Educational Resource Specialist  Kaleena Black has discovered a perfect symbiosis between the popular musical "Hamilton" and the Library's extensive collection of Alexander Hamilton papers. Read all about how she has been working to match the lyrics of the musical with actual letters from the collection in this post from the Library of Congress Blog. Some of the songs are pulled practically word-for-word from the letters!

Lee Ann Potter , Director of Educational Outreach, often speaks on the topic of how we know what we know. She is excited about lighting that student spark that so many of us in the TPS Teachers Network have witnessed when using primary sources. “I am convinced that harnessing the popularity of ‘Hamilton’ among young people will pique their curiosity about not only the Hamilton Papers, and how we know what we know, but other collections as well,” Potter said. “Perhaps a student who sees how the original documents inspired compelling lyrics will dig into some of those other documents and compose another great musical.” I personally would like to see a Lincoln musical.

By the way, Kaleena is relatively new to the Educational Outreach Office, so please welcome her when you get a chance! (Psst. She's also an expert in the resources of the World Digital Library.)

Lin-Manuel Miranda drew lyrics for the song “Right Hand Man” from this letter that Hamilton wrote as a boy in Saint Croix.

3 - 5 6 - 8 9 - 12 Art/Music Social Studies/History Hamilton music lyrics