Virginia and the University

by John Ragosta I had a wonderful time this weekend, not only meeting a lot of fine folks, but also learning some things. Thinking back briefly on the conference, I had a few immediate thoughts. First, in a conference about Jefferson’s love of the written word, one might have more methodically explored his famous texts […]

by Laura Voisin George My Spring 2012 history seminar, “The Worlds of William Short,” confronted U.Va. students with the words of Thomas Jefferson and William Short, his private secretary and close friend, and challenged them to learn what these words do – and do not – mean.  The students worked with microfilms of Short’s correspondence, […]

We thought you would find this article of interest about Jefferson’s eyeglasses.  It appears he spent at least two years corresponding with an optician in hopes of receiving the perfect eye glasses to ensure he would be able to continue writing and reading. “Thomas Jefferson’s Spectacles” (Feb/Mar 2012 Issue of Albemarle Magazine) Thomas Jefferson may […]

Jefferson’s Use of the Legal Word by John Ragosta In trying to understand someone’s arguments and conclusions, I generally find that it is useful to remember if they were trained as a lawyer, and this holds no less true in the case of Thomas Jefferson. While Jefferson had an extraordinary vision, and his thoughts and […]