Rare Original Copies of Drafts
- A Second Draft also Written in James Wilson’s Hand (Historical Society of Pennsylvania)August 1787. Revised handwritten draft, produced by the Committee of Detail. Held by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
As Constitution turns 225, rare drafts go on display (2012)
A member of the news media photographs President George Washington's personally annotated copy of the Acts of Congress on Monday in Mount Vernon, Va.
- As Constitution turns 225, rare drafts go on display (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)By Edward Colimore, Philadelphia Inquirer, First Published September 18, 2012.
Madison's Annotated Drafts of the Committee of Style
Printed document with Madison's holograph annotations. Madison Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Edmund Randolph's Proof of the Committee of Detail's draft
August (1-5)? The Committee of Detail compiled all the work from the convention's sessions and sent this document to the convention's printers David Claypoole and John Dunlap. This is the proof copy returned to the Committee. Edmund Randolph (from Virginia) proofread the copy, made eleven corrections and returned the proof to Claypoole and Dunlap to have printed for the delegates when they assembled on August 6th.
Held by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Only page one appears on the web. Note: On page one, in section 6, Randolph changed the older spelling "chuse" to "choose." (image enhanced)
- A Printed Draft that Belonged to Virginia Delegate Edmund Randolph (Historical Society of Pennsylvania)The proof copy was sent to the Committee of Detail by the convention’s printers, John Dunlap and David C. Claypoole, shows Randolphs's editing. Held by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.
Report of the Committee of Detail
August 6 print copies were distributed to the Convention. Notice the wide margin for annotations. This copy is held by the Library of Congress.
- We the People of the States of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations ... (Library of Congress)Report of Committee of Detail. (Between Aug 1 and Aug 6).
Washington's Annotations on the Committee of Detail's Draft
On the National Archives website. There is another copy on the DocsTeach website; the annotations may be easier to read.
- George Washington's Annotated Copy of a Draft of the U.S. ConstitutionReaders can add tags to the document; the tags are added to the National Archives Catalog. Series Official Records of the Constitutional Convention of 1787. National Archives Identifier 1501555.
- We the People Focusing on Details: Compare and Contrast (National Archives)George Washington's annotations on the Committee of Details' draft. The annotations are more legible on this version than the one available through the National Archives catalog. From DocsTeach.
Report of the Committee of Style
- Report of the Committee of StyleUnited States Constitution. Philadelphia: Claypoole and Dunlap, September 12, 1787. Top Treasures. Library of Congress. This copy belonged to James Madison. Transferred from the State Department.
Click thumbnail to view pages 2 - 6.
Report of the Committee of Style: Annotated by George Washington
Report of the Committee of Style: Annotated by Jacob Broom
This copy is held by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.