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

FAIN: RQ-255816-17

University of Wisconsin, Madison (Madison, WI 53715-1218)
John Kaminski (Project Director: December 2016 to December 2021)

Preparation for publication of three volumes of documents concerning the ratification of the United States Constitution in New Hampshire, Vermont, and North Carolina. (12 months)

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. All documents in the volumes and all supplemental documents not included in the volumes are placed online with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries’ Digital Collection (26 volumes to date). Twenty-eight volumes of an anticipated thirty-one volumes have been published. During this grant cycle the volume containing Vermont and Congress’ Implementation of the Constitution will be published. Much of the editorial work will also be completed on the two volumes of North Carolina’s ratification that will complete the State Series. The first of six Bill of Rights volumes should also be published.