Papers of James Madison

The Papers of James Madison is a nonprofit documentary editing project established to procure, edit, annotate, and publish the lifetime correspondence of James Madison, the fourth President of the United States and a principal architect of the U.S. Constitution. The project has produced a comprehensive collection of nearly 38,000 documents, spanning four major periods of Madison’s life: Congressional, Secretary of State, Presidential, and Retirement. These documents provide invaluable insights into Madison’s political philosophy, his contributions to the founding of the United States, and his role in shaping the nation’s early governance. The project is maintained by the University of Virginia and is supported by grants from various institutions, including the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.