From wearing a plain suit of clothes and walking to his inauguration, to allowing guests to choose where they sat at dinner, to greeting diplomats wearing bedroom slippers, Jefferson purposefully made his persona one of “republican simplicity.” In doing so he was creating new and distinctly American customs—or to use a modern term, establishing the “brand” for himself and his country. Join us for a live Q&A with Senior Historian at the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello, Gaye Wilson. Drawing from her 2018 book “Jefferson on Display: Attire, Etiquette, and the Art of Presentation,” Dr. Wilson will decipher Jefferson’s public image and what it means.

Join the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello for a virtual Fellow's Forum with Emily West, Professor of American History at the University of Reading (UK) and Chair of British American Nineteenth Century Historians (BrANCH). Tuesday, July 26, 2022, 4:00 p.m. ET

This 45-minute guided experience includes first floor spaces in Thomas Jefferson’s home, the West Lawn, and the South Wing. You’ll learn about Jefferson and his vision for America, the realities of slavery on the Monticello plantation, and the mountaintop’s iconic architecture. This popular pass includes access to our gardens, grounds, walking tours, family-friendly activities, and exhibits.