This is a list of the published and non-published papers (public and private) of individual presidents. Many papers are published in more than one publication, in which case, only larger or more authoritative publications are included. The following list is largely derived from the excellent Public and Private Papers by the Scripps Library, University of Virginia's Miller Center of Public Affairs and the Library of Congress' Presidents of the United States: Resource Guide.
Search tip: For a more complete list of publications (not just their papers) by individual presidents:
search for the president's name as AUTHOR, e.g. washington george, in the American University Library Catalog or WorldCat .
1. George Washington, 1789-1797
The Papers of George Washington at the University of Virginia is a project to publish a comprehensive edition of Washington's correspondence. Letters written to Washington as well as letters and documents written by him are included. When complete, it will comprise approximately ninety volumes. A few documents are free online.
American University Library has a complete copy of the print edition. George Washington University and George Mason University have the online version. If you would like American University Library to purchase this database, contact Clement Ho.
- The Diaries of George Washington. Donald Jackson, editor, Dorothy Twohig, associate editor. 6 vols.
(Call number: E312.8 1976). AU Library has print copy.
- The Papers of George Washington, Colonial Series. 10 vols.
(Call number: E312.72 1982). AU Library has print copy.
- The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series. 20 vols.
(Call number: E312.72 1985). AU Library has print copy.
- The Papers of George Washington, Confederation Series. 6 vols.
(Call number: E312.7 1992). AU Library has print copy.
- The Papers of George Washington, Presidential Series. 16 vols.
(Call number: E312.72 1987). AU Library has print copy.
- The Papers of George Washington, Retirement Series. 4 vols.
(Call number: E312.72 1998). AU Library has print copy.
Earlier editions of Washington's papers.
- The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799. John C. Fitzpatrick, editor. 40 vols.
Includes Washington's outgoing correspondence but does not include letters received by Washington.
(Call number: E312.7 1931). AU Library has print copy.
- The Writings of George Washington: Being His Correspondence, Addresses, Messages, and Other Papers, Official and Private: Selected and Published from the Original Manuscripts: With a Life of the Author, Notes, and Illustrations. Jared Sparks. Boston, 1834-1837. 12 vols.
AU Library has online copy via Making of Modern Law: Legal Treatises 1800-1926 .
- A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents [1789-1929]. Prepared under the direction of the Joint Committee on printing, of the House and Senate, pursuant to an act of the Fifty-second Congress of the United States (With additions and encyclopedic index by private enterprise). 20 vols. By James D. Richardson.
Official papers (proclamations, addresses, and messages) of the president during his presidency. This title was published in several different editions.
HeinOnline has all editions online.
(Call number: J81 .B962). AU Library has print copy of several editions.
Unpublished and collections of original Washington's papers.
- George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress 1741-1799 (Manuscript Division, Library of Congress)
The Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress has the largest collection of original George Washington papers. The collection has been digitized from the microfilm version and is available in its entirety online. There are no annotations, just images of the original documents.
- George Washington Papers from University of Virginia Press' Founders Early Access
These documents should not be cited in formal research because their accuracy has not yet been verified. "These documents are copied, carefully transcribed and proofread by experts, edited and annotated before publication. The documents available in Early Access are scheduled to appear in the scholarly editions, both print and digital, but the majority of them have not yet entered the final stages of the process, professional scholarly editing and annotation. The level of accuracy of the documents in Early Access varies, but all have had at least one initial proofreading, while some have received the same editorial treatment as a published version. Rotunda and its partners are making these documents available as a service to the historical community to promote knowledge and learning, but please keep in mind as you use this information that many elements of these documents could change as they undergo scholarly review, including such things as author and recipient information, proper names, dates, and the transcription of individual words. Once an Early Access document has been published and made available in Rotunda, it will be removed from this database..." About Early Access Madison Documents.
2. John Adams, 1797-1801
Adams Papers Digital Editions (Massachusetts Historical Society)
The Massachusetts Historical Society's Adams Papers project seeks to publish a comprehensive collection of the papers of the Adams family from 1753-1889. This massive project is divided into four series. Material related to John Adams can be found in each of the four series. The Adams Papers Digital Editions is the online version of the following print publications:
- Diary and Autobiography of John Adams. L. H. Butterfield, editor, Leonard C. Faber and Wendell D. Garrett, assistant editors. 4 vols.
The complete diary of John Adams, which he kept primarily from the 1750s into the 1780s, and his unfinished autobiography.
(Call number: E322 .A3). AU Library has print copy.
- The Earliest Diary of John Adams. L. H. Butterfield, editor. Wendell D. Garrett and Marc Friedlaender, associate editors.
A supplement to the above diary discovered in the 20th century.
(Call number: E322 .A34). AU Library has print copy.
- Adams Family Correspondence. L.H. Butterfield, editor; Wendell D. Garrett, associate editor; Marjorie E. Sprague, assistant editor. Projected 24 vols.
While these volumes include family correspondence from the entire Adams family, John Adams is featured prominently.
(Call number: E322.1 .A27). AU Library has print copy.
- Legal Papers of John Adams. L. Kinvin Wroth and Hiller B. Zobel, editors. 3 vols.
These volumes include material from Adams's years as a law student and from legal cases in which he was involved. The third volume is dedicated exclusively to his participation in the “Boston Massacre” case.
(Call number: E321 .A3). AU Library has print copy.
- Papers of John Adams. Robert J. Taylor, editor ; Mary-Jo Kline, associate editor ; Gregg L. Lint, assistant editor. Projected 40 vols.
(Call number: E302 .A27). AU Library has print copy.
- Portraits of John and Abigail Adams.
An illustrated volume including all known life portraits, busts, and silhouettes of John and Abigail Adams. This volume is not yet available free online from the Adams Papers Digital Editions.
(Call number: E322 .O55). AU Library has print copy.
Earlier editions of John Adams' papers.
- The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States. Charles Francis Adams. 1856. 10 vols.
Edited by John Adams' grandson.
(Call number: E302 .A26). AU Library has print copy of the 1971 reprint of the 1856 edition and online copy via Making of Modern Law: Legal Treatises 1800-1926
- A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents [1789-1929]. Prepared under the direction of the Joint Committee on printing, of the House and Senate, pursuant to an act of the Fifty-second Congress of the United States (With additions and encyclopedic index by private enterprise). 20 vols. By James D. Richardson.
Official papers (proclamations, addresses, and messages) of the president during his presidency. This title was published in several different editions.
HeinOnline has all editions online.
(Call number: J81 .B962). AU Library has print copy of several editions.
Unpublished collections John Adams' papers.
- The best source for the unpublished material is the 608 reels microfilm set of all published and unpublished Adams family material housed at the Massachusetts Historical Society. Within D.C. the Library of Congress has two copies of the microfilm set.
- Adams Papers: Early Access from University of Virginia Press' Founders Early Access
These documents should not be cited in formal research because their accuracy has not yet been verified. "These documents are copied, carefully transcribed and proofread by experts, edited and annotated before publication. The documents available in Early Access are scheduled to appear in the scholarly editions, both print and digital, but the majority of them have not yet entered the final stages of the process, professional scholarly editing and annotation. The level of accuracy of the documents in Early Access varies, but all have had at least one initial proofreading, while some have received the same editorial treatment as a published version. Rotunda and its partners are making these documents available as a service to the historical community to promote knowledge and learning, but please keep in mind as you use this information that many elements of these documents could change as they undergo scholarly review, including such things as author and recipient information, proper names, dates, and the transcription of individual words. Once an Early Access document has been published and made available in Rotunda, it will be removed from this database..."
3. Thomas Jefferson, 1801-1809
A comprehensive and authoritative edition of the Papers of Thomas Jefferson is currently being published by the Princeton University Press.
- Papers of Thomas Jefferson. Julian P. Boyd, editor; Lyman H. Butterfield ... [et al.], associate editors. 37 vols.
(Call number: E302 .J463). AU Library has print copy.
- Jefferson's Extracts From the Gospels. Dickinson W. Adams, editor ; Ruth W. Lester, assistant editor ; introduction by Eugene R. Sheridan.
(Call number: BS2549.J5 J43). AU Library has print copy.
- Jefferson's Parliamentary Writings. (Call number: KF4982 .J44 1988). AU Library has print copy.
- Jefferson's Literary Commonplace Book. (Call number: E332.9.C6 J44 1989). AU Library has print copy.
- Jefferson's Memorandum Books: Accounts, with Legal Records and Miscellany. (Call number: E302 .J442 1997). AU Library has print copy.
The Papers of Thomas Jefferson: Retirement Series is a project sponsored by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation. It will produce the definitive edition of Jefferson's writings between his return to private life on 4 March 1809 and his death on 4 July 1826. There is no publicly available online copy of the Retirement Series.
- Papers of Thomas Jefferson. Retirement Series. J. Jefferson Looney, editor. Projected 23 vols.
(Call number: E302 .J4632). AU Library has print copy.
There is an online Current Cumulative Index to this series which is updated yearly as new print volumes are released.
A companion to the Papers of Thomas Jefferson: Retirement Series is the free online Family Letters Digital Archive. These documents are full text-searchable transcriptions 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.
Earlier editions of Jefferson's writings.
- The Works of Thomas Jefferson. Collected and ed. by Paul Leicester Ford. 1904-1905. 12 vols.
(Call number: E302 .J49w). AU Library has print copy.
The Writings of Thomas Jefferson. Collected and edited by Paul Leicester Ford. 1892-1899. 10 vols.
AU Library has online copy via Making of Modern Law: Legal Treatises 1800-1926.
- The writings of Thomas Jefferson; containing his autobiography, notes on Virginia, parliamentary manual, official papers, messages and addresses, and other writings, official and private, now collected and published in their entirety for the first time ... Andrew A. Lipscomb, ed.-in-chief; Albert Ellery Bergh, managing ed. 1904. 20 vols.
(Call number: E302 .J471). AU Library has an incomplete set of the print copy.
- A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents [1789-1929]. Prepared under the direction of the Joint Committee on printing, of the House and Senate, pursuant to an act of the Fifty-second Congress of the United States (With additions and encyclopedic index by private enterprise). 20 vols. By James D. Richardson.
Official papers (proclamations, addresses, and messages) of the president during his presidency. This title was published in several different editions.
HeinOnline has all editions online.
(Call number: J81 .B962). AU Library has print copy of several editions.
Collections of original Jefferson's papers.
- Thomas Jefferson Papers, 1606-1827 (American Memory at the Library of Congress) (Manuscript Division, Library of Congress)
The Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress has the largest collection of original Thomas Jefferson papers (mostly public papers). The collection has been digitized from the microfilm version and is available in its entirety online. There are no annotations, just images of the original documents.
Georgetown University Library has 2 sets of microfilm: 57 reels; 65 reels.
- Thomas Jefferson Papers: An Electronic Archive (Massachusetts Historical Society)
Presents full-color digital images and some transcriptions of manuscripts selected from the Coolidge Collection of Thomas Jefferson Manuscripts at the Massachusetts Historical Society, which is home to the second largest collection of Thomas Jefferson manuscripts (primarily his private papers). The entire manuscript collection is available on microfilm. No library of the Washington Research Library Consortium has this microfilm set. Check WorldCat for libraries that do.
4. James Madison, 1809-1817
A comprehensive collection of The Papers of James Madison is currently being published by the University of Virginia Press.
- Papers of James Madison, Congressional Series. Edited by William T. Hutchinson and William M.E. Rachal. 17 vols.
(Call number: JK111 .M24). AU Library has print copy.
- Papers of James Madison, Secretary of State Series. Edited by Robert J. Brugger. 9 vols.
(Call number: JK111 .M2423). AU Library has print copy.
- Papers of James Madison, Presidential Series. Edited by Robert A. Rutland. 6 vols.
(Call number: JK111 .M242). AU Library has print copy.
- Papers of James Madison, Retirement Series. Edited by David B. Mattern. 1 vol.
(Call number: E302 .M19). AU Library has print copy.
Earlier editions of Madison's writings:
- Writings of James Madison. Edited by Gaillard Hunt. 1900-1910. 9 vols.
AU Library has online copy via Making of Modern Law: Legal Treatises 1800-1926.
- The Mind of the Founder: Sources of the Political Thought of James Madison. Edited, with an introduction and commentary, by Marvin Meyers. 1973.
(Call number: E302 .M185). AU Library has print copy.
- A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents [1789-1929]. Prepared under the direction of the Joint Committee on printing, of the House and Senate, pursuant to an act of the Fifty-second Congress of the United States (With additions and encyclopedic index by private enterprise). 20 vols. By James D. Richardson.
Official papers (proclamations, addresses, and messages) of the president during his presidency. This title was published in several different editions.
HeinOnline has all editions online.
(Call number: J81 .B962). AU Library has print copy of several editions.
Unpublished collections of Madison's papers.
- James Madison Papers: Early Access from University of Virginia Press' Founders Early Access
These documents should not be cited in formal research because their accuracy has not yet been verified. "These documents are copied, carefully transcribed and proofread by experts, edited and annotated before publication. The documents available in Early Access are scheduled to appear in the scholarly editions, both print and digital, but the majority of them have not yet entered the final stages of the process, professional scholarly editing and annotation. The level of accuracy of the documents in Early Access varies, but all have had at least one initial proofreading, while some have received the same editorial treatment as a published version. Rotunda and its partners are making these documents available as a service to the historical community to promote knowledge and learning, but please keep in mind as you use this information that many elements of these documents could change as they undergo scholarly review, including such things as author and recipient information, proper names, dates, and the transcription of individual words. Once an Early Access document has been published and made available in Rotunda, it will be removed from this database..."
5. James Monroe, 1817-1825
The James Monroe Papers Project at Mary Washington College is putting forth an authoritiative edition of his writings.
- A Comprehensive Catalogue of the Correspondence and Papers of James Monroe.
(Call number: E302.M74 Z997 2001). AU Library has print copy.
- The Papers of James Monroe. Projected 8 vols.
(Call number: E302 .M74). AU Library has print copy.
Earlier editions of Monroe's writings.
- The Writings of James Monroe. Edited by Stanislaus Murray Hamilton. Reprint of the 1898-1903 edition.
(Call number: E302 .M74). AU Library has 6 of 7 volumes of print copy.
- A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents [1789-1929]. Prepared under the direction of the Joint Committee on printing, of the House and Senate, pursuant to an act of the Fifty-second Congress of the United States (With additions and encyclopedic index by private enterprise). 20 vols. By James D. Richardson.
Official papers (proclamations, addresses, and messages) of the president during his presidency. This title was published in several different editions.
HeinOnline has all editions online.
(Call number: J81 .B962). AU Library has print copy of several editions.
Unpublished collections of Monroe's papers.
The three major microfilm collections of Monroe papers are the best sources for material not yet published by the Monroe project nor available in the Hamilton edition. The microfilm collections are available at different institutions throughout the United States.
- Papers of James Monroe. Microfilm of Library of Congress manuscript collection, 11 reels.
Georgetown University Library has microfilm copy.
- James Monroe papers, 1772-1836. Microfilm of New York Public Library manuscript collection, 8 reels.
- James Monroe Papers in Virginia Repositories. Microfilm, 13 reels.
Georgetown University Library has microfilm copy.
6. John Quincy Adams, 1825-1829
- Diary of John Quincy Adams.
(Call number: E377 .A185). AU Library has print copy.
- Adams Family Correspondence.
(Call number: E322.1 .A27). AU Library has print copy.
- Portraits of John Quincy Adams and his Wife.
(Call number: E377 .O5) AU Library has print copy.
- Writings of John Quincy Adams.
(Call number: E337.8 .A21). AU Library has print copy.
- The Memoirs of John Quincy Adams. Comprising Portions of his Diary from 1795-1848.
- Writings of John Quincy Adams. Edited by Worthington Chauncey Ford. 7 vols.
(Call number: E337.8 .A21) AU Library has print copy.
7. Andrew Jackson, 1829-1837
The University of Tennessee Press is publishing a selective edition of Andrew Jackson papers.
- Legal Papers of Andrew Jackson. Edited by James W. Ely, Jr., Theodore Brown, Jr. 1 vol.
(Call number: KF213.J29 E59). AU Library has print copy.
- The Papers of Andrew Jackson. Edited by Sam B. Smith and Harriet Chappell Owsley. Projected 16 vols.
(Call number: E302 .J35). AU Library has print copy.
Earlier editions of Jackson's writings.
- Correspondence of Andrew Jackson. Edited by John Spencer Bassett. 1926-1935. 7 vols.
(Call number: E382 .J115). AU Library has print copy.
- A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents [1789-1929]. Prepared under the direction of the Joint Committee on printing, of the House and Senate, pursuant to an act of the Fifty-second Congress of the United States (With additions and encyclopedic index by private enterprise). 20 vols. By James D. Richardson.
Official papers (proclamations, addresses, and messages) of the president during his presidency. This title was published in several different editions.
HeinOnline has all editions online.
(Call number: J81 .B962). AU Library has print copy of several editions.
Unpublished collections of Jackson's papers.
Jackson's unpublished papers are available through three microfilm collections. For a detailed description of the microfilm collections, see:
The Papers of Andrew Jackson: Guide and Index to the Microfilm Editions. Edited by Harold D. Moser.
(Call number: E337.8.J3 Z996). AU Library has print copy.
8. Martin Van Buren, 1837-1841
- A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents [1789-1929]. Prepared under the direction of the Joint Committee on printing, of the House and Senate, pursuant to an act of the Fifty-second Congress of the United States (With additions and encyclopedic index by private enterprise). 20 vols. By James D. Richardson.
Official papers (proclamations, addresses, and messages) of the president during his presidency. This title was published in several different editions.
HeinOnline has all editions online.
(Call number: J81 .B962). AU Library has print copy of several editions.
Unpublished collections of van Buren's papers.
- The Papers of Martin Van Buren. (Chadwyck-Healey, 55 reels).
The best source for Martin van Buren papers. This collection includes all known van Buren papers, including what is available in the Library of Congress microfilm collection.
No library of the Washington Research Library Consortium has this microfilm set. Check WorldCat for libraries that do.
If you would like American University Library to purchase this microfilm set, contact Clement Ho.
- Guide and Index to the Papers of Martin van Buren. Edited by Lucy Fisher West.
Guide to the microfilm set, The Papers of Martin Van Buren from Chadwyck-Healey.
Catholic University Library has print copy.
- Papers. Microfilm of Library of Congress manuscript collection, 35 reels.
Georgetown University Library has microfilm copy.
- Another potential source for Van Buren papers is in his correspondence with Andrew Jackson.
9. William Henry Harrison, 1841
The majority of William Henry Harrison's papers were destroyed by fire in 1858.
- Messages and Letters of William Henry Harrison. Edited by Logan Esarey. 2 vols.
Only includes materials from the time he was governor of Indiana.
George Washington University Library has microfilm copy.
- A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents [1789-1929]. Prepared under the direction of the Joint Committee on printing, of the House and Senate, pursuant to an act of the Fifty-second Congress of the United States (With additions and encyclopedic index by private enterprise). 20 vols. By James D. Richardson.
Official papers (proclamations, addresses, and messages) of the president during his presidency. This title was published in several different editions.
HeinOnline has all editions online.
(Call number: J81 .B962). AU Library has print copy of several editions.
Unpublished collections of Harrison's papers.
- William Henry Harrison Papers. Microfilm of Library of Congress manuscript collection, 3 reels.
The best source for his papers.
Georgetown University Library has microfilm copy.
10. John Tyler, 1841-1845
The majority of John Tyler's papers were destroyed in the Civil War.
- The Letters and Times of the Tylers. Written by John Tyler's son, Lyon Gardiner Tyler. 1970 reprint of c.1884-86. 3 vols.
(on order)
- A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Presidents [1789-1929]. Prepared under the direction of the Joint Committee on printing, of the House and Senate, pursuant to an act of the Fifty-second Congress of the United States (With additions and encyclopedic index by private enterprise). 20 vols. By James D. Richardson.
Official papers (proclamations, addresses, and messages) of the president during his presidency. This title was published in several different editions.
HeinOnline has all editions online.
(Call number: J81 .B962). AU Library has print copy of several editions.
Unpublished collections of Tyler's papers.
- Papers. Microfilm of Library of Congress manuscript collection, 3 reels.
The best source for Tyler's papers.
Georgetown University Library has microfilm copy.