Weather Observations

A chart published in Thomas Jefferson's Notes on the State of Virginia lists meterological data he accumulated at Monticello and Williamsburg. On a monthly basis, Jefferson measured levels of precipitation, noted the coldest and hottest temperatures, and the average wind speed. Jefferson had little success in accurately charting wind speed, as the instrument designed to do that—an anemometer—was not invented until 1850. The page shown here is from Jefferson's copy of the first London edition of Notes, published in 1787.

Citation: Notes on the State of Virginia. A 1787 .J45. Special Collections, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.