Free access to hundreds of handwritten letters by Washington, Hamilton, Jefferson, Webster, and others
When I was in school, I didn’t find history interesting, as my teachers also taught it so dryly out of textbooks. But as a homeschooling mom, I have found it to be my favorite subject. Over our homeschooling years, we have made history exciting by learning it together through books, interactive websites, crafts & activities, and through reading historical documents.
The New York Public Library houses a collection of early American manuscripts, containing hundreds of letters written by America’s founders. These letters dates in the 1600s and 1700s, and are preserved in the author’s handwriting.
how to access the early american letters & manuscripts
When teaching history, and especially if teaching American history, the letters and manuscripts collected in the Early American Project will be helpful to you.
other early american history lessons & activities
I’ve collected several free American history college courses and lesson plans over the years. Here are the links to what I wrote about them:
- This Day in U.S. History: written by a historian, daily
- Lesson plans and games from the Smithsonian
- Free lesson plans and instructions for historical crafts
- Free U.S. history college courses from Hillsdale




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