Jefferson Library

10/02/2026

We do love a good archaeology photo guest starring some gnarly tree roots!

09/25/2026

What is the role of journalism in sustaining a free society, and wh...

09/17/2026

Hot off the (digital) presses, from our fantastic colleague Emilie Johnson!

Now published in the MESDA Journal, “‘Fire away, then.’ Invasion, Silver, and Memory at Monticello,” by Emilie Johnson, part of our special issue exploring the material culture of the American Founding.

On 4 June 1781, British dragoons rode up the mountain to Monticello. Thomas Jefferson barely escaped. The enslaved people who remained behind hid the family silver from the British.

The story of what happened to the silver that day has been told and retold across generations by descendants of both the enslaved and enslaving families. The details and meanings shift depending on who tells the story.

In this article, Emilie Johnson carefully traces the silver from its London makers into the Jefferson household and follows it into memory, where these objects became tangible links to stories of courage, agency, and pride.

Read the full article in the MESDA Journal at https://www.mesdajournal.org/2026/fire-away-then-invasion-silver-and-memory-at-monticello/

Image: Pair of silver salt cellars by Elizabeth Muns; London; 1768/69. Courtesy of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello, photograph by Ian Atkins, acc. 1978-32-1/2.

09/11/2026

Summer is waning and so are some of our flowers, but we still have some lovely ones in front of the library…petunias, black eyed susans, and even an eastern prickly pear cactus!

09/04/2026

Excited to have some new neighbors!

08/28/2026

Two weeks ago today, some violent summer storms swept through Charlottesville, and the beautiful old linden tree flanking the front door to Kenwood suffered severe damage. For the safety of staff and visitors, the tree had to be taken down completely. We’ll miss its massive, crooked branches, lovely shade, and fragrant blooms, and so will the bees and butterflies who flitted through its foliage in the spring. The tree was likely almost a century old and nearing the end of its lifespan, but it’s still sad to not see it every day. Here are some before and after photos of the tree. Bonus bee/butterfly footage in the comments.🌳

08/21/2026

The application portal is now open for the 2027 Monticello Fellowship Program!

Established in 1994, Monticello’s Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies (ICJS) is a multidisciplinary research center that leads the study of Thomas Jefferson and his world while supporting the ongoing work of preservation and education at Monticello. The fellowship program supports scholars whose research explores Jefferson, Monticello, the founding history of the United States, and its legacies.

To date, the ICJS has awarded more than 600 fellowships to researchers from across the country and around the globe! 🌎📚

Learn more and apply at bit.ly/4hzqAhW

📷: Aleen Carey

08/14/2026

More fascinating work by our colleagues!

08/13/2026