Hamilton: An American Musical

The digital collections of the Library of Congress contain a wide variety of material associated with Alexander Hamilton. This resource guide compiles links to digital materials related to Hamilton such as manuscripts, letters, broadsides, government documents, and images that are available throughout the Library of Congress Web site. In addition, it provides links to external Web sites focusing on Hamilton and a bibliography containing selected works for both a general audience and younger readers.

An exhibition (New-York Historical Society, September 10, 2004-February 28, 2005) that acquainted visitors with a statesman and visionary whose life inspired discussion and controversy and shaped the America we live in two hundred years after his death.

The Federalist, commonly referred to as the Federalist Papers, is a series of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison between October 1787 and May 1788. The essays were published anonymously, under the pen name "Publius," in various New York state newspapers of the time. The Federalist Papers were written and published to urge New Yorkers to ratify the proposed United States Constitution, which was drafted in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787. In lobbying for adoption of the Constitution over the existing Articles of Confederation, the essays explain particular provisions of the Constitution in detail. For this reason, and because Hamilton and Madison were each members of the Constitutional Convention, the Federalist Papers are often used today to help interpret the intentions of those drafting the Constitution.

Beginning on October 27, 1787, the Federalist Papers were first published in the New York press under the signature of "Publius." These papers are generally considered to be one of the most important contributions to political thought made in America. The essays appeared in book form in 1788, with an introduction by Hamilton. They were subsequently printed in many editions and translated to several languages. The pseudonym "Publius" was used by three men: John Jay, James Madison, and Hamilton. Jay was responsible for only a few of the 85 articles. The papers were meant to be influential in the campaign for the adoption of the Constitution by New York State. In addition to discussing the issues of the constitution, the authors also addressed many general problems of politics.

In 1778, the states debated the merits of the proposed Constitution. Along with the Federalist Papers, the Anti-Federalist papers documented the political context in which the Constitution was born. The Federalist Papers defended the concept of a strong central government with their arguments in favor of the Constitution. The Anti-Federalists saw in the Constitution threats to rights and liberties so recently won from England. The authors not only discussed the issues of the Constitution, but debated many general problems of politics: Should the members of the government be elected by direct vote of the people? Does slavery have any place in a nation dedicated to liberty?

Over 176,000 searchable documents, fully annotated, from the authoritative Founding Fathers Papers projects.

This collection from NYPL primarily consists of letters and documents either written or signed by Alexander Hamilton, and pertain to his career as a soldier, lawyer, statesman and United States Secretary of the Treasury.

Nearly 7,000 images of colonial North and South America from books, manuscripts, and broadsides. Accompanied by bibliographical and descriptive information.

Congressional records from the Continental Congress through the 43rd Congress, 1774-1875.

Project to digitize images of archival and manuscript materials that relate to 17th and 18th century North America; currently more than 2400 item available.

Detailed descriptions and links to more than 700 digital collections of primary sources that document the history of women in the United States.

Contains 277 documents relating to the work of Congress and the drafting and ratification of the Constitution.

A collection of electronic texts and links to texts originally written in or about the Americas from 1492 to approximately 1820.

A project from the Royal Archives and the Royal Library at Windsor Castle. Currently contains descriptions and digitized images of material dating from the reigns of George III to William IV, including personal letters, diaries, account books and records of the Royal Household.

Resources related to the musical from the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello.

Documents such as manuscripts, newspapers, and broadsides that "preserve the words of hundreds of eyewitnesses to the American Revolution in and around New York City."