Hundreds of Historic Manuscripts. Thousands More Being Digitized.

Six years before his presidency and at the end of the Revolutionary War, George Washington writes to a close friend of his desire to retire from public service, believing he was about to leave public life forever, unaware that he had already become the indispensable figure the new republic would soon call upon to lead.

Two months after retiring, former President George Washington gives an account of his daily life at Mt. Vernon.

Draft of George Washington's letter to Major General Henry Knox, in which, thirty days before his inauguration, Washington compares assuming the presidency to being lead to his execution. He insists he doesn't have the political skill, ability, or even the inclination to lead. He fears, terribly, that he risks his good name in assuming the presidency.

Though passionate about the construction of a canal in the Potomac, George Washington confesses to having little more than a layman's knowledge of the technical aspects of the project, and urges the company to retain a professional canal engineer.