Children's Reading

From Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia

Jefferson took a keen interest in the reading habits of his children and grandchildren. The titles and editions in this list are the closest approximations to those which the readers used.[1] In some cases, the cited edition is the earliest in Sowerby; in others they are the closest to the date in which they were used.


  • Adventures of Mary and Her Cat. The only reference to this title is in a the letter Jefferson to Thomas Jefferson Randolph, June 20 1809: "Your mama desires you wilt [in Philadelphia] for Mary [age 6] a little book she has seen advertised called the Adventures of Mary and Her Cat.
  • Aeschylus. Tragoediae. Quae. Extant Septem. Cum Versione Latina... (Glasgow, 1746). Jefferson wrote to his only Eppes grandchild, the 19 year old Francis Wayles Eppes, on September 19, 1820: "I leave at Flood's...3. volumes of My Petit Format Library containing several tragedies of Euripides, some of Sophocles and one of Aeschylus. The 1st. you will find easy, t h e 2d. tolerably so; the last incomprehensible in his flights among the clouds."[2]
  • Euripides. Euripdis Dramata Iphigenia in Aulide... (Londini, 1783) Sowerby 4529. Poor Sale 755 -758.
  • Barthelemy, Jean Jacques. Voyage du jeune Anacharsis en Grece...abrege de l'ouvrage...de le jeunesse. (London, 1790). Mentioned in a letter Mary Jefferson to Thomas Jefferson, July 20, 1790 as promised her by her father.[3]
  • Barbauld, Anne Letitia. Lessons for Children from Four Five Years Old. (Philadelphia , 1798.) [[Martha Jefferson Randolph|Martha Jefferson to Thomas Jefferson, July 11, 1805 in which it is requested for Cornelia Jefferson Randolph, age six, because of its large type and size suitable for easy handling by children.[4]
  • Bell's Edition. The Poets of Great Britain Complete from Chaucer to Churchill. . . (Edinburgh, 1777-1784) Purchased for Martha Jefferson by her father while in France. He paid 195 francs for 109 volumes. [5]
  • Cervantes, Saavedra, Miguel de. El Inqenioso Hidalgo Don Quixote de La Mancha compuesto por Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra... (Paris, 1754). 6 volumes. Sowerby, 4347. Poor Sale 746. Mary Jefferson, age twelve, relates to her father her efforts to read this work but with little success, Mary Jefferson to Thomas Jefferson, April 25, 1790.
  • Cook, James. Histoire abregee des premier, second et troisieme voyages autour du monde... (Paris, an II). Anne Cary Randolph to her grandfather ; "I read Coocks voyages in French..." (Anne Cary Randolph to Thomas Jefferson)[6]
  • Day, Thomas. The History of Sandford and Merton (London, 1795). 3 volumes. Martha Jefferson Randolph requests the latest edition of this work from her father. Letter dated February 8, 1799.[7]
  • de Florian, Jean-Pierre Claris. Galatee, Roman Pastoral; imite de Cervantes... (Paris, 1785)
  • Diodorus Siculus. Diodori Sicvli Bibliothecae Historicae... (Geneva, 1559). Sowerby, 37 and 38. "I am reading Diodorus Sicubus..." (Ellen Wayles Randolph to Thomas Jefferson). [8]
  • Edgeworth, Maria. Moral Tales for Young People. (London, 1804). 3 volumes. Jefferson had a copy of this which he sent to Cornelia Jefferson Randolph. He stated it was "better suited to your years [age twelve] than mine..." (Thomas Jefferson to Cornelia Jefferson Randolph).[9]
  • Edgeworth, Maria. Rosamond. (n.p., n.d.) I am reading a little book called Rosamond." (Virginia Jefferson Randolph to Thomas Jefferson).[10]
  • Fenelon, Francois de Salignac de la Motte. Les Avantures de Telemaque. (Francois et Espagnol). (Le Haye, 1712). 2 volumes. Sowerby, 4305-4307. Poplar Forest Sale 621, "I go on very slowly with my French for I have got through but one book of Telemachus." (Ellen Wayles Randolph Coolidge to Thomas Jefferson).[11]
  • Genlis, Stephanie Felicite Ducrest de Saint Aubin, Comtesse de. Tales & the Castle... (London, 1785). 5 volumes."Last Christmas I gave sister the "Tales of the Castle..." (Mary Jefferson to Thomas Jefferson).[12]
  • Gibbon, Edward. The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. (Paris, 1788, 1789). Sowerby, 101. Mentioned in a letter, Mary Jefferson to Thomas Jefferson as promised her by her father. July 20, 1790.[13]
  • Goldsmith, Oliver. The Grecian History, from the earliest state to. . .'Alexander the Great. (Philadelphia, 1800). 2 volumes. "I have read Goldsmith's grecian history...." (Thomas Jefferson Randolph to Thomas Jefferson).[14]
  • Goldsmith, Oliver. The Roman History from the Foundation of the City of Rome to the Destruction of the Western Empire... (London, 1770). 2 volumes. Sowerby, 100. "...I am now reading Goldsmith's Roman history." (Thomas Jefferson Randolph to Thomas Jefferson). [15]
  • Homer. The Ilad of Homer. Translated by Alexander Pope. (London, 1750). 6 volumes. Sowerby, 4264ff. Poor Sale 731-735, Poplar Forest Sale 632. "I am reading ... Homer's Iliad in English." (Ellen Wayles Randolph Coolidgeto Thomas Jefferson).[16]It is assumed that Thomas Jefferson Randolph and Francis Wayles Eppes read from the Latin editions.
  • Justinus, Marcus Junianus. De historiis Philippicis et totius Mundi originibus. . . (London 1701). Sowerby, 35 and 36. "I am still reading...Justin to myself ." (Ellen Wayles Randolph Coolidge to Thomas Jefferson)[17]
  • La Fontane, Jeande La Fontane's Fables. (Paris, 1787). 2 volumes. Sowerby, 4374. Poplar Forest Sale 639. Title from the Poplar Forest Sale Catalogue: "With autograph of Mary Jefferson."
  • La cuisiniere bourqeoise, suivie de l'office a l'usage de tous clux qui se melent de d'epenses de maisons. (Paris, 1746). Not listed in any of the Jefferson catalogues. It was given to Martha Jefferson Randolph by her father in 1791 after she was married and keeping house at nineteen. This is the only cookbook in this bibliography.
  • Le Bon de la bonne Compagne. Not identified. Mentioned in a letter from Martha Jefferson Randolph to Thomas Jefferson, November 18, 1808.[18] as "a very sensible little book upon that subject [morals]..."
  • Le Sage, Alain Rene. Les Avantures de Gil Blas de Santillane... (Amsterdam, 1767). 4 volumes. Sowerby, 4346. Poplar Forest Sale 640. Martha Jefferson Randolph's copy is in the Monticello Library.
  • Lives of the Modern Great Men. Not identified. Read by Ellen Wayles Randolph Coolidge. See her letter, 17 February 1807 to Thomas Jefferson[19]
  • Livius, Titus. Le Deche di T. Livio Padovano delle Historie Romane, Tradotte nella lingua Toscana, de Iacopo Nardi... (Venetia, 1562). Sowerby, 52-54. Poor Sale 26-27. Poplar Forest Sale 642. Mentioned in the correspondence between Jefferson and Martha Jefferson: To Thomas Jefferson, February [i.e. March] 8, 1787 and March 25, 1787.[20]
  • Livius, Titus. The History of Rome... Translated..by G. Baker (London, 1797). 6 volumes. "I read,.,Livy in english..." (Anne Cary Randolph to Thomas Jefferson).[21]
  • Magazines. "I send you the inclosed magazines supposing it may furnish a few moments amusements, as well as the reading members of your family." (Thomas Jefferson to Martha Jefferson Randolph).[22] The Accounts show that Jefferson had access to the following magazines which might have contained suitable selections for !'the reading members [probably some of the children] of your family" Analectic Magazine, Edinburgh Review, Monthly Magazine, Portfolio, The Columbian Magazine, The Repository,The Weekly Magazine of Original Essays.
  • Marmontel, Jean Francois. Oeuvres posthumes de Marmontel (Paris, 1804, 1807). Sowerby, 234. "A great obstacle to good education is the inordinate passion prevalent for novels,.,this mass of trash...however is not without some distinction...Such I think are Marmontel's new moral tales, but not his old ones..." (Thomas Jefferson to Nathaniel Burwell).[23]
  • Millot, Claude,Francois Xavier. Elements d'Historie Generale...Acnienne. (Paris, 1778). Sowerby, 126; also 154 and 189. "I am reading Millot in French..." (Ellen Wayles Randolph Coolidge to Thomas Jefferson).[24]
  • Nepos, Cornelius. Cornelii Nepotis Vitae excellentium Imperatorum. (Amsterdam, 1687.) Sowerby, 70-73. Poor Sale 33, Poplar Forest Sale 647. Jefferson, writing of this, said: "[children]...when at the reading school. Nothing would interest them more than such works as Coxnelius Nepos..." (To Thomas J. Rogers).[25]
  • Pinchard, Mrs. Dramatic Dialogues for the Use of Young Persons... (Boston, 1798.) Rosenbach 239. "I am reading a very pretty little book called dramatic dialogue..." (Cornelia Jefferson Randolph to Thomas Jefferson).[26]
  • Plutarch. Abrege des Hommes illustres de Plutarque, a l' usage de la Jeunesse... (Beauvais, an IV).Sowerby, 68 and 69. Poor sale 32. Poplar Forest Sale 624. Ellen Wayles Randolph Coolidge was probably reading this edition or any of several :others available to her: "I...am reading Plutarque de la Jeuness in French..." (Ellen Wayles Randolph Coolidge to Thomas Jefferson).[27]
  • Robertson, William. The History of America. (London, 1777). 3 volumes. Sowerby, 468 and 469. "I am reading Robertson 's america." (Mary Jefferson to Thomas Jefferson).[28]
  • Sallustius. Crispus Gaius. C. Sallustii Crispi Opera omnia... (London, 1746). Sowerby, 55-58. Poor Sale 30 and 31. "No stile of writing is so delightful as that which is all pith, which never omits a necessary one, nor uses an unnecessary one. The finest models of this existing are Sallust and Tacitus." (Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Jefferson Randolph)[29]
  • Solis, Antonio de. Historia de la Conquista de Mexico. (Madrid, 1783-1784). 2 volumes. Sowerby, 4119 and 4080. Poor Sale 116. "I have finished Don Quixote, and as I have not Desoles yet, I shall read..." (Mary Jefferson Eppesto Thomas Jefferson).[30]
  • Sevigne, Marie de Rabutin Chantal, Marquise de. Lettres de Madame de Sevigne a sa fille et a ses amis... (Paris, 1806). Sowerby, 4637. "...Madam de Sevigne's letters, being the finest models of easy letter writing you must read." (Thomas Jefferson to Ellen Wayles Randolph Coolidge).[31]
  • Sophocles. Sahoclis Tragoedis Septem Scholiss Veteribus Illustratae... (Londini, 1758). Sowerby, 4520-4523, Poor sale 753-754. Poplar Forest Sale 647 and 660.
  • Stanhope, Philip Dormer, Earl of Chesterfield. Letters to His Son... (London, 1774). 4 volumes. "I copy the historical part of Lord Chesterfield's letters for a lesson in writing..." (Ellen Wayles Randolph Coolidge to Thomas Jefferson).[32]
  • Tacitus, Cornelius. C. Cornelii Taci Opera, -a Gronovii... (Amsterdam, 1672 and London, 1737). 9 volumes. Sowerby, 80 and 81. Poor Sale 44-46. Poplar Forest Sale 647. "No stile of writing is so delightful as that which is all pith, which never omits a necessary one, nor uses an unnecessary one. The finest models of this existing are Sallust and Tacitus." Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Jefferson Randolph.[33]
  • Taylor, Jane. Select Rhymes for the Nursey (London, 1806). Rosenbach 777, "I must beg the favor of you to send Mary ... 'Select Rhymes for the Nursery'." Martha Jefferson Randolph to Thomas Jefferson.[34]
  • Road to Learning, Made Pleasant, with Lessons and Pictures. (Philadelphia, n.d.) Title from Johnson's Juvenile Catalogue of Useful and Entertaining Books for Children. (Philadelphia, n.d.). attached to Johnson's Virginia Almanack, 1807. (Richmond, 1807). "I must beg the favor of you to send Mary 'the road to learning made pleasant..." (Martha Jefferson Randolph to Thomas Jefferson).[35]
  • Thucydides. The History of the Peleponnesian War. Translated from the Greek of Thucydides...By William Smith (London, 1753). 2 volumes. Sowerby, 17 and also 14-16. Poor Sale 8. "I have read Goldsmith's grecian history Thucidides..." (Thomas Jefferson Randolph to Thomas Jefferson).[36]
  • Vida de Lazarillo de Tormes. (Zaragoca, 1652). "... I shall read Lazarillo de Tormes." (Mary Jefferson to Thomas Jefferson).[37]
  • Xenophon. Xenophontis Expeditio Cyri... (Glasgow, [1764]). 4 volumes. Sowerby, 19-22. Poor Sale 7. See Thomas Jefferson to Francis Wayles Eppes, .[38]

Poetry

  • "Goody Blake." Not identified. "I inclose you an abundant supply of poetry, among which you will find Goody Blake, which I think you vvanted." (Thomas Jefferson to Ellen Wayles Randolph Coolidge).[39]
  • "Little John." Not identified. "I am much obliged to you for the Poetry... and think it all very Pretty, particularly Little John..." (Ellen Wayles Randolph Coolidge to Thomas Jefferson).[40]
  • "Ode to Modesty." Published in The Monthly Anthology and Boston Review. (May 1805) II, p. 196-197, over the pseudonym of "Dominus Providebit." There is a clipping in Jefferson's scrapbook, p. 139.
  • Roscoe, William. The Butterfly's Ball and The Grasshopper' s Feast. (London, 1807). "I send for Cornelia a little poem, the grasshopper's ball, to begin her collection..." (Thomas Jefferson to Ellen Wayles Randolph Coolidge).[41]
  • "The Yankee Story." Not identified. "I send for Cornelia a little poem...The Yankee story is for yourself." (Thomas Jefferson to Ellen Wayles Randolph Coolidge).[42]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ This article is based on James A. Bear, Jr., Monticello Report.
  2. ↑ Polygraph copy at the Library of Congress.
  3. ↑ University of Virginia
  4. ↑ Massachusetts Historical Society
  5. ↑ MB 1:597.
  6. ↑ 22 January 1808. University of Virginia
  7. ↑ The Morgan Library and Museum.
  8. ↑ 14 April 1808. <Massachusetts Historical Society.
  9. ↑ 3 June 1811. University of Virginia.
  10. ↑ 17 February 1809. Massachusetts Historical Society
  11. ↑ 22 February 1805. Ibid.
  12. ↑ 22 January 1791. Randall, Domestic Life, 93.
  13. ↑ Family Letters, 62.
  14. ↑ 30 October 1803. Ibid, 248.
  15. ↑ 30 October 1803. Ibid.
  16. ↑ 29 January 1808. Ibid, 324.
  17. ↑ 18 March 1808. Ibid, 336.
  18. ↑ Ibid, 360.
  19. ↑ Ibid, 296.
  20. ↑ Ibid, 32-33.
  21. ↑ 22 January 1808. Ibid, 323.
  22. ↑ 6 November 1804. Ibid, 263.
  23. ↑ March 1818. Polygraph copy at the Library of Congress.
  24. ↑ 29 January 1808. Family Letters, 324.
  25. ↑ 20 December 1823. Massachusetts Historical Society
  26. ↑ 19 December 1808. Family Letters, 372.
  27. ↑ 12 December 1806. Ibid, 293.
  28. ↑ 23 May 1790. Ibid, 57.
  29. ↑ 7 December 1808. Ibid, 369.
  30. ↑ 18 April 1791. Ibid, 78.
  31. ↑ 14 March 1808. Ibid, 333.
  32. ↑ 12 December 1806 Ibid, 293.
  33. ↑ 7 December 1808. Ibid, 369.
  34. ↑ 17 February 1809. University of Virginia
  35. ↑ 17 February 1809. University of Virginia
  36. ↑ 30 October 1803. Family Letters, 248.
  37. ↑ 18 April 1791. Ibid, 78.
  38. ↑ 6 October 1820. Ibid, 434.
  39. ↑ 21 May 1805. Massachusetts Historical Society.
  40. ↑ 20 July 1805. Family Letters, 278.
  41. ↑ 1 March 1807. Ibid, 296. It is not established whether Jefferson sent a clipping of this poem such as it appeared in the Gentlemen's Magazine Vol. 76, p. 1052, or from an unknown source as is the clipping in his Scrapbook, p. 69.
  42. ↑ 1 March 1807. Ibid.

Further Sources

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