This is unprecedented. Here is a taste of the Montpelier’s press release: In a first-ever milestone for museums and historic sites that are former places of enslavement, The Montpelier Foundation (TMF) board of directors voted Wednesday, based on a proposal...
founding fathers and slavery
Hamilton and slavery at the Schuyler Mansion
Here is Indiana Nash’s piece at The Daily Gazette, a newspaper that covers the Albany region: The Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site is working to parse fact from fiction when it comes to Alexander Hamilton’s role as an enslaver. While...
Sean Wilentz on Tom Cotton and slavery
The Princeton University American historian Sean Wilentz has been a harsh critic of The New York Times 1619 Project. But that doesn’t mean he is going to give Arkansas senator Tom Cotton a pass for his recent comments about slavery and the...
Engaging with the latest stuff on race and the founders coming from Liberty University’s Falkirk Center
Not all Christian colleges are the same. Some of you may recall a post in which I compared Messiah University to Liberty University. If you have a child considering a faith-based college I encourage you to read that post. Liberty...
Thinking historically about Trump’s Mount Rushmore speech
A lot of conservatives liked Trump’s speech on Friday night. I am told that The Wall Street Journal gave it a positive review. I commented on the speech here, but I thought I would say a few more things about Trump’s...
The Author’s Corner with Jeffrey Einboden
Jeffrey Einboden is Presidential Research, Scholarship and Artistry Professor at Northern Illinois University. This interview is based on his new book, Jefferson’s Muslim Fugitives: The Lost Story of Enslaved Africans, their Arabic Letters, and an American President (Oxford University Press, 2020)....
When people who don’t read history vandalize monuments and statues
Those who study the American Revolution know Tadeusz Kosciusko. He was a Polish military engineer who served on the patriot side during the American Revolution. Recently, his monument in Washington D.C. was covered with anti-racism slogans. Most people don’t know...
It’s Official: Monticello Affirms Thomas Jefferson Fathered Children with Sally Hemings
It was announced on June 6, 2018. Here is the press release: The issue of Jefferson’s paternity has been the subject of controversy for at least two centuries, ranging from contemporary newspaper articles in 1802 (when Jefferson was President) to...
The Founding Fathers Visit Saturday Night Live
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z50OazqL6Xo&w=560&h=315]...
Slavery at James Madison’s House
Alyssa Rosenberg reports on efforts to tell the story of slavery at James Madison’s Montpelier. A permanent exhibit titled “The Mere Distinction of Colour” opened on June 5. Here is a taste of Rosenberg’s piece at The Washington Post: …The new galleries,...
Montpelier to Open Exhibit on Slavery
A local CBS news outlet is reporting that James Madison’s Montpelier will soon be telling the story of the slaves who worked at the mansion. Here is a taste: Working in the shadow of Montpelier, kneels Terry Brock, Senior Research...
What Constitutes a Historical Document?
AHA Today, the blog of the American Historical Association, is featuring the work of several history graduate students who will be writing regular posts throughout the summer. I am thrilled to see that one of the students chosen to write...
Slavery and Historical Interpretation at Monticello, Montpelier, and Ash Lawn-Highland
C-Ville, a website covering life in the Charlottesville, VA area, is running a nice piece on slavery interpretation at the homes of Virginia presidents Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe. Here is a taste: The sickeningly horrible institution of...
Hemmings’s Cabin at Monticello
I just stumbled across this post from the Monticello website. Really interesting. Here is a taste: While study of Mulberry Row has been underway for nearly 60 years, Monticello curators just discovered new important information about the furnishings of John...