It’s not everyday you get to hold history in your hands! But when Princeton University sophomore Abigail Readlinger gifted us a copy of her children’s novel, I just had to facilitate a connection between her love of American history and our special collections. Later, I asked Abigail to write about her experience and share the inspiration for her charming book…
Firestone Library’s Special Collections gave me the chance to travel through time. Among its vast array of original documents and fundamental texts is Alexander Hamilton’s very own copy of The Federalist Papers. Writing in the late 1780’s, Hamilton—along with John Jay and James Madison—drafted this series of eighty-five essays in hopes to encourage the ratification of the new Constitution. These Federalist Papers, as evidenced by their substantial contribution to the adoption of our government, are ones of profound and utmost importance. They reveal the nature of American political thought and a corresponding guide by which we ought to live by.
I myself am somewhat obsessed when it comes to The Federalist Papers. Forced to read them during my freshman year of high school, I became immediately attached. I had always loved American history, and The Federalist Papers seemed to transport me directly into the minds of our great Founding Fathers. Desperately bored during the pandemic, but armed with my love for The Federalist Papers, I began to write what is now a published children’s book: The Young Federalists.
The Young Federalists. Written by Abigail Readlinger and illustrated by Stephanie Fliss Dumas. Mascot Kids, an imprint of Amplify Publishing Group, 2022
The story follows the journey of the Kennedy siblings—Reagan, AJ, and Dolley—as they travel through time, meet Alexander Hamilton and discuss (over a cup of tea!) the importance of Federalist No.1. Just as Hamilton endeavored to inspire his generation through his writing, so also do I hope to inspire mine. The value of the American way is timeless—from then to now, for old and for young.
So when I heard Hamilton’s personal copy of The Federalist Papers just so happened to be located in my own university’s special collections, I jumped at the opportunity to see it.
I still cannot quite articulate the feeling of flipping through the pages of a book both so informative in my life and belonging to one of my most beloved heroes. In 2024, author of The Young Federalists, I was holding the same book that Alexander Hamilton, author of The Federalist Papers, once held over two hundred years earlier.
The Federalist Papers. Special Collections, Princeton University Library.
Just like the characters in my book, I was having my own time travel adventure. Visiting special collections, peering over the handwritten scribblings of Hamilton’s notes, and experiencing history hands on, has been by far one of my favorite Princeton experiences. There is so much to explore in our university’s incredible collection, and to have had this opportunity has really been beyond my wildest dreams.
Would you like to see inside this copy of The Federalist Papers? You’ll find a digitized version here. All are welcome to conduct research in Special Collections at Princeton University. If you are interested in visiting, you will find more information here. Do you have a question for Abigail? Email or visit her Instagram.
September 22nd was Bilbo Baggins’ birthday, and we threw a big bash that was the talk of Hobbiton! You had a 
Visitors were greeted with a classic birthday banner, which Katie hand drew with paint pens. Below the banner were three raffle bags absolutely loaded with goodies. There were LOTR figurines, books, cool pens, a stuffed dragon, an elvish journal, a science garden kit, a Middle-Earth map throw blanket, a Mordor-worthy lava lamp, an elvish ceramic mug, and more! And how did you enter the raffle?
You went on a QUEST of course! Princeton University graduate student Sally Yi was on hand to help young adventures embark on a tree walk (and offer felt acorn participation prizes).
Following this map (expertly drawn by Katie the cartographer) families walked to fourteen trees on Princeton University campus – including our 
When kids returned to the event table and uttered the phrase, they earned an entry to the raffle! You were also awarded extra entries if you brought in non-perishables for our food drive.
Hobbits love to eat, so this event also benefited the 
And yes, you could get that engraving done by the man himself, for Gandalf was THERE!
Under all that wig is Zachary Painter, Assistant University Librarian for Science and Engineering. He spent the day meeting, greeting, and engraving doors. He also sometimes sat quietly reading a copy of The Hobbit, and would gladly share the story with you if you cared to join him.
Things sometimes escalated to kids jumping, grabbing, demanding, and wheedling for coins, to which I responded that they “sounded exactly like dragons.” Eventually, I grudgingly shared coins with everyone. But not without a lot of griping.
Angie Miller, Lecture Demonstrator for the Department of Chemistry, arrived with her team of students to wow kids with neon lights and prism glasses. When viewed with the naked eye, the neon lights displayed just one color (hydrogen was pinky purple, and helium was a peach color). But when kids put on the prism glasses, both lights exploded into multiple colors! The scientists explained how the prism glasses allowed you to see the line spectrum of the atoms in the gases. I held the prism glasses up to my phone camera so you can see the effect…how awesome is that?
In addition to a clever take-home LOTR crossword puzzle, Science Outreach also brought the specific salts and metals that serve as ingredients in fireworks, matching the color to the substance.
For the very youngest hobbits, we had a food cart divided into all the important hobbit mealtimes. LOTR fans will notice that “Dinner” is missing from the line up. Alas, the cart only came with six available meal slots. So like Bilbo, Frodo, Sam, Pippin, and Merry…you sometimes miss a meal while adventuring.
And now for the grand finale! You might have noticed the gorgeous hobbit door that started off this post. That was created by the incredibly talented Brittany Norwood, Policy and International Affairs Librarian. She crafted it out of a floral hoop, foam board, glossy photographic printed with a wood grain template, and lots and lots and LOTS of luscious foliage. Doesn’t it look amazing? I want to live there.
This event was so much fun and a tremendous success! We would like to sincerely thank Sally Yi for leading the campus quest, Zachary Painter for his wizardly ways, and Brittany Norwood for her amazing architectural skills. We would also like to thank the Princeton Public Library for sharing Tolkien’s art, and Science Outreach at Princeton University for illuminating the community with the Chemistry of Fireworks. It was an epic day, and we appreciate you all so much!
The program became so successful in the United States that it expanded and is now available in Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Republic of Ireland. Thanks to funding from Dolly and her community partners, over two million books are shipped each and every month to kids around the world!
Visit the 
If you’re interested in further literary adventuring, pack your bags and check out 