Deed from Jane Randolph Jefferson for the Conveyance of Slaves, 29 September 1773
Jefferson’s widowed mother deeds him a dozen enslaved workers and their children in payment for her debts to him.
Featured Documents
In this section, we feature a small selection of documents from the Papers of Thomas Jefferson, sorted by historical themes and subjects. Each document links to the transcription and annotations from our volumes, publicly available for free on Founders Online.
Accurate transcriptions and clear annotation help a reader to make sense of a document and to understand it in its historical context. For common abbreviations and repository symbols used, see the summary of our editorial method.
The Declaration of Independence, ca. 4 July 1776
This link leads to our document exhibit. Editor Julian P. Boyd noted the "transcendent importance of this charter of national liberties," the most famous document drafted by Jefferson. See also on Founders online: https://founders.archives.gov/ancestor/TSJN-01-01-02-0176
To Elizabeth Wayles Eppes, 3? October 1782
A newly widowed Jefferson grapples with grief.
From Martha Jefferson Carr, 15 April 1784
Jefferson’s sister reports about her travels, education plans for Peter Carr, reports on Jefferson’s daughters, and announces she has become a grandmother.
From Elizabeth Wayles Eppes, 13 October 1784
Jefferson’s sister-in-law relays the tragic news to Jefferson in Paris of the death of his daughter Lucy.
To Chastellux, 7 June 1785
Jefferson comments on his Notes on the State of Virginia and expresses views on Native Americans and Blacks.
To James Madison, 30 January 1787
Jefferson declares that “a little rebellion now and then is a good thing” but stresses the importance of maintaining a unity of interests between the eastern and western parts of the United States.
To Abigail Adams, 22 February 1787
Jefferson in Paris reacts to news of Shays Rebellion in Massachusetts by declaring “I like a little rebellion now and then.”
Jefferson’s Notes on Macaroni, ca. 11 February 1789
Jefferson’s description and sketch of a macaroni press.
The Earth Belongs in Usufruct to the Living, 6 September 1789
Writing to James Madison from Paris, Jefferson presents a detailed argument that “the earth belongs always to the living generation.”