Note from Thomas Jefferson regarding the disposition of his Presidential papers, December 29, 1801

Today in History: Thomas Jefferson acknowledged the need for document preservation

Dated December 29, 1801, this letter from President Thomas Jefferson notes the lack of procedures or a “safe deposit” for his Presidential papers. His concerns were well founded. Before the advent of the Presidential Library system, it had been customary for Presidents to take these records with them as their personal property. The records were often passed from one generation to the next with little concern for their value to the history of the nation. Some presidential collections were well preserved by their heirs, but others were broken up and dispersed, or were partially destroyed.

View this article in the National Archives

About eBizDocs –eBizDocs is a premier digital transformation provider focused on helping you put INFORMATION AT YOUR FINGERTIPS. Offerings include paper and microfilm conversion, content capture and document management solutions, scanner sales and service, and process consultation. eBizDocs is SOC2 Type II certified and serves private and public-sector organizations. The company has been in business for over 20 years and is a preferred source contractor for NYS entities. To learn how eBizDocs can help transform your operation, visit eBizDocs.com