Cumberland University recently announced that it received a grant of $125,000 from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission for the Papers of Martin Van Buren (PMVB) project. The funds will continue to support the creation of digital and print editions of the Van Buren papers, which are making approximately 14,000 documents belonging to the eighth president accessible.

Mark Cheathem, PMVB project director and Cumberland University history professor, involves students with transcribing difficult-to-decipher papers, many of which are written in 19th-century handwriting. “This year, we are working on making our digital edition more dynamic for those interested in using it in the classroom,” said Cheathem. He also noted that the project focuses on exploring the ways in which African Americans and American Indians interacted with Van Buren and reacted to the policies that he implemented.

By transcribing Van Buren’s papers, including his letters, speeches, notes, and miscellaneous material, this project is providing fresh insight into the founding of the Democratic party, the evolution of formal politics between the War of 1812 and the Civil War, and the changes in political culture that occurred during Van Buren’s lifetime. Additionally, it is helping scholars, students, and the public understand the maturation of United States politics during its early development.

The Papers of Martin Van Buren project is sponsored by Cumberland University, the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, and the National Endowment for the Humanities and is produced in partnership with the Center for Digital Editing at the University of Virginia.

For more information about the Papers of Martin Van Buren Project, visit http://vanburenpapers.org.