Thomas Jeffersons books, some including handwritten notes, have been found in the rare books collection at Washington University.
The discovery of 69 new books owned by one of the nations founding presidents are now being analyzed by national historians.
These books add a dimension to the study of the life of Jefferson at Monticello, said Endrina Tay, who discovered the books with Ann Lucas Birle.
They expand our understanding and give us a tangible connection. It helps us understand how Jefferson used his books whether they were well worn, which means he read them often. Some have annotations, and two architectural volumes include notations of calculations that Jefferson made."
The books were among about 3,000 that were donated to the school in 1880 after the death of Jefferson's granddaughter.
"Our discovery provides an amazing and intimate look into Jefferson's world, said Leslie Greene Bowman, president of Monticello and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation. "To find his handwritten notations is like peering over Jeffersons shoulder to see his mind at work."
