Special Projects

The Papers of Thomas Jefferson: Retirement Series
Sponsored by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation in conjunction with Princeton University, the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies has assumed responsibility for transcribing and editing (in chronological volumes) 16,000+ Jefferson-related documents from the end of Jefferson's second term as President (March 1809) until his death in 1826.

Jefferson Quotes and Family Letters Website
A website created by the staff of the The Papers of Thomas Jefferson: Retirement series with several hundred of Jefferson's most famous quotations and letters and related documents to and between Thomas Jefferson's children, grandchildren, and extended family members (but not including letters to or by Jefferson).

Books Published at the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies

(listed annually by most recent publication)

2021

Andrew Jackson O'Shaughnessy, The Illimitable Freedom of the Human Mind: Thomas Jefferson's Idea of a University. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press.

2019

Ragosta, John A, Peter S Onuf, and Andrew Jackson O'Shaughnessy, eds. 2019. The Founding of Thomas Jefferson's University. Jeffersonian America. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press.

2018

Gaye Wilson, Jefferson on Display: Attire, Etiquette, and the Art of Presentation.  Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press.

During his lifetime, Thomas Jefferson used his public image to enhance his political and diplomatic messages. Drawing on a host of sources, Gaye Wilson provides new and important insights into Jefferson’s careful use of his own image and clothing, as well as art and architecture, in constructing the message that he wanted to project.

2013

Andrew Jackson O'Shaughnessy, The Men Who Lost America:  British Leadership, American Revolution, and the Fate of the Empire.  New Haven:  Yale University Press; London:  Oneworld Publications.

Challenging the conventional wisdom that inept military leadership accounted for Britain’s loss of America, Andrew O’Shaughnessy explores the American Revolution and its immediate aftermath through penetrating analysis of the role of key British political and military leaders. The author shows how political complexities at home as well as the vigor of the American revolutionaries sunk the British war effort.

2012

Peter J. Hatch, “A Rich Spot of Earth”: Thomas Jefferson’s Revolutionary Garden at Monticello. Thomas Jefferson Foundation and Yale University Press.

2011

William L. Beiswanger, Monticello in Measured Drawings. New edition.

Ann Lucas Birle and Lisa Francavilla, eds. Thomas Jefferson’s Granddaughter in Queen Victoria’s England.  Thomas Jefferson Foundation and Massachusetts Historical Society.

Lucia Stanton, “Those Who Labor for My Happiness": Slavery at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello

2010

Helen Cripe, Thomas Jefferson and Music. New edition.

2008

Keith Thomson, A Passion for Nature:  Thomas Jefferson and Natural History

Monticello: A Guidebook. Revised edition. 

The Words of Thomas Jefferson

2005

Damon Lee Fowler, ed., Dining at Monticello

2004

Jennings L. Wagoner, Jr., Jefferson and Education

2003

Noble E. Cunningham, Jefferson and Monroe: Constant Friendship and Respect

Laura Malkin, ed., The Great Birthday of Our Republic:  Celebrating Independence Day at Monticello

James E. Lewis, Jr., The Louisiana Purchase:  Jefferson’s Noble Bargain?

Gary E. Moulton, ed., From Monticello to Jefferson's West:  Celebrating the Bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition

In cooperation with the Center for Great Plains Studies

2002

Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello

Silvio A. Bedini, Jefferson and Science

Andrew Burstein, Letters from the Head and Heart:  Writings of Thomas Jefferson

2001

Noble E. Cunningham, The Inaugural Addresses of Thomas Jefferson, 1801 and 1805

Published by the University of Missouri Press with the support of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Inc.

Melvin I. Urofsky, The Levy Family and Monticello, 1834-1923: Saving Thomas Jefferson's House

2000

James P. Ronda, Jefferson's West:  A Journey with Lewis and Clark

Sandor Salgo, Thomas Jefferson, Musician and Violinist
With assistance from Stanford University

Lucia C. Stanton, Free Some Day:  The African-American Families of Monticello

1999

Edwin Morris Betts, Thomas Jefferson's Farm Book
(Reprint from 1953)

Edwin Morris Betts, Thomas Jefferson's Garden Book, 1766-1824
(Reprint from 1944, published with new introduction)

Julian P. Boyd, The Declaration of Independence: The Evolution of the Text (Revised edition)
Library of Congress in association with the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Inc.

1998

Douglas L. Wilson, In His Own Words: Thomas Jefferson on Politics & Principles
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, with the cooperation of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation

Eugene R. Sheridan, Jefferson and Religion 

Merrill D. Peterson, The Jefferson Image in the American Mind
(Reprint from 1960, published with new introduction)

William L. Beiswanger, Monticello in Measured Drawings

1997

Douglas L. Wilson, "The Most Flattering Incident of My Life": Essays Celebrating the Bicentennial of Thomas Jefferson's American Philosophical Society Presidency, 1797-1814
Published for the Friends of the Library, American Philosophical Society
(Addresses given at an event presented by the American Philosophical Society and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation (Monticello), Philadelphia, June 18, 1997)

Bernard McMahon, The American Gardener's Calendar
(Reprint from 1806, published with new introduction)
Center for Historic Plants

Robert C. Lautman, Thomas Jefferson's Monticello:  A Photographic Portrait
Published by Monacelli Press with the cooperation of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Inc.

William M. Kelso, Archaeology at Monticello

Monticello: A Guidebook

1996

 Douglas L. Wilson, Jefferson's Books

Lucia C. Stanton, Slavery at Monticello 

1993

Merrill D. Peterson, The Political Writings of Thomas Jefferson*

Dumas Malone, Thomas Jefferson:  A Brief Biography

Susan R. Stein, The Worlds of Thomas Jefferson at Monticello*

 

*Initially published prior to the formation of the International Center for Jefferson Studies, but since reprinted under its auspices.

 

Monticello's ongoing publications program is supported by The Davis Publications Endowment.

Monticello's publications are availalble through our Shop at Monticello online and through our distributor, the University of Virginia Press.