Difference between revisions of "Laws of the United States of America"
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| + | ''The Laws of the United States of America'', compiled by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zephaniah_Swift Zephaniah Swift] and first published by Richard Folwell in 1797, is credited as being the first compilation of United States statutes.<ref>Clarence E. Carter, "Zephaniah Swift and the Folwell Edition of the ''Laws of the United States''," ''American Historical Review'', 39, no. 4 (1934): 689-95.</ref> Swift (1759-1853) served as a diligent public servant from 1783 until 1819, spending time in the Connecticut General Assembly, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Connecticut Supreme Court.<ref>Christopher Anglim, “Zephaniah Swift,” in ''American National Biography Online'', http://www.anb.org/articles/11/11-</ref> While Swift was a notable federalist and prominent advocate against slavery, his most significant contributions to American history remain his writings on early American laws and statutes.<ref>Ibid.</ref><br /> | ||
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| + | Swift’s ''The Laws of the United States of America'' is one of only four compilations ever authorized by Congress.<ref>Clarence E. Carter, "Zephaniah Swift and the Folwell Edition of the ''Laws of the United States''."</ref> The original edition published in 1797 includes the earliest Federal laws and statutes of the United States in three volumes.<ref>Ibid.</ref> While this publication was commonly referred to as “Folwell’s Statutes”, Swift is now accurately attributed as the original editor and compiler.<ref>Ibid.</ref> | ||
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==Bibliographic Information== | ==Bibliographic Information== | ||
| − | '''Author:''' United States. | + | '''Author:''' United States; compiled by Zephaniah Swift. |
'''Title:''' ''The Laws of the United States of America''. | '''Title:''' ''The Laws of the United States of America''. | ||
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View this book in [https://catalog.swem.wm.edu/law/Record/510444 William & Mary's online catalog.] | View this book in [https://catalog.swem.wm.edu/law/Record/510444 William & Mary's online catalog.] | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
| − | [http://books.google.com/books?id=TZc3AAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover | + | [http://books.google.com/books?id=TZc3AAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover Volume II: Google Books] |
| − | [http://books.google.com/books?id=Ha83AAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover | + | [http://books.google.com/books?id=Ha83AAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover Volume III: Google Books] |
===References=== | ===References=== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
Revision as of 09:59, 6 October 2013
The Laws of the United States of America, compiled by Zephaniah Swift and first published by Richard Folwell in 1797, is credited as being the first compilation of United States statutes.[1] Swift (1759-1853) served as a diligent public servant from 1783 until 1819, spending time in the Connecticut General Assembly, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Connecticut Supreme Court.[2] While Swift was a notable federalist and prominent advocate against slavery, his most significant contributions to American history remain his writings on early American laws and statutes.[3]
Swift’s The Laws of the United States of America is one of only four compilations ever authorized by Congress.[4] The original edition published in 1797 includes the earliest Federal laws and statutes of the United States in three volumes.[5] While this publication was commonly referred to as “Folwell’s Statutes”, Swift is now accurately attributed as the original editor and compiler.[6]
Bibliographic Information
Author: United States; compiled by Zephaniah Swift.
Title: The Laws of the United States of America.
Publication Info: Philadelphia: Printed by Richard Folwell, 1796-1797.
Edition: First edition; three volumes.
Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library
Listed in the Jefferson Inventory of Wythe's Library as Laws of US. 1st. 2d. 3d. vols. 8vo. and given by Thomas Jefferson to Dabney Carr. The Brown Bibliography[7] includes this title and edition based in part on a copy of volume two at the University of Virginia with the inscription Given by Thos. Jefferson to D. Carr – 1806 on the inside of the front board. In contrast, George Wythe's Library[8] on LibraryThing lists the title Acts passed at a Congress of the United States of America ... and indicates "Vols. 1-3 only. Precise edition unknown. Several editions of the early laws passed by Congress were published, beginning with New York and Richmond editions in 1789."
Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy
Bound in contemporary polished calf with spine rules and original gilt-lettered morocco spine labels. Volume one contains the bookplatge of Robert Woods Bliss, founder of the Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, and one of the creators of the United Nations.
View this book in William & Mary's online catalog.
External Links
References
- ↑ Clarence E. Carter, "Zephaniah Swift and the Folwell Edition of the Laws of the United States," American Historical Review, 39, no. 4 (1934): 689-95.
- ↑ Christopher Anglim, “Zephaniah Swift,” in American National Biography Online, http://www.anb.org/articles/11/11-
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Clarence E. Carter, "Zephaniah Swift and the Folwell Edition of the Laws of the United States."
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Bennie Brown, "The Library of George Wythe of Williamsburg and Richmond," (unpublished manuscript, May, 2012) Microsoft Word file. Earlier edition available at: https://digitalarchive.wm.edu/handle/10288/13433
- ↑ LibraryThing, s. v. "Member: George Wythe," accessed on September 16, 2013, http://www.librarything.com/profile/GeorgeWythe
