Introduction

by Jack Robertson, Foundation Librarian

On behalf of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation and the Jefferson Library at the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies, I am pleased to present the exhibition and website celebrating Lucy Meriwether Lewis Marks.

The exhibition on display in the Library provides 26 masterful works of botanical art created by a group of artists trained at the Corcoran College for Art + Design in Washington, DC, and elsewhere. The sources of the artists’ works are information about and specimens of medicinal plants known to Lucy as well as to her contemporary and neighbor, Thomas Jefferson. This website provides images of every work of art and information about each plant depicted, including personal observations by each artist. In addition, the results of extensive research are presented to illuminate many details about Lucy’s life and times, published here for the first time.

We hope you enjoy your visit, both to the exhibit at the Library and through this accompanying website.