Private Jefferson: Perspectives from the Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society

One of U.S. history’s most eminent figures, Thomas Jefferson is as elusive as he is revered. The Private Jefferson opens a window onto the third president’s inner life by exploring the single largest cache of Thomas Jefferson’s private papers, held–to the surprise of many–at the Massachusetts Historical Society. Essays by Peter S. Onuf ( The State of the World: Thomas Jefferson’s Political Vision ), Andrea Wulf ( Revolutionary Gardens: Jefferson, Politics, and Plants ), and Henry Adams ( The Architectural Jefferson: The Draftsman and His Ideals ) underscore aspects of Jefferson’s character–his unusual creativity and less frequently studied perspectives on the world–rather than retelling the well-known achievements of his political career. The qualities that come to the forefront are, instead, the principles, passions, and faith that suffused his actions as a statesman, including his love of the natural world as well as his lifelong effort to find a balance between his role on an international stage and his need for a domestic retreat, a reverie for study and experimentation.

Generously illustrated with full color reproductions of architectural drawings, letters, and other manuscripts, this volume is published as a companion to the exhibition The Private Jefferson: From the Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Both exhibition and book celebrate the society’s 225th year.