Monticello Community

Last weekend I had the privilege of welcoming to Charlottesville a truly fascinating group - the Monticello Community Gathering. This was a meeting of the descendants of the large community that made Monticello a successful plantation and supported Jefferson in his genius: artisans, enslaved people, family, workmen. Over 200 descendants of this community got together to learn about the lives and history their ancestors were part of. It was truly moving to hear one of Sally Hemmings descendants - and elderly african-american woman (from the Thomas Woodson Family)telling of learning that one of her great grandfathers was a President...