Jefferson letter found among documents

[The Straight Story]

Jefferson letter found among documents

NEWARK, Del., Dec. 4 (UPI) -- A Delaware graduate student says she discovered a letter written by Thomas Jefferson while cataloging archives donated to a university library.

Amanda Daddona, 22, found the letter, dated Feb. 24, 1808, in an unmarked folder as she and fellow student Matthew Davis, 28, sifted through the materials the Rockwood Museum in New Castle County donated recently to the University of Delaware Library, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Thursday.

"It was emotional for me," Daddona said. "I've always loved Thomas Jefferson. He's the reason I got so interested in history. I recognized his signature. It was the most prominent part of the letter."

The letter was a response from Jefferson to Joseph Bringhurst of Wilmington, who had sent Jefferson a letter informing him of the death of John Dickinson.

Dickinson had served as a militia officer during the American Revolution, a representative to the Continental Congress from Pennsylvania and Delaware and a Constitutional Convention delegate.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2009/12/04/Jefferson-letter-found-among-documents/UPI-45111259905758/

[Libertas1776]

1. Wow...

being a big history buff, I would love to stumble upon something like that. To be able to hold a piece of history such as that must be something wild (Like I said, I was a big history buff :))

[RoyGBiv]

5. Go to estate sales ...

It's not nearly on the order of finding a Jefferson letter, but a friend of mine went to an estate sale in Ohio and bought a box of "old junk" that included a seemingly ancient manuscript along with a bunch of Civil War memorabilia, which is what he thought he was buying. He knew beforehand the owner of the estate was related to a historical figure, but he never expected to find what he found.

The manuscript turned out to be a "lost" manuscript from a former Confederate officer involved in the siege of Vicksburg. The document had been mentioned by historians for years who only knew of it due to references to it elsewhere. But no one had apparently seen it in a hundred years.

He said when he discovered what he had, he got the shakes for a good hour.

[imdjh]

2. Wouldn't you think that with all the correspondence these guys left behind...

... that there would be one definitive, rude, or hilarious letter in the bunch?

Where is the letter where Thomas Jefferson writes, "I am so sick of these self righteous religious assholes........" ?

[The Straight Story]

3. Or he could start one out "Dear fucking fucker"

:rofl:

[jberryhill]

6. ....or at least a Twitter log...

[Historic NY]

4. Imagine how much more is still waiting to be discovered.....its

always thrilling to be the first to read a letter not seen in hundreds of years. I know its my side job and over the years I've seen things & found people never knew about. The little tidbits tell you a lot about the man & his contemporaries.