Really wonderful material, Jillian. Thanks for highlighting the three different types of commonplace books. There is so much to learn from this approach.
Some years ago I was teaching an undergraduate seminar on the history of copyright. For one session I brought in a replica of Jefferson's favorite metal dip pen, a bottle of ink, and a copy of the Library of America's "Thomas Jefferson: Writings". I passed the pen and ink and some good paper around the class so they could all try it out. I asked them to consider what it would be like to have been able to write so much with that pen as your primary tool. They were amazed.
That's a great question. Unfortunately, the Library of Congress digitized a microfilm version of the notebooks, so they don't have the dimensions listed. If you're really interested, though, I bet we could do some more digging.
As I begin my 4th attempt at passing a college math class today, I am noticing that my note taking for the assigned texts is more organized and also, there have been some really good quotes in the main textbook too. I didn’t think I would keep this notebook but last night I decided I would. This part of your essay, really spoke to me, “Commonplace books can contain more than quotes: When we think of commonplace books today, we often think of something like Jefferson’s literary collection. But 18th-century law students were also encouraged to keep commonplace books to store and categorize legal knowledge. In other words, commonplace books were understood to collect more than just quotes.”
I will probably share some of the quotes I put in this notebook for the next club!
This is an excellent article, Jillian. You did a superb job of researching the journals and history of Thomas Jefferson and the Founding Fathers. A few years ago, I wrote an article about John Adams, and I researched his history, including his journals. This took a lot of time, effort, and dedication. Inclusion of the journals adds even more verifiable authenticity to your work. Job well done, Jillian.
As a retired lawyer, I found Jefferson's Legal Commonplace Books especially interesting. The practice of summarizing cases and extracting governing principles in writing is something law students do as a method of study. We call it "briefing" a case. Both Common Law and Equity Law exist today, although most of practice is governed by laws issued by legislative bodies.
There is much to borrow from Jefferson’s self study methods. The more that we review and can summarize challenging material, the deeper we understand it.
You might be interested to know that law students to this day (at least to my day) still used this method to study case law. We called them CANs - Condensed Annotated Notes - and the best ones were copied, circulated and hoarded like gold! Each student in a study group typically took on one subject to “CAN” - e.g. torts, contracts, trusts
"And so much of Jefferson’s thinking about the law and human prosperity was rooted in the three commonplace books he kept during his life: collections of literary quotations and legal precedent."
YES! And years from now, I hope I can see the path I've been taking by writing in commonplace books -- not daily journals as I used to keep -- but the commonplace books I learned about by reading your stack, Jillian. Forever grateful :-)
I have often wondered how Thomas Jefferson decided in 1804 to send Lewis and Clark on an expedition and in doing so, hand to my ancestors one large Jefferson medal of friendship. When in fact he in writing the declaration of independence would state that " Indians are Merciless Savages " Can anyone make friendship with a Merciless savages ? I struggle today to accept that understanding as I am and my people the Ponca were always friendly. No where in our existence have we ever been savage. We engaged in 6 iterations of treaty making only to receive the last document inscribed with his promise of friendship in 1878. I would like your understanding as to how we can correct this travesty of humanity.
" May peace surround you, like a blanket woven in the love of our ancestors " Chief Mashichique ♥️
Really wonderful material, Jillian. Thanks for highlighting the three different types of commonplace books. There is so much to learn from this approach.
Agreed!
Some years ago I was teaching an undergraduate seminar on the history of copyright. For one session I brought in a replica of Jefferson's favorite metal dip pen, a bottle of ink, and a copy of the Library of America's "Thomas Jefferson: Writings". I passed the pen and ink and some good paper around the class so they could all try it out. I asked them to consider what it would be like to have been able to write so much with that pen as your primary tool. They were amazed.
What a spectacular class! There's so much about the materiality of writing in the 18th century that we've forgotten.
Great article! I wonder what size those notebooks were? I noticed he only wrote on the right hand side of the paper. Have a great week off!
That's a great question. Unfortunately, the Library of Congress digitized a microfilm version of the notebooks, so they don't have the dimensions listed. If you're really interested, though, I bet we could do some more digging.
As I begin my 4th attempt at passing a college math class today, I am noticing that my note taking for the assigned texts is more organized and also, there have been some really good quotes in the main textbook too. I didn’t think I would keep this notebook but last night I decided I would. This part of your essay, really spoke to me, “Commonplace books can contain more than quotes: When we think of commonplace books today, we often think of something like Jefferson’s literary collection. But 18th-century law students were also encouraged to keep commonplace books to store and categorize legal knowledge. In other words, commonplace books were understood to collect more than just quotes.”
I will probably share some of the quotes I put in this notebook for the next club!
This is so exciting to read, Heather! I can't wait to see some of your notes for this class in September.
This is an excellent article, Jillian. You did a superb job of researching the journals and history of Thomas Jefferson and the Founding Fathers. A few years ago, I wrote an article about John Adams, and I researched his history, including his journals. This took a lot of time, effort, and dedication. Inclusion of the journals adds even more verifiable authenticity to your work. Job well done, Jillian.
Thanks Lois!
Thank you for this interesting piece.
You're welcome, Nancy!
As a retired lawyer, I found Jefferson's Legal Commonplace Books especially interesting. The practice of summarizing cases and extracting governing principles in writing is something law students do as a method of study. We call it "briefing" a case. Both Common Law and Equity Law exist today, although most of practice is governed by laws issued by legislative bodies.
Fascinating, Sharon! Thanks for sharing.
There is much to borrow from Jefferson’s self study methods. The more that we review and can summarize challenging material, the deeper we understand it.
I completely agree, Allen!
You might be interested to know that law students to this day (at least to my day) still used this method to study case law. We called them CANs - Condensed Annotated Notes - and the best ones were copied, circulated and hoarded like gold! Each student in a study group typically took on one subject to “CAN” - e.g. torts, contracts, trusts
Fascinating, Margaret. I also love the abbreviation "CAN"!
And of course when I was a newbie I didn’t know it was an acronym for a few months 🤪
"And so much of Jefferson’s thinking about the law and human prosperity was rooted in the three commonplace books he kept during his life: collections of literary quotations and legal precedent."
YES! And years from now, I hope I can see the path I've been taking by writing in commonplace books -- not daily journals as I used to keep -- but the commonplace books I learned about by reading your stack, Jillian. Forever grateful :-)
Awe, that means so much to me!❤️
Have a great week off 🇺🇸❤️
Thanks! It's not entirely off...just off from this newsletter. I've got a book deadline coming up soon :)
It's not much of a surprise that the Declaration was strongly influenced by the development of law and society which preceded it...
I have often wondered how Thomas Jefferson decided in 1804 to send Lewis and Clark on an expedition and in doing so, hand to my ancestors one large Jefferson medal of friendship. When in fact he in writing the declaration of independence would state that " Indians are Merciless Savages " Can anyone make friendship with a Merciless savages ? I struggle today to accept that understanding as I am and my people the Ponca were always friendly. No where in our existence have we ever been savage. We engaged in 6 iterations of treaty making only to receive the last document inscribed with his promise of friendship in 1878. I would like your understanding as to how we can correct this travesty of humanity.
" May peace surround you, like a blanket woven in the love of our ancestors " Chief Mashichique ♥️