From The Resolute Desk To Your Door.

Explore presidential history by mail. Get weekly letters from Madison, Lincoln, JFK, and more.

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Meet Your Presidential "Pen Pals"

In this series, you'll hear from presidents and their allies and foes about their triumphs, crises, and defeats.

This series spans presidencies from 1789 through 1969.

Letters from George Washington battlefield

George Washington

He needs no introduction, but he's famous for his farewell. Continental Commander-in-Chief-& 1st President of the United States. In office from 1789 to 1797.

Letters from John Adams

John Adams

Outspoken Massachusettsan. Lawyer, legislator, and diplomat. First Vice President of the United States. In office from 1797 to 1801.

Letters from Thomas Jefferson to John Adams

Thomas Jefferson

Virginia planter & attorney. Principal author of the Declaration of Independence. Francophile. In office from 1801 to 1809.

Letter of marque from James Madison

James Madison

Father of the Constitution. Secretary of State. War-time president who led the nation through the War of 1812. In office from 1809 to 1817.

Letters from James Monroe

James Monroe

Veteran. Negotiator of the Louisiana Purchase. Originator of the Monroe Doctrine. In office from 1817 to 1825.

Letters from John Quincy Adams to Abigail and Nabby

John Quincy Adams

Workaholic. Son of John Adams. Served 16 years in Congress after losing his bid for reelection. Died at his desk in the Capitol. In office from 1825 to 1829.

Letters from Andrew Jackson Rachel

Andrew Jackson

"Old Hickory." A POW at age 13. Populist hero of the Battle of New Orleans. The defining figure of his era. In office from 1829 to 1837.

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Letters from Martin Van Buren and Jackson

Martin Van Buren

Jackson ally. Political strategist who built a new party system, then watched the economy collapse. In office from 1837 to 1841.

Letters from William Henry Harrison

William Henry Harrison

The first Whig in the White House. Aged war hero who fell ill and died just one month into his term. In office in 1841.

Letters from John Tyler

John Tyler

"His Accidency." If nothing else, he firmly established the precedent of presidential succession. In office from 1841 to 1845.

Report to James K. Polk

James K. Polk

The only Speaker of the House elected to the White House. Led the nation through the Mexican-American War. In office from 1845 to 1849.

Letter by Zachary Taylor

Zachary Taylor

Yet another Whig general turned president who died in office before he could make his mark. In office from 1849 to 1850.

Letter from Millard Fillmore

Millard Fillmore

New Yorker. The final Whig President. Rival of William Seward. Pushed for the passage of the Compromise of 1850. In office from 1850 to 1853.

Letters and telegrams from Franklin Pierce

Franklin Pierce

Won big, then lost control. His term deepened the divide over slavery. In office from 1853 to 1857.

Letters and telegrams from James Buchanan

James Buchanan

Sat still while the country unraveled and states began seceding. In office from 1857 to 1861.

Letters and telegrams from Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln

Held the Union together, micromanaged the Civil War, and freed slaves before an assassin took his life. In office from 1861 to 1865.

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Letters and telegrams from Andrew Johnson

Andrew Johnson

Southern Democrat. Lincoln's second Vice President. The first president to be impeached. Warred with Congress over Reconstruction policy. In office from 1865 to 1869.

Letters and telegrams from Ulysses S. Grant

Ulysses S. Grant

Civil War hero. Oversaw Reconstruction, battled the Ku Klux Klan and established the Department of Justice. Struggled with the Panic of 1873. In office from 1869 to 1877.

Letters and telegrams from Rutherford B. Hayes

Rutherford B. Hayes

Civil War veteran. Won the White House in an election so contested that it had to be resolved by a special commission. Secured victory in exchange for agreeing to end Reconstruction. In office from 1877 to 1881.

Letters and telegrams from James A. Garfield

James A. Garfield

Civil War general & preacher. Assassinated by a disgruntled "Spoils System" office-seeker just months into the job. In office in 1881.

Letters and telegrams from Chester A. Arthur

Chester A. Arthur

Former party insider thrust into the White House by Garfield's death. Surprised voters by reining in the Spoils System and passing civil service reform. In office from 1881 to 1885.

Letters and telegrams from Grover Cleveland

Grover Cleveland

Fought corruption and waste with his veto pen. Navigated the country through the trying Panic of 1893. The first to serve non-consecutive terms. In office from 1885 to 1889 and 1893 to 1897.

Letters and telegrams from Benjamin Harrison

Benjamin Harrison

Grandson of William Henry Harrison. Gave us national forests, high tariffs, and the first-ever billion-dollar budget. In office from 1889 to 1893.

Letters and telegrams from William McKinley

William McKinley

President during the Spanish-American War. Advocate of protective tariffs and territorial expansion. Assassinated. In office from 1897 to 1901.

Memos Letters and telegrams from Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt

Roughrider, Bull Moose, and trustbusting crusader, famous for his "Big Stick" diplomacy. In office from 1901 to 1909.

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Letters and telegrams from William Howard Taft

William Howard Taft

Lawyer at heart. Secretary of War before the Presidency. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court after. In office from 1909 to 1913.

Memorandums Letters and telegrams from Woodrow Wilson

Woodrow Wilson

Political science professor who led the nation through World War I and the post-war peace process. Famous for his "14 Points". In office from 1913 to 1921.

Letters and telegrams from Warren G. Harding

Warren G. Harding

Promised normalcy, died in office, and left behind a pile of personal and professional scandals. In office from 1921 to 1923.

Letters and telegrams from Calvin Coolidge

Calvin Coolidge

"Silent Cal". Said little, spent less, and let business boom during the "roaring twenties." In office from 1923 to 1929.

Memos Letters and telegrams from Herbert Hoover

Herbert Hoover

Mining magnate. Humanitarian. Saved millions from starving during WWI. Less successful managing the Great Depression. In office from 1929 to 1933.

Memorandums Letters and telegrams from Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Fought the Depression with his "New Deal" and the Axis with Lend-Lease & troops. Elected to the White House a record four times. In office from 1933 to 1945.

Letters and telegrams from Harry S. Truman

Harry S. Truman

Dropped two atomic bombs. Rebuilt and reshaped post-war Europe through the Marshall Plan. Established NATO. In office from 1945 to 1953.

Orders Letters and telegrams from Dwight D. Eisenhower

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Five-star general. Ended the Korean War. Used force, diplomacy, and espionage to contain the spread of Communism. Enforced Brown v. Board of Education. Established NASA. In office from 1953 to 1961.

Memos Letters and telegrams from John F. Kennedy

John F. Kennedy

Young scion of the Kennedy clan. Navigated Cold War brinksmanship and clashes over civil rights before an assassin took his life. In office from 1961 to 1963.

Private Letters and telegrams from Lyndon B. Johnson

Lyndon B. Johnson

Savant of the Senate. Passed a series of landmark civil rights and "Great Society" anti-poverty bills, but also plunged the nation deeper into Vietnam. In office from 1963 to 1969.

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Please note: This list is subject to change as we periodically update and improve our collections.

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"If you are looking for a great holiday gift for someone in politics or who likes history I have really enjoyed @Letterjoy . They send you a historical letter each week and they are fascinating. One week might be from a WWII general & the next week about natural ice in the 1920s."

— John, Alabama

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About The Presidential Letters Experience

Six Months of Legendary Pen Pals

Each week, you’ll receive a real letter from a president or one of their allies or foes in your (physical) mailbox.

Over the course of your membership, you’ll read dispatches from a variety of famous or eloquent historical pen pals. Aside from presidents, this series also features letters from figures like Julia Sand, Georges Clemenceau, and Henry Clay.

Timely & Timeless Topics

Each month, you'll receive letters from a few different eras. You may find yourself reading a letter from James Madison about the Quasi-War one week and a letter from a lawyer who squared off against Lincoln in an infamous murder trial in the next.

Old-School Charm

No screens are required to enjoy Letterjoy. Opening your letters is as “old-school” an experience as can be. Each is mailed in an ivory envelope with a real first-class stamp, and all of your letters will arrive on fine stationery, vellum, or parchment with letterhead and other design touches engineered to transport you back in time.

The Context To Dig Deeper

Alongside each of your letters, you’ll receive “the postscript”, an article written by our expert researchers with detailed background information on your letter and your presidential pen pals.

Each postscript is brimming with historical details perfect for inspiring an afternoon of biography reading or helping you win your next presidential trivia game.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Letterjoy gives you a reason to check your mailbox, something to look forward to every week, and the opportunity to study history in a fun & intimate format.

For gift-givers, Letterjoy is a constant reminder that you care. Each time a Letterjoy letter arrives in your recipient's mailbox, they'll think of you.

We hear often stories about gift recipients who call the person who gave them Letterjoy whenever a new letter arrives to discuss it.

For recipients, Letterjoy is an immersive offline escape. Our letters, produced on premium stationery or parchment, are the perfect break from your overwhelming email inbox or social media feed.

Anyone! We have seriously seen it all. Letterjoy is particularly popular as a present for lawyers, grandparents, teachers, veterans, and college students, but we've seen Letterjoy gifted to governors, comedians, plumbers, and more.

We have gift members on six continents, including spouses, bosses, parents, grandparents, children, great grandparents, and more.

We have also seen Letterjoy gifted to people of all professions, from top politicians and captains of industry to local reverends and teachers.

Of course! Treat yourself to any of our packages. You deserve something to look forward to as you check the mail each week.

Yes. The historical letters we mail to your door are reproductions of real letters (or telegrams) written by legendary figures and eloquent eyewitnesses. They are sourced from some of the finest archives, special collections, and private sources on the planet.

For more information on sourcing, and the philosophical debate over what constitutes authenticity (and our stance on it), reach out to Support[at]letterjoy[dot]co.

Our signature American History collection tells the story of our nation from 1776 through 1960.

A few of the major eras covered include the American Revolution (obviously), the early republic, the Civil War, World War I, the Industrial Revolution, World War II, the Civil Rights movement, and the Cold War.

A few of the specific events this collection includes letters from are The Alamo, Pearl Harbor, John Brown's raid, and the Constitutional Convention.

For the most detailed and up-to-date list of topics you'll receive letters about, please refer to this page.

In addition to this collection, we offer a growing list of additional topic-specific collections. Our current offering includes:

Please Note: All collections with the exception of our signature American History collection are offered only in six-month packages.

We do. You can download our customizable explanation letter here. Mail it, email it, send it as a telegram, or wrap it and put it under the tree. However you deliver it, our welcome letter is an excellent way to introduce your gift.

In addition to our main "Letters From American History" collection, we offer a few topic-specific "special collections". Please Note: Special collections are only available in six-month increments.

These are the special collections currently available for purchase:

Yes. All Letterjoy packages include free USPS First-Class postage. Members with mailing addresses outside the United States will incur a modest international postage surcharge.

Every Letterjoy letter is accompanied by "The Postscript," a detailed article about your letter, the person who wrote it, and the events described within it.

For more details on how we write "The Postscript" and why many Letterjoy members consider it the highlight of their experience, visit this page.

Yes! No screens are required to enjoy Letterjoy. Our letters arrive via First-Class mail, and "the Postscript," the article about each letter, arrives in the very same envelope.

Letterjoy is a great way to decompress and disconnect from the digital world.

Of course you can! Our samples page has high-resolution PDF scans of a few of our past letters.

Yes. We mail to addresses around the world. Charges for additional postage may apply (and letters may take 2-3 weeks to arrive, depending on the quality of your local postal carrier).

Letters are sent via first-class mail once per week. Newly activated orders usually go out in the first mailing of the month you selected at checkout.

If you purchase within a week of the start of your start month, your first letter will (in most cases) go out with our 2nd mailing of the month.

Recently moved? On an extended vacation? You can change your address right from our self-serve member portal (Members.letterjoy.co).

We’re here to help! Visit our support page or send us an email. We’ll be in touch soon with an answer.

You can also reach us by letter at 1101 14th St N.W., Suite 910, Washington, DC 20005.

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