Now that Hamilton is streaming on the Disney+ app, history buffs and musical theater fans alike have been able to watch Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony Award-winning musical at home. Looking to learn more about the Founding Fathers after watching? The Library of Congress has extensive materials from the life of Alexander Hamilton and his contemporaries, and many of these resources are free to explore online.
The Library of Congress collection includes more than 10,000 items extensively documenting Hamilton’s childhood, marriage, military service, and political career. You can find drafts of his writings as well as his correspondence with John Adams, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, George Washington, and more.
Navigating thousands of digital materials can be daunting, so the Library of Congress has compiled a resource guide featuring highlighting from their Alexander Hamilton collection as well as links to related resources and external websites. You can also use their Ask a Librarian feature for help with any research questions that arise during your deep dive.
If you’re still hungry for more Hamilton content, check to see if your local library has Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow—the biography that inspired the blockbuster musical—available to borrow as a free eBook. You can also check out Hamilton: The Revolution, an audiobook narrated by actress Mariska Hargitay that chronicles the making of the show.
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