How Eliza Hamilton’s copy of “The Federalist” wound up in Thomas Jefferson’s library (opens in new tab)

The Library has two fascinating copies of “The Federalist,” the influential collection of newspaper essays that urged the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. These copies have deep personal ties to three Founding Fathers. One was owned by Elizabeth Hamilton, the wife of Alexander Hamilton (who wrote most of the 85 essays that composed the volume). She gave her copy to her sister, Angelica, who in turn gave it to Thomas Jefferson, her friend. Jefferson put it in his personal library, which ...