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<!DOCTYPE html> <!--[if lt IE 7]> <html class="no-js ie6 oldie" lang="en"> <![endif]--> <!--[if IE 7]> <html class="no-js ie7 oldie" lang="en"> <![endif]--> <!--[if IE 8]> <html class="no-js ie8 oldie" lang="en"> <![endif]--> <!--[if IE 9]> <html class="no-js ie9 oldie" lang="en"> <![endif]--> <!--[if gt IE 9]><!--> <html class="no-js" lang="en" prefix="og: http://ogp.me/ns#" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <!--<![endif]--> <head> <!--Google Tag Manager--> <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-WLMC86');</script> <!--End Google Tag Manager--> <meta charset="utf-8"/> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1"/> <meta name="description" content="Founders Online: Correspondence and Other Writings of Seven Major Shapers of the United States (George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison)"/> <meta name="DC.publisher" content="University of Virginia Press"/> <meta name="robots" content="all"/> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width,initial-scale=1"/> <meta property="og:image" content="http://founders.archives.gov/fo-icon.png"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Founders Online: Home"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:image:width" content="200"/> <meta property="og:image:height" content="200"/> <meta property="og:url" content="http://founders.archives.gov/documents//lib/home/home.xml"/> <title>Founders Online: Home</title> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/favicon.ico"/> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/apple-touch-icon.png"/> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/lib/css/style.css?v=2" type="text/css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/lib/css/expandible.css" type="text/css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://code.jquery.com/ui/1.13.2/themes/base/jquery-ui.css" type="text/css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/tooltipster/3.3.0/css/tooltipster.min.css" type="text/css"/> <script src="/lib/js/modernizr.js"></script> <!--[if lt IE 7]> <script type="text/javascript" src="/lib/js/unitpngfix.js"></script> <![endif]--> <script src="/lib/js/upress-head.js"></script> </head> <body id="home_page"><!--Google Tag Manager (noscript)--><noscript> <iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-WLMC86" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe> </noscript><!--End Google Tag Manager (noscript)--><div id="container"><a href="#main_content" id="skip_nav">Skip navigation. Go to main content.</a><div id="side_flourish"> <div id="side_shadow"> <div id="main_wrapper"><header> <div id="banner"> <a href="http://www.archives.gov/" id="national_archives_logo"><img alt="National Archives" title="National Archives" src="/lib/media/natl-arch-logo.png" height="100" width="100"/></a> <a href="http://www.upress.virginia.edu/rotunda/" id="rotunda_logo" target="_blank"><img tabindex="0" alt="University of Virginia Press" title="University of Virginia Press [link will open in a new window]" src="/lib/media/rotunda-white-on-blue.png" height="56" width="55"/></a> <nav> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.archives.gov/">Archives.gov Home</a></li> <li><a href="/about">About Founders Online</a></li> <li><a href="/help/contact">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div id="line2"> <h1> <a href="/" title="home page">Founders Online</a> <!--<img alt="Beta Release" src="/lib/media/beta-seal.png" id="beta_seal" />--> <span id="close_print_view">[<a href="/">Back to normal view</a>]</span> </h1><img alt="" src="/lib/media/clear.gif" id="test_trans"/> </div> </div> </header><div id="main" role="main" class="clearfix"><a id="main_content"></a><div id="quick_intro" class="clearfix"><section id="intro"><h2>Correspondence and Other Writings of Seven Major Shapers of the United States:</h2><p style="line-height:1.5">George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams (and family), Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison. Over <span class="rounded_document_count">184,000</span> searchable documents, fully annotated, from the authoritative Founding Fathers Papers projects.</p></section><section id="quick_links"> <header class="title"> <h3>Quick links</h3> </header> <ul class="body"> <li><a href="/about">About Founders Online</a></li> <li><a href="/content/funders">Major Funders</a></li> <li><a href="/help/searching">Search Help</a></li> <li><a href="/help/how_to_use">How to Use This Site</a></li> <li><a href="/help/FAQ">Frequently Asked Questions</a></li> <li><a href="/content/lesson_plans">Teaching Resources</a></li> <li><a href="/help/contact">Contact Us</a></li> </ul> </section></div><div id="search_and_facets_wrapper" class="clearfix"><form id="search_container" name="search_container" action="/index.xqy"> <div id="orange_ribbon"> <span id="document_count_tag"><a style="color:inherit;text-decoration:none;font-weight:inherit" href="/about/">Over <span class="rounded_document_count">184,000</span> searchable documents</a></span> </div> <div id="search_help" style="background:none"> <b style="font-size:13px">October 2024: <a href="/about/news">1570 new Adams, Jefferson, and Madison documents</a></b> </div> <div id="slideshow_container"> <ul id="search_slideshow"> <li id="washington" class="current slide"><img src="/lib/media/washington-slideshow.png" alt="George Washington" width="850" height="160"/></li> <li id="jefferson" class="slide"><img src="/lib/media/jefferson-slideshow.png" alt="Thomas Jefferson" width="850" height="160"/></li> <li id="franklin" class="slide"><img src="/lib/media/franklin-slideshow.png" alt="Benjamin Franklin" width="850" height="160"/></li> <li id="adams" class="slide"><img src="/lib/media/adams-slideshow.png" alt="John Adams" width="850" height="160"/></li> <li id="jay" class="slide"><img src="/lib/media/jay-slideshow.png" alt="John Jay" width="850" height="160"/></li> <li id="madison" class="slide"><img src="/lib/media/madison-slideshow.png" alt="James Madison" width="850" height="160"/></li> <li id="hamilton" class="slide"><img src="/lib/media/hamilton-slideshow.png" alt="Alexander Hamilton" width="850" height="160"/></li> </ul> </div> <label class="obscure" for="search_bar">Enter Search Terms</label> <input type="search" id="search_bar" name="q" placeholder="Enter search terms" size="100" value=""/> <input type="submit" value="GO" id="search_button"/> <input type="hidden" name="s" value="1111211111"/> <input type="hidden" name="sa" value=""/> <input type="hidden" name="r" value="1"/> <input type="hidden" name="sr" value=""/> </form><section class="facet_group" id="Author"><header class="title"><h3>Author</h3></header><form action="/index.xqy" class="facet-suggest" id="form-Author"> <input placeholder="Search here or click below" name="sa" style="color: gray" value=""/> <input type="hidden" name="q" value=""/> <input type="hidden" name="s" value="1111111111"/> <input type="hidden" name="r" value="1"/> </form><p class="body" style="padding-top: 5px;">Sort: <span title="Sort authors by frequency">Frequency</span> / <a title="Sort authors alphabetically" rel="nofollow" href="/?q=&s=1111112111&r=1">Alphabetical</a></p><ul class="body"> <li><a href="/?q=%20Author%3A%22Washington%2C%20George%22&s=1111211111&r=1" rel="nofollow">Washington, George</a> (31,728)</li> <li><a href="/?q=%20Author%3A%22Jefferson%2C%20Thomas%22&s=1111211111&r=1" rel="nofollow">Jefferson, Thomas</a> (20,531)</li> <li><a href="/?q=%20Author%3A%22Adams%2C%20John%22&s=1111211111&r=1" rel="nofollow">Adams, John</a> (10,097)</li> <li><a href="/?q=%20Author%3A%22Madison%2C%20James%22&s=1111211111&r=1" rel="nofollow">Madison, James</a> (8,663)</li> <li><a href="/?q=%20Author%3A%22Hamilton%2C%20Alexander%22&s=1111211111&r=1" rel="nofollow">Hamilton, Alexander</a> (7,632)</li> <li><a href="/?q=%20Author%3A%22Franklin%2C%20Benjamin%22&s=1111211111&r=1" rel="nofollow">Franklin, Benjamin</a> (4,918)</li> <li><a href="/?q=%20Author%3A%22Adams%2C%20John%20Quincy%22&s=1111211111&r=1" rel="nofollow">Adams, John Quincy</a> (3,524)</li> <li><a href="/?q=%20Author%3A%22Jay%2C%20John%22&s=1111211111&r=1" rel="nofollow">Jay, John</a> (1,771)</li> <li><a href="/?q=%20Author%3A%22Adams%2C%20Abigail%22&s=1111211111&r=1" rel="nofollow">Adams, Abigail</a> (1,287)</li> <li><a href="/?q=%20Author%3A%22Monroe%2C%20James%22&s=1111211111&r=1" rel="nofollow">Monroe, James</a> (993)</li> </ul><p class="body" style="padding-top: 5px;">Show: <span title="Show top 10 authors">Top 10</span> / <a href="/?q=&s=1111111121&r=1" rel="nofollow" title="Show top 50 authors">Top 50</a></p></section><section class="facet_group" id="Recipient"><header class="title"><h3>Recipient</h3></header><form action="/index.xqy" class="facet-suggest" id="form-Recipient"> <input placeholder="Search here or click below" name="sr" style="color: gray" value=""/> <input type="hidden" name="q" value=""/> <input type="hidden" name="s" value="1111111111"/> <input type="hidden" name="r" value="1"/> </form><p class="body" style="padding-top: 5px;">Sort: <span title="Sort recipients by frequency">Frequency</span> / <a title="Sort recipients alphabetically" rel="nofollow" href="/?q=&s=1111111211&r=1">Alphabetical</a></p><ul class="body"> <li><a href="/?q=%20Recipient%3A%22Jefferson%2C%20Thomas%22&s=1111211111&r=1" rel="nofollow">Jefferson, Thomas</a> (27,035)</li> <li><a href="/?q=%20Recipient%3A%22Washington%2C%20George%22&s=1111211111&r=1" rel="nofollow">Washington, George</a> (22,801)</li> <li><a href="/?q=%20Recipient%3A%22Madison%2C%20James%22&s=1111211111&r=1" rel="nofollow">Madison, James</a> (19,677)</li> <li><a href="/?q=%20Recipient%3A%22Franklin%2C%20Benjamin%22&s=1111211111&r=1" rel="nofollow">Franklin, Benjamin</a> (9,482)</li> <li><a href="/?q=%20Recipient%3A%22Adams%2C%20John%22&s=1111211111&r=1" rel="nofollow">Adams, John</a> (8,742)</li> <li><a href="/?q=%20Recipient%3A%22Hamilton%2C%20Alexander%22&s=1111211111&r=1" rel="nofollow">Hamilton, Alexander</a> (6,824)</li> <li><a href="/?q=%20Recipient%3A%22Jay%2C%20John%22&s=1111211111&r=1" rel="nofollow">Jay, John</a> (1,613)</li> <li><a href="/?q=%20Recipient%3A%22Adams%2C%20Abigail%22&s=1111211111&r=1" rel="nofollow">Adams, Abigail</a> (1,602)</li> <li><a href="/?q=%20Recipient%3A%22Adams%2C%20John%20Quincy%22&s=1111211111&r=1" rel="nofollow">Adams, John Quincy</a> (1,110)</li> <li><a href="/?q=%20Recipient%3A%22Lee%2C%20Arthur%22&s=1111211111&r=1" rel="nofollow">Lee, Arthur</a> (952)</li> </ul><p class="body" style="padding-top: 5px;">Show: <span title="Show top 10 recipients">Top 10</span> / <a href="/?q=&s=2111111111&r=1" rel="nofollow" title="Show top 50 recipients">Top 50</a></p></section><section class="facet_group" id="Period"><header class="title"><h3>Period</h3></header><ul class="body"> <li><a href="/?q=%20Period%3A%22Colonial%22&s=1111211111&r=1" title="through 18 April 1775" rel="nofollow">Colonial 1706–1775</a> (16,105)</li> <li><a href="/?q=%20Period%3A%22Revolutionary%20War%22&s=1111211111&r=1" title="19 April 1775 – 3 Sept. 1783" rel="nofollow">Revolutionary War 1775–1783</a> (48,379)</li> <li><a href="/?q=%20Period%3A%22Confederation%20Period%22&s=1111211111&r=1" title="4 Sep. 1783 – 29 April 1789" rel="nofollow">Confederation Period 1783–1789</a> (17,804)</li> <li><a href="/?q=%20Period%3A%22Washington%20Presidency%22&s=1111211111&r=1" title="30 April 1789 – 3 March 1797" rel="nofollow">Washington Presidency 1789–1797</a> (27,165)</li> <li><a href="/?q=%20Period%3A%22Adams%20Presidency%22&s=1111211111&r=1" title="4 March 1797 – 3 March 1801" rel="nofollow">Adams Presidency 1797–1801</a> (13,566)</li> <li><a href="/?q=%20Period%3A%22Jefferson%20Presidency%22&s=1111211111&r=1" title="4 March 1801 – 3 March 1809" rel="nofollow">Jefferson Presidency 1801–1809</a> (29,479)</li> <li><a href="/?q=%20Period%3A%22Madison%20Presidency%22&s=1111211111&r=1" title="4 March 1809 – 3 March 1817" rel="nofollow">Madison Presidency 1809–1817</a> (15,472)</li> <li><a href="/?q=%20Period%3A%22post-Madison%20Presidency%22&s=1111211111&r=1" title="4 March 1817 and after" rel="nofollow">post-Madison Presidency 1817–1836</a> (15,436)</li> </ul></section></div><div id="hatches"></div><div id="bottom_shadow"></div></div><footer> <div id="top_footer_section" class="clearfix"> <a href="http://www.archives.gov/nhprc/" id="nhprc_logo" class="ir" target="_blank">NHPRC</a> <div id="divider"></div> <div id="nhprc_blurb"><p>The <a href="http://www.archives.gov/nhprc/" style="color:inherit" target="_blank">National Historical Publications and Records Commission</a> (NHPRC) is part of the National Archives. 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