The Documentary History of the Ratification of the Constitution and the Adoption of the Bill of Rights

FAIN: RQ-50274-07

University of Wisconsin, Madison (Madison, WI 53715-1218)
John Kaminski (Project Director: November 2006 to June 2010)

Publication of two volumes of state debates about the ratification of the Constitution, research on a third, and work to place all previously published volumes and supplementary documents online.

Thousands of libraries, historical societies, government offices, private collections and all newspapers, books, pamphlets, and broadsides of the period 1787 to 1791 have been searched for documents relating to the adoption of the Constitution of 1787 and the drafting and adoption of the Bill of Rights. These documents are arranged and edited for publication in book form. Documents not included in the book edition are published as supplements online. Twenty volumes of an anticipated twenty-eight volumes have been published. During this grant cycle the fifth and final New York volume will be published, the New York Supplemental documents will be published, and the first of two Rhode Island volumes will be published. Progress will have been made on the editing of the second Rhode Island volume. During this grant period, the editors and publisher will work with the University of Virginia's Rotunda to place all of the Ratification volumes and supplemental documents online.