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    At the Presbyterian Historical Society in Philadelphia, I viewed the unpublished Madison family papers in the Shane Collection. They include the pocket-sized piece of paper listing medicines “for an epilepsy” that James Madison’s grandmother Frances ordered. When my time in Philadelphia was unexpectedly cut short, I was graciously assisted by Elaine E. Hasleton of the Family History Library in Salt Lake, which microfilmed the Shane Collection.
    At the Virginia Historical Society, Frances S. Pollard, director of library services, was most helpful, as were Katherine Wilkins, Matthew Chaney, and Jamison Davis. My gratitude for their assistance at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania to Lee Arnold, senior director of the library and collections; Jack Gumbrecht, director of research services; Hillary S. Kativa; and Christopher Damiani. At Independence National Historical Park, I am indebted to chief curator Karie Diethorn and historian Coxey Toogood, as well as to Andrea Ashby. I would also like to acknowledge the assistance of librarian James N. Green at the Library Company of Philadelphia, as well as Cornelia S. King, Linda August, Sarah Weatherwax, and Erika Piola.
    At the Massachusetts Historical Society, a number of people have been of great help, including Elaine Grublin, head of reader services, and Tracy Potter, reference librarian. I would also like to thank Anna J. Cook, Andrea Cronin, Betsy Boyle, and Rakashi Chand.
    I would like to acknowledge the assistance of Robin Kipps, who supervises the Pasteur and Galt Apothecary in Colonial Williamsburg, and Del Moore, reference librarian at the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library.
    The homes of the early presidents are sources of enlightenment and inspiration for anyone working in the founding period. I would particularly like to acknowledge the excellent leadership of Kat Imhoff, president and executive director of the Montpelier Foundation, and her predecessor, Michael C. Quinn, as well as the outstanding work of Sean O’Brien, executive director of the Center for the Constitution. They lead a wonderful team that during the time of my research included Lee Langston-Harrison, Christian Cotz, Lynne Dakin Hastings, Meg Kennedy, Matthew B. Reeves, C. Thomas Chapman, Ellen Wessel, Grant S. Quertermous, Tiffany W. Cole, Allison Deeds, and Lisa Timmerman. I also want to recognize Ann L. Miller’s meticulous and valuable work. The energy and inspiration of the Montpelier team has made it possible to see James Madison’s home as he and Mrs. Madison knew it and to better understand the greatness of Madison’s accomplishments. Their ongoing efforts are daily bringing forth more information, not just about James and Dolley, but also about James’s ancestors and Mount Pleasant, the small home to which his grandfather brought his grandmother Frances and their children. The lives of those who were enslaved at Montpelier are becoming part of the historical record thanks to the ongoing work of the Montpelier team.
    At Monticello, Daniel P. Jordan, then president of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, was a gracious host, and Susan R. Stein, the Richard Gilder curator and vice president for museum programs, a marvelous guide. I was also the beneficiary of time spent with Andrew Jackson O’Shaughnessy, who directs the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies, and J. Jefferson Looney, editor of
The Papers of Thomas Jefferson: Retirement Series
. My thanks as well to Jack Robertson, Endrina Tay, and Anna Berkes.
    At Mount Vernon, Gay Hart Gaines, former regent of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, provided many opportunities for me to visit Washington’s lovely home. We spent one early summer evening on thepiazza at Mount Vernon with a full moon overhead. It was a reminder that although much separates us from the eighteenth century, there are timeless aspects of life on this earth that connect us.
    At James Monroe’s home, Dorothy Brown was my