We spent yesterday morning touring Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Freedom of Religion in Virginia, and the co-founder of the University of Virginia. These are the three things by which he asked to be remembered. He was also, of course, our third president. A great man and the creator of a beautiful home and grounds in Monticello.
Bob had just finished reading the very insightful book “The Hemmingses of Monticello” about a family of slaves who spent several generations serving the Jefferson family. The tour of Monticello left the Hemminges largely out of the story. It wasn’t until the very end when the guide mentioned that most people now believe Jefferson fathered 4 children with Sally Hemmings with whom he lived for 40 years, four times as long as with his wife Martha who figured more prominently on the tour.
Nor was it explained that Monticello was built and supported by almost 200 slaves, only a few of which received any wages beyond the most basic shelter, clothing and food. The fact that the entire plantation culture that made Jefferson's life possible was based on this institution was left out of the story almost entirely.
Jefferson was a great man who accomplished many critically important things during his life, but his feet of clay were equally as important to understanding the man and his times. We also noted the same lack of telling the full story at Williamsburg the day before. It’s disappointing that these two historic sites leave so much out of the story they tell.
The picture below is of a group of Sally Hemmings’ descendants gathered at Monticello.
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