Francis Newton Thorpe
Francis Newton Thorpe (1857–1926) was an American legal scholar, historian, political scientist, and Professor of Constitutional History at the University of Pennsylvania. Education/Personal Life. He was born in the town of Swampscott, Massachusetts, and was descended from early settlers of Plymouth, MA and Boston, MA and Litchfield and Norwich, Connecticut. After receiving his primary education at Lake Shore Seminary, he attended Syracuse University and pursued graduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania, where, at the age of 28, he became a University Fellow, holding the title of Professor of American Constitutional History from 1885 to 1898 . An active member of the Pennsylvania Historical Society and leading member of the American Historical Association, Thorpe was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 1885. Describing the scholar's personal life the Book News added that "In addition to his varied literary interests Mr. Thorpe, like many other sane people is fond of outdoor life and spends half of the year at his summer home... entertaining his friends... on a beautiful estate... called Indian Arrow Vineyards, on Lake Erie." Thorpe also owned a winter home in Mount Holly, NJ. Publications. Thorpe served as chief editor of the History of North  America Project conducted by the University of Pennsylvania and wrote or edited several scholarly books: In addition to his scholarly work, Thorpe also contributed to Harper's magazine. State Constitutions. Thorpe's scholarship on state constitutions remains some of the most influential and foundational work in the field of state constitutional development. The current NBER/Maryland State Constitutions Project relied heavily on Thorpe's "The Federal and State Constitutions, Colonial Charters, and the Organic Laws of the State, Territories, and Colonies; Now or heretofore Forming the United States of America. (Gov't Printing Office. Washington, D.C. 1909)". More information on State  Constitutions including Francis Newton Thorpe's work can be found at http://www.stateconstitutions.umd.edu