include all volumes of this ongoing papers project, starting with all of the thirty-three existing volumes that encompass the period 14 January 1760 to 30 April 1801. Four of the existing volumes the Jefferson Papers Retirement series will appear later this year.

Of the Rotunda project, the release notes that “although each database already provides, on its own, a fascinating look at the life and mind of notable founding-era figure, the newly developed platform allows students and scholars a unique opportunity to access a conversation—several voices contributing to perhaps the most important times in our nation’s history. Newly inter-operable in this platform, the databases may now be navigated and searched simultaneously. Searches of crucial events and themes will return results by a host of the era’s participants, not only our title figures but their numerous and distinguished correspondents. This is a view of the era unlike any ever offered.”

Princeton University Press is proud to publish the print edition and pleased to partner with Rotunda for the digital version, which will expand the reach and usefulness of these critical documents.  The Papers of Thomas Jefferson is a projected 60-volume series containing not only the 18,000 letters written by Jefferson but also, in full or in summary, the more than 25,000 letters written to him. Including documents of historical significance as well as private notes not closely examined until their publication in the Papers, this series is an unmatched source of scholarship on the nation’s third president.

Volume 34 (1 May to 31 July 1801) and Volume 35 (1 August to 30 November 1801) of the Papers project have just been published in print editions, too.