The essay tracks Jefferson’s lifelong belief that later generations would finish the work he could not, from the promises of the Declaration to the unfinished moral argument over slavery.
Read the full piece: inpursuit.substack.com/p/thomas-jef...
Andrew Davenport writes about Thomas Jefferson as a man built out of contradiction, and sustained by a stubborn faith in the future.
Jefferson knew grief and political turbulence firsthand, and he understood how far the country still was from the ideals he helped put into words.
In Pursuit is a new essay series from More Perfect on the people and principles that shaped the American experiment.
The essay returns to the line that still lands today: her warning to the founders to “remember the ladies.”
Read the full essay here:
open.substack.com/pub/inpursui...
Joseph Ellis writes about Abigail Adams and the force of her voice—sharp, candid, and impossible to ignore.
Through her letters, he shows how Abigail shaped the political world around her, not by holding office, but by refusing to stay on the sidelines.
In Pursuit is a new essay series from More Perfect on the people and principles that shaped the American experiment.
She traces Adams’s role in making independence possible, then focuses on one decision in particular, pushing Thomas Jefferson to draft the Declaration.
Read the full at essay:
inpursuit.substack.com/p/john-adams...
Danielle Allen turns to John Adams and a leadership lesson that still holds: the job is not to do everything yourself, but to choose who else gets to lead.
Wonderful as always to join @kawulf.bsky.social to talk about Martha Washington, the importance of doing good history, and what it takes to bring the past back to life.
@inpursuitusa.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/inpursui...
Very impressive article by former President George W. Bush on George Washington that correctly puts his surrendering power center stage!
@inpursuitusa.bsky.social
inpursuit.substack.com/p/george-was...
Congrats to @inpursuitusa.bsky.social on this exciting new project! We look forward to reading your future posts, including the ones about President and Mrs. Carter.
The essay follows her early life, her years traveling to be with George during the war, and the quieter forms of leadership she practiced while the country was being built. It also reckons with what we can and cannot know, since Martha chose to leave parts of her story behind.
inpursuit.substack.com
Karin Wulf (@kawulf.bsky.social) writes about Martha Washington as a founder in her own right, stepping into public life before there was any blueprint for what that role was supposed to be.
An image of Martha Washington
@inpursuitusa.bsky.social is now live!
Check out @kawulf.bsky.social's essay on Martha Washington, the first First Lady, and a plantation mistress shaped by lineages of power, revolutionary politics, and slavery.
inpursuit.substack.com/p/martha-was...
Hear Karin read her essay as well.
A painting of George Washington surrendering his commission to the Continental Congress.
Today's the day!
@inpursuitusa.bsky.social is now live. We kick off the series with former president George W. Bush on George Washington's willingness to surrender power:
inpursuit.substack.com/p/george-was...
We've also included an audio version of the essay read by Mr. Bush himself.
A new project launched this morning -- on the history of presidents and the presidency. And First Ladies. With a pointed essay on George W(ashington) by George W (Bush) --about presidential humility. Oh, and me about Martha Washington! www.nytimes.com/2026/02/16/a...
In the essay, Bush traces how Washington’s character was built early, tested in war, and proven most clearly in two defining choices: giving up power after the Revolution, and stepping away after two terms as president.
inpursuit.substack.com
This Presidents Day, we’re launching In Pursuit, a new essay series on the people and principles that shaped the American experiment.
Our first essay comes from President George W. Bush, writing on George Washington and the leadership trait he returns to again and again: humility.
We are thrilled to have you with us as we look to our past to help write the history of America’s future.
inpursuit.substack.com
From there, we will move chronologically through our history, featuring future contributions from President Barack Obama, Secretary Condoleezza Rice, Chief Justice John Roberts, Ken Burns, Lonnie Bunch, and many others.
Each week throughout 2026, we will publish original essays from some of the nation’s most prominent voices—including former Presidents, First Ladies, and leading historians—as they reflect on the enduring lessons and complex legacies of those who have occupied the White House.
We are officially less than one week away from the launch of In Pursuit, a landmark initiative celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.
Our Substack will serve as a digital home for a year-long exploration of leadership, character, and the American Experiment.
Colleen Shogan joined @ericboehm87.bsky.social from @reason.com to discuss In Pursuit, our national essay project focused on strengthening shared civic memory ahead of the Semiquincentennial.
Listen/watch here:
reason.com/podcast/2026...
Tonight @historians.org #AHA26, hear from a stacked panel of historians and civics ed leaders about the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, including @inpursuitusa.bsky.social’s Colleen Shogan and project contributor @kawulf.bsky.social
If historical narratives weren’t sources of power and possibility, they wouldn’t be at risk right now.
Colleen Shogan, CEO of @inpursuitusa.bsky.social, reflects on why protecting access to history is essential to democracy and to the future we are shaping together.
In our newest episode of #TheContext, we welcomed Colleen Shogan, who served as the 11th Archivist of the United States. We learn what the National Archives protects and what’s at risk when transparency, nonpartisanship, and public access to records are weakened.
Listen here: https://bit.ly/4pKzwlL
Thomas Paine's Common Sense was published in 1776 and helped change the course of American history.
Join In Pursuit for a live Substack conversation marking its 250th anniversary with @jimambuske.bsky.social and @lmchervinsky.bsky.social
🗓 Monday, January 5 at 7:30 PM ET
inpursuit.substack.com
Colleen Shogan writes in @the74.bsky.social
about revamping civics education for a digital world and the importance of teaching students to recognize disinformation and engage online responsibly.
