Thomas Jefferson created a textile "factory" near the Rivanna River. In September 1811, Jefferson hired William Maclure to build spinning and weaving equipment and to train his slaves in its use.
The Family Letters Digital Archive is a companion to the letterpress volumes of the Papers of Thomas Jefferson: Retirement Series, published by Princeton University Press. The documents archived on this site provide full text-searchable transcriptions of a rich body of correspondence between Jefferson's immediate and extended family. The letters, and related documents, provide personal insights into aspects of Jefferson's life that are unlikely to appear in his own writings.
