The brutal axe murder and dismemberment of a Negro slave, committed in 1811 by two brothers, Lilburne and Isham Lewis, whose mother was Thomas Jefferson?s sister and whose father was his first cousin, form the core of this historical detective story and account of frontier life in western Kentucky in the first decades of the nineteenth century. On the night of December 15, 1811, drunk and enraged over the breaking of a pitcher, Lilburne bound his seventeen-year-old slave, George, and, in front of the assembled household?s other slaves, cut off his head. The brothers were indicted for murder, released on bail, and attempted suicide. Boynton Merrill Jr. explores the tragic combination of circumstances and social forces that culminated in this ghastly event: the lawlessness of the frontier settlements, the dehumanizing effects of chattel slavery, and the Lewis family?s history of mental instability and their ever-declining fortunes.

When Annette Gordon-Reed's groundbreaking study was first published, rumors of Thomas Jefferson's sexual involvement with his slave Sally Hemings had circulated for two centuries. Among all aspects of Jefferson's renowned life, it was perhaps the most hotly contested topic. The publication of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings intensified this debate by identifying glaring inconsistencies in many noted scholars' evaluations of the existing evidence. In this study, Gordon-Reed assembles a fascinating and convincing argument: not that the alleged thirty-eight-year liaison necessarily took place but rather that the evidence for its taking place has been denied a fair hearing. Friends of Jefferson sought to debunk the Hemings story as early as 1800, and most subsequent historians and biographers followed suit, finding the affair unthinkable based upon their view of Jefferson's life, character, and beliefs. Gordon-Reed responds to these critics by pointing out numerous errors and prejudices in their writings, ranging from inaccurate citations, to impossible time lines, to virtual exclusions of evidence—especially evidence concerning the Hemings family. She demonstrates how these scholars may have been misguided by their own biases and may even have tailored evidence to serve and preserve their opinions of Jefferson. This updated edition of the book also includes an afterword in which the author comments on the DNA study that provided further evidence of a Jefferson and Hemings liaison. Possessing both a layperson's unfettered curiosity and a lawyer's logical mind, Annette Gordon-Reed writes with a style and compassion that are irresistible. Each chapter revolves around a key figure in the Hemings drama, and the resulting portraits are engrossing and very personal. Gordon-Reed also brings a keen intuitive sense of the psychological complexities of human relationships—relationships that, in the real world, often develop regardless of status or race. The most compelling element of all, however, is her extensive and careful research, which often allows the evidence to speak for itself. Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American Controversy is the definitive look at a centuries-old question that should fascinate general readers and historians alike.

Thomas Jefferson: Inquiry History for Daring Delvers contains multiple questions which are reactions to presentations the author has made about The Others At Monticello. The new work reflects a continuation of extensive reading and other pertinent research. Esther Franklin is a retired educator who taught from kindergarten to university. Early in her career she wrote Understanding World Neighbors in the Elementary Classroom which was predictive of her long interest and involvement in earth citizenship education. More recently she wrote script and worked with university students on the CD, "Are You A Global Citizen?" For those of us in the field of education who study the past to understand the present, this book guides the way to Thomas Jefferson's contributions to our thinking and institutions. Pertinent quotes lead the reader to explore the most fruitful research literature. This is extremely useful for teachers who look for ways to direct and support their students' research – especially those who seek answers about Jefferson's beliefs on their own. The many questions posed by this author are designed to expand the thinking and direction of the Delvers and, consequently, make the search for Jefferson's views on education even more enticing. Sharon Alexander, PhD Professor Emeritus California State University Sacramento Book ID 99970 In Chapter Eight of her newest book, Esther Franklin spells out how Jefferson was unsuccessful in his effort to promote the idea of a "National Library." Subsequently, when the British burned our Capitol during the War of 1812, he immediately offered his personal collection at Monticello - 6,487 volumes - and our nation's library arose from the ashes. The political machinations behind the scenes, the lengthy historical infighting in the Congress, and the overview of our fledgling government struggling with little money and large ambitions all come together. Few of us have learned in "traditional" history classes about the breadth of Jefferson's collection - from literary classics to garden equipment - or do they know the extent to which he was in debt. Students (maybe their professor's?) will learn about the sale. It was not a gift? This is "must" reading for all individuals who continue to use - in multiple ways - today's amazing Library of Congress. Donald Junkins Professor Emeritus University of Massachusetts, Amherst If you are interested in medicine and healthy living, Chapter 11 is for you. Or you could be musician - even an aspiring musician, Jefferson's story is an inspiration as well as a resource. If you are a writer, the discussion of Jefferson's many writings, including his 20,000 letters will illuminate the era. Finally, did Jefferson live up to his title of "Founder of the Nation" or was he just another flawed human being? You decide. Pat Geyer California Council for the Social Studies Board, California Retired Teachers Association Author, CCSS: The History and the People Who Made It

This story of Thomas Jefferson's children by one of his slaves, Sally Hemings, tells a darker piece of America's history from an often unseen perspective-that of three of Jefferson's slaves-including two of his own children. As each child grows up and tells his story, the contradiction between slavery and freedom becomes starker, calliing into question the real meaning of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." This poignant story sheds light on what life was like as one of Jefferson's invisible offspring.

To say that Thomas Jefferson was complicated would be an understatement. A founding father and third American president, Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. It said that "all men are created equal." Yet Jefferson owned slaves, including a woman named Sally Hemings with whom scholars believe he fathered several children. Some two hundred years after the birth of their first child, interest in Hemings and Jefferson has hardly died down. Movies, television shows, newspaper articles, and literature have been devoted to the pair. Jefferson's legacy has also suffered as details emerge about his ties to Hemings. Is he a man that Americans should respect? With the help of this fascinating book, readers will learn about the nature of Jefferson's connection to someone who was legally his property, and about his descendants, both black and white.

The Retirement Series documents Jefferson's written legacy between his return to private life on 4 March 1809 and his death on 4 July 1826. During this period Jefferson founded the University of Virginia and sold his extraordinary library to the nation, but his greatest legacy from these years is the astonishing depth and breadth of his correspondence with statesmen, inventors, scientists, philosophers, and ordinary citizens on topics spanning virtually every field of human endeavor.--From publisher description.

The Retirement Series documents Jefferson's written legacy between his return to private life on 4 March 1809 and his death on 4 July 1826. During this period Jefferson founded the University of Virginia and sold his extraordinary library to the nation, but his greatest legacy from these years is the astonishing depth and breadth of his correspondence with statesmen, inventors, scientists, philosophers, and ordinary citizens on topics spanning virtually every field of human endeavor.--From publisher description.