Diverse Assemblies: February Edition 2019
In 1815, Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, offered a list of book recommendations to an orphan named Joseph Echols. The aim was to provide both personal knowledge and improvement for society, encouraging intellectual development and moral benefit through independent study.
Jefferson's personal library, now part of the Library of Congress, was among the largest private libraries in America at the time. It included a wide variety of works in various fields, reflecting his belief in the power of books for self-improvement and social progress.
Typically, such recommendations included classical literature and philosophy, foundational texts on government and law, scientific and agricultural manuals, moral and religious philosophy, and history books. Works by authors such as Virgil, Cicero, Locke, and Gibbons' Decline of the Roman Empire were often included.
However, the exact titles Jefferson recommended to Echols in 1815 are not detailed in the available search results. Nevertheless, Jefferson was known for advocating a classical liberal education that emphasised comprehensive knowledge promoting individual growth and benefits to society at large, reflecting his Enlightenment ideals.
In a letter to John Adams on June 10, 1815, Jefferson expressed his dependence on books, considering them his chief source of inspiration and practical knowledge. He also advised against spending years learning Latin and Greek at Echols' age.
Among the books Jefferson recommended to Echols were Russell's Modern Europe, Hallam's History of the Middle Ages, and Rapin's History of England. He also suggested Ferguson's Astronomy as a useful book. However, Jefferson expressed uncertainty about the best English books in Mathematics and geometry.
Reading and acquiring books were essential to Jefferson's education and well-being. He was a voracious reader on all subjects and a life-long collector of books, amassing nearly 10,000 books over the course of his lifetime.
Jefferson's respect for the reader is evident in his tender salutations and his acknowledgement that the list he provided was a "short sketch" as a proof of his respect, not as a worthy acceptance. Despite his humility, Jefferson's book recommendations stand as a testament to his belief in the transformative power of books for personal growth and societal progress.
For those interested in the detailed titles Jefferson likely recommended, collections of his letters or writings where he shares his views on education and reading, or archives related to his personal library, such as the Library of Congress's collection of Jefferson's library, are excellent resources.
Sources: tjlibraries.monticello.org loc.gov
In alignment with Jefferson's belief in the power of books for self-improvement and social progress, his recommendations to Joseph Echols in 1815 encompassed works from various fields, including books on education and self-development such as Russell's Modern Europe and Hallam's History of the Middle Ages. Beyond this, they also included entertaining reads, like Rapin's History of England and Ferguson's Astronomy.
