In His Own Hand: Editing the Papers of George Washington

The Papers of George Washington, a scholarly project based at the University of Virginia, marks the 200th anniversary of the death of George Washington with two exhibitions, one in the Dome Room of the Rotunda and the other in the Stettinius Gallery on the second floor of Alderman Library. Curator of both shows is Mary Anne Andrei, a Project staff member.

Sponsored by the Book Arts Press, the Dome Room show offers a detailed exploration of the activities of the Papers of George Washington staff. In 1969, the editors began a worldwide search for original Washington documents. Over the years, about 140,000 items from nearly 400 repositories and hundreds of individuals have been identified, copied, and cataloged. More than 40 volumes in this great edition have thus far been published; the project has passed the half-way mark in its work.

The Dome Room exhibition begins by reviewing earlier (and far less complete) editions of the papers of George Washington, It includes material showing how the current editors proceed: assembling original documents and supporting information, dealing with maps, plats, and other supporting graphic materials, coping with forgeries, and preparing the edited text for print publication.

The second in this pair of exhibitions, on view in the Stettinius Gallery on the second floor of Alderman Library at UVa, is entitled “A Concert of Mourning: The Death of George Washington.” It includes about forty books, pamphlets, engravings, lithographs, and artifacts brought together to explore the national and local observances that marked the greatest period of national mourning in the history of the United States.