The Papers of Martin Van Buren

The Papers of Martin Van Buren, at Cumberland University, is both a digital and print project that will publish about 13,000 documents belonging to the eighth president. The editors expect to make Van Buren’s papers available in at least two ways:

1. The freely accessible website hosted at VanBurenPapers.org. When completed, this website will contain Van Buren’s transcribed papers. While the project is ongoing, the editors will update the website when each series of documents is finished.
2. A four-volume print edition of Van Buren’s most important political documents. The University of Tennessee Press will publish this edition.

By transcribing Van Buren’s papers, including his letters, speeches, notes, and miscellaneous material, this project will provide fresh insight into the founding of the Democratic party, the changing nature of politics between the War of 1812 and the Civil War, and the shifts in political culture that happened during Van Buren’s lifetime. It will help scholars, students, and the public better understand the early United States.

The Papers of Martin Van Buren partnered with the CDE to create a platform that supports every part of editorial workflow. Students and editors at both institutions are working together to publish the project.

This project is funded by Cumberland University and the NHPRC