James Madison's Montpelier We The People Spring 2014 | Page 7

WE THE PEOPLE

Through careful research, the Montpelier
curatorial team has identified nearly half of the
4,000 titles that were in Madison’s library. See
this growing inventory of books at
www.montpelier.org/madisons-book-list.

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160 years later, The Montpelier Foundation has taken on a leadership role in the research and recreation of James Madison’s
library. With no complete surviving inventory, the task is daunting, but the monumental effort is underway. Through the
“Presidential Detective Story,” an extensive research initiative begun in 2008, Montpelier research staff have combed through
more than 30,000 letters, news articles, bills of sale, inventories, wills, and other documents looking for clues to aid in
understanding the use of different rooms in the mansion, the appearance of these rooms, and where the Madison’s furnishings
and personal affects might be today. With recognition of the significance of Madison’s library to the founding of the United
States, creating an inventory of his books has been a top priority.
During the past five years, The Montpelier Foundation has identified nearly half of the titles in Madison’s library and
continues to study his manuscripts and collaborate with scholars to better understand the range of titles with which he was
familiar. This resulting research informs the titles exhibited in the newly restored library and aids in the perpetual search for his
books. But, more importantly, it helps us better understand Madison’s political philosophy and brings to life the character of
one of our most indispensible founders.
Madison’s life was dedicated to acquiring knowledge and, perhaps more importantly, to applying knowledge to solve America’s
problems. His reconstituted library will stand as a legacy essential to understanding the ideas, political structures, and values that
characterize our nation and resulted in the first and longest-standing representative government on earth.
Special thanks to Ralph Ketcham, Ph.D., for his invaluable contributions to this article and his participation in the ongoing research to
understand and recreate Madison’s library. Dr. Ketcham is a professor at Syracuse University and one of the foremost biographers of James
Madison. He is a founding member of The Montpelier Foundation Board and has contributed his professional library to Montpelier’s archives.
To read Dr. Ketcham’s additional insights about Madison’s library, visit the Montpelier blog at www.montpelier.org/blog.

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