Monticello Cabinet

We invite Monticello Cabinet and Summit participants and special guests to join us for educational programs that highlight the ideas, interests, and subjects held in the highest regard by Thomas Jefferson.

Conversations in our Arts & Architecture in the World of Thomas Jefferson educational series illuminate Thomas Jefferson's belief in the power of architecture, arts, drama, music, and more to elevate a nation and explore Monticello as an emblem of the potential Jefferson saw in his country. Upcoming programs include:

• Cabinet Conversation: Jefferson and Maps
• Virginia State Capitol Tour
• Private Home Tour: Redlands

Our Democracy, Diplomacy, and the Politics of Revolution series explores the role that ideas play in the shifting landscape of our world. Jefferson, perhaps better than any American of his era or since, leveraged diplomacy and politics to advance American democracy both domestically and abroad. The series will include stirring programs that demonstrate how leaders – past, present, and future – continue to shape history. Upcoming programs include:

• Revolutionary Women: A Symposium
• Monticello Cabinet Fall Evening Conversation | Jefferson & Lafayette: Celebrating the 200th Anniversary of the Marquis de Lafayette's Visit to Monticello

Established in 1993 at the suggestion of Peter Hatch, longtime Director of Gardens and Grounds, the Monticello Cabinet Evening Conversation program series provides an opportunity for friends and supporters of the Foundation to explore common interests with the nation's preeminent historians, scholars, and thought leaders. Over 30 years, we have hosted nearly 150 of these gatherings, featuring notable presentations by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jon Meacham, retired Supreme Court of Virginia Justice John Charles Thomas, and the late journalist Cokie Roberts, as well as musical performances by the Victory Hall Opera and Chesapeake Symphony Orchestra. Upcoming programs include:

• The Peter J. Hatch Spring Cabinet Evening Conversation with Adrian Higgins, gardener and columnist for The Washington Post
• The Fall Cabinet Evening Conversation | Jefferson & Lafayette: Celebrating the 200th Anniversary of the Marquis de Lafayette's Visit to Monticello with Thomas Jefferson, interpreted by Bill Barker, and the Marquis de Lafayette, portrayed by Mark Schneider

Save the date for this annual holiday tradition! Led by Monticello's expert Gardens & Grounds team for more than 30 years, our Holiday Wreath Workshops celebrate the season and invite guest to make their own handmade wreath from greenery and materials gathered from the grounds of Monticello.

Thursday, December 5, 2024

David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center

Space is limited. Invitation to follow.

THE STAFF AND TRUSTEES OF THE
THOMAS JEFFERSON FOUNDATION AT MONTICELLO
INVITE YOU TO

The Spirit of '74

with remarks by Dr. Jane Kamensky

Thursday, November 7, 2024
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

Carpenters' Hall
320 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA

Business attire
The favor of your reply is requested by October 24 | RSVP here

For questions, contact events@monticello.org or 434.984.9821

An evening with New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie and British Historian and Princeton professor Dame Linda Colley

Thursday, October 24, 2024
5:30 - 7:30 PM
West Lawn, Monticello

Free; registration required here. 

Join us on Monticello's iconic West Lawn for a vibrant conversation between New York Times opinion columnist and public historian Jamelle Bouie and Princeton scholar Dame Linda Colley, moderated by Monticello's president Dr. Jane Kamensky.

As the 250th anniversary of Jefferson's Declaration of Independence approaches, and in the midst of a charged presidential election, Americans are thinking deeply about the relationships between our founding documents and our peoplehood. This conversation asks how - and whether - declarations and constitutions make nations. 

Bouie, Colley, and Kamensky will explore volatile moments, both past and present, in the political lives of Americans and Britons. Both are polities in process. How can attention to our historical and constitutional foundations inform our present and guide our future?

Arrive early to enjoy the scenic views - Monticello is beautiful in fall - and award-winning wine from Monticello's own Jefferson Vineyards, as well as food and other beverages. Happy hour begins at 5:30 p.m.

About the Speakers

Jamelle Bouie
Jamelle Bouie is a columnist for the New York Times Opinion section.

Dame Linda Colley
Linda Colley is the Shelby M.C. Davis 1958 Professor of History at Princeton, the author of a number of critically-acclaimed books, and contributor to the Financial Times, the London Review of Books and the New York Review of Books.

Dr. Jane Kamensky
Dr. Jane Kamensky serves as president of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, with thirty years of experience as a professor and higher education leader.

Full Event Schedule

5:30 pm – 6:30 pm: Happy hour with food and beverages available for purchase 

6:30 pm: Conversation with Jamelle Bouie, award-winning New York Times opinion columnist and public historian, and Dame Linda Colley, Shelby M.C. Davis 1958 Professor of History at Princeton University, moderated by Dr. Jane Kamensky, President of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation 

7:05 pm: Question and Answer session

7:20 pm: Closing remarks by Dr. Kamensky

Parking

Complimentary parking will be available at Monticello's David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center and all guests will board shuttles to the historic mountaintop for the event.

Jefferson & Lafayette: Celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Marquis de Lafayette’s visit to Monticello

Wednesday, October 23, 2024
West Lawn, Monticello

5:30 p.m. — Reception and Walkthrough Tours
6:30 p.m. — Program

Featuring

Bill Barker as Thomas Jefferson, Historical Interpreter, Thomas Jefferson Foundation

Dr. Iris de Rode, Historian and "America 2026" U.S. Committee Member

Dr. Jane Kamensky, President, Thomas Jefferson Foundation

Mark Schneider as Marquis de Lafayette, Historian, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Business attire.

Generously sponsored by Martin Horn and Truist Wealth.

Register for this event HERE.

Contact: events@monticello.org | (434) 984-9821

About Bill Barker

Veteran historical actor-interpreter Bill Barker is widely recognized as the nation’s foremost interpreter of Thomas Jefferson. After portraying Thomas Jefferson at Colonial Williamsburg for 26 years, Barker joined the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello in 2019. Barker began interpreting Jefferson in 1984 — fittingly, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Combining the tools of theater with rigorous historical scholarship, his approach explores Jefferson’s life and times, and how it relates to our world today. Barker has performed as Jefferson around the country and around the world, at sites including the White House, the U.S. Capitol, the Palace of Versailles, and more. He has been featured as Jefferson in numerous publications including Time, People, and Southern Living, and has appeared as Jefferson on ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, C-SPAN and Comedy Central’s Colbert Report. Monticello guests encounter Barker as Mr. Jefferson in regularly-scheduled programming at Monticello. He also contributes to educational outreach efforts including electronic field trips, livestream programs, and represents Monticello at special events around the country.

About Dr. Iris de Rode

Iris de Rode received her doctorate from the Université de Paris VIII in November 2019, for her dissertation entitled François-Jean de Chastellux (1734-1788), un soldat-philosophe dans le monde atlantique à l'époque des Lumières. Her dissertation was published by Éditions Honoré Champion, 2022 and she recently won the Prix Guizot of the Académie Française for "best history book of the year" for it. Together with her PhD supervisor, Prof. Bertrand van Ruymbeke, she co-authored Le Journal de Dumas (16 juin-6 octobre 1781) and Sur les traces de l'indépendance des États-Unis (Monfaucon: Éditions Jean-Jacques Wuillaume, 2018). 

de Rode is currently working on a new English book titled "En route to Revolution" that will be published by the University of Virginia Press in 2024. She has received 18 fellowships for her work, including from George Washington's Mount Vernon, Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, the Society of the Cincinnati and the American Philosophical Society. de Rode has been teaching American and Transatlantic history at the French University SciencesPo Paris as an adjunct faculty member since 2013. She is also working on public history initiatives with the National Park Service, the Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route Association, the Philadelphia Museum of the American Revolution, and George Washington's Mount Vernon and the French embassy in Washington DC. She is the US committee member of “America 2026”. 

About Dr. Jane Kamensky

Dr. Kamensky joined Monticello from Harvard University, where she served since 2015 as the Jonathan Trumbull Professor of American History and the Carl and Lily Pforzheimer Foundation Director of the Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America at Harvard Radcliffe Institute. In her years as Director of the Schlesinger Library, she successfully worked to raise the profile of the library to the most preeminent of its kind in the world by partnering with an international network of diverse scholars and thought leaders. 

Dr. Kamensky is the author or co-author of seven books spanning four centuries of American history, including the prize-winning A Revolution in Color: The World of John Singleton Copley (2016). She is also a member of the author team on A People and a Nation, one of the preeminent textbooks in American history, and the co-editor, with Edward G. Gray, of The Oxford Handbook of the American Revolution. A principal investigator for the NEH-DoE funded social studies initiative Educating for American Democracy, Dr. Kamensky brings a commitment to civic education and engagement that deeply aligns with Monticello’s mission.

About Mark Schneider

For more than 26 years, Mark Schneider has been a Nation Builder at Colonial Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia where he perform as a variety of different characters from the past. This combines the teaching of history with theater. Some of the characters that he portrays include the Marquis de Lafayette, Napoleon Bonaparte, Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton, Benedict Arnold, General Rochambeau, and Captain John Smith. Schneider also supervise a horse riding program in which he brings the Historic Area of Colonial Williamsburg to life with equestrian performances such as mounted cavalry demonstrations, talks on travel, and transportation and character interpretation from horseback as well as theatrical scenes using horses. 

Monticello is excited to partner with the French-American Chamber of Commerce on their Garden Party de la Rentrée at the French Embassy in Washington, DC on Friday, September 20. Bill Barker will be appearing as Thomas Jefferson to share stories of Jefferson's time in France along with Mark Schneider as the Marquis de Lafayette. Guests will enjoy the opportunity to mix and mingle with French VIPs, diplomats, business leaders, and Francophiles from throughout the DC region while savoring French food and wine in the Embassy's gardens.

For more details and to purchase tickets for this event, visit the Embassy of France event page.

THE STAFF AND TRUSTEES OF THE THOMAS JEFFERSON FOUNDATION AT MONTICELLO INVITE YOU TO A SPECIAL EVENING CONVERSATION

Celebrating the Legacy of Daniel P. Jordan

President, Thomas Jefferson Foundation (1985–2008)
President Emeritus (2008–2024)

Wednesday, September 18, 2024
5:30 p.m. – Reception and Walkthrough Tours
6:30 p.m. – Program

West Lawn, Monticello

Featuring

Remarks by Edward L. Ayers, President Emeritus, University of Richmond
Video message from Ken Burns, American filmmaker

and conversations with

Andrew Davenport, Acting Saunders Director, Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies
J. Calvin Jefferson, Sr., Participant and Consultant with the Getting Word African American Oral History Project
Dr. Jane Kamensky, President, Thomas Jefferson Foundation
J. Jefferson Looney, Daniel P. Jordan Editor, The Papers of Thomas Jefferson: Retirement Series
Ann Lucas, Senior Historian Emerita

Business casual attire

Please respond by August 19th by registering at Monticello.org/DanJordan.

Read more about Dan Jordan's legacy at Monticello in this memorial blog post authored by Ann Lucas.

Photo credit: Jeffrey Gleason

This fall, Monticello introduces "Pursuits of Knowledge," a series of dynamic conversations with leading thinkers exploring Jefferson's world, ideas, and legacy. Working in disciplines and genres ranging from biography to political history to young adult fiction, this fall's speakers discuss their work and approaches to engaging the past in the present. 

Food and beverage, including award-winning Jefferson Vineyards wine, will be available for purchase. Book signing with the author is included. Held at Monticello's David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center.

2024 Fall Pursuits

September 10 | Dr. Patrick Spero on The Scientist Turned Spy: André Michaux, Thomas Jefferson, and the Conspiracy of 1793

October 29 | Kalela Williams on Tangleroot

November 12 | Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky on Making the Presidency: John Adams and the Precedents That Forged the Republic

December 17 | Dr. Allen Guelzo on Our Ancient Faith: Lincoln, Democracy, and the American Experiment

These events are open to the public. Tickets are available for purchase for single events or as a discounted package. To learn more and secure your tickets, visit www.Monticello.org/Pursuits.

Celebrate July 4th at Monticello's annual Independence Day Celebration and Naturalization Ceremony.

Thursday, July 4, 2024

7:30 a.m. | Donor Welcome Breakfast
9:00 a.m. | Independence Day Celebration and Naturalization Ceremony

West Lawn, Monticello

Featuring this year's keynote speaker Misty Copeland, Ballerina, Author, and Philanthropist. Read Misty's full biography here.

To register for the Donor Welcome Breakfast, please fill out the registration form. For questions, contact events@monticello.org or (434) 984-9821. Registration for the breakfast includes reserved parking at the David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center. Business casual attire. Space is limited.

The Gardens and Library of Bunny Mellon

Thursday, June 20, 2024
10 a.m. | Private walking tour with Sir Peter Crane, President, Oak Spring Garden Foundation
12 p.m. | Lunch inside the Mellon Residency

Oak Spring Garden Foundation
Upperville, Virginia

Business casual attire. Space is limited. If you would like to attend, please respond by June 6th to events@monticello.org or (434) 984-9821.

Located on a portion of the original 4,000-acre estate of Paul and Rachel “Bunny” Mellon in Upperville, Virginia, Oak Spring Garden Foundation stewards the Mellon Residency, gardens, display greenhouse, Broodmare Barn for visiting scholars, Oak Spring Garden Library, and more. The gardens today are planted following the careful research of archival photographs that document Bunny Mellon’s evolving garden style. They serve as a place for learning and inspiration as visiting scholars, artists, and writers utilize the garden today as both a living library of floral specimens, as well as a place of respite and connection.

The Oak Spring Garden Library boasts a treasured collection of over 19,000 objects, including rare books, manuscripts, and works of art dating back to the 14th century. Bunny Mellon’s collecting, guided by precise objectives and unerring taste, led to the acquisition of some of the most significant works in the history of botany, botanical illustration, and garden and landscape design.

Our tour will be led by Oak Spring Garden Foundation President Sir Peter Crane, with lunch to follow in the Mellon Residency, once the private home of Paul and Bunny Mellon. Oak Spring Garden Foundation is not regularly open to the public.

About Sir Peter Crane
Peter Crane is a renowned botanical researcher and evolutionary plant scientist, with experience leading some of the most prestigious and influential scientific organizations in the fields of plant study and natural history. His work focuses on the diversity of plant life including its origin, fossil history, current status, conservation and use. He previously served as Director of the Field Museum in Chicago, Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, in the U.K. and Dean of the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.

Wednesday, May 15, 2024
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m. | Private tours and cocktail reception
6:30 p.m. | Program

Including speakers
Dr. Jane Kamensky, President, Thomas Jefferson Foundation
Endrina Tay, Fiske and Marie Kimball Librarian, Jefferson Library, Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello

Thomas Jefferson Building, The Library of Congress
10 First St SE, Washington, D.C.

Business attire

Please respond by May 8th at Monticello.org/LOCevent.

For questions, contact events@monticello.org or (434) 984-9821.

About Jefferson and The Library of Congress
It’s only fitting we celebrate the impact of Monticello and the future of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at The Library of Congress. In 1815, Thomas Jefferson was instrumental in rebuilding The Library of Congress when he sold the bulk of his personal book collection to the United States government. The books were shipped starting in mid-April in the bookcases they already occupied and were transported in ten wagons to Washington. On May 8th, as the last wagonload of books left Monticello, Jefferson remarked in a letter to Samuel Harrison Smith, “an interesting treasure is added to ... [Washington, D.C.], now become the depository of unquestionably the choicest collection of books in the US. and I hope it will not be without some general effect on the literature of our country.”

Dr. Jane Kamensky joined Monticello from Harvard University, where she served since 2015 as the Jonathan Trumbull Professor of American History and the Carl and Lily Pforzheimer Foundation Director of the Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America at Harvard Radcliffe Institute. In her years as Director of the Schlesinger Library, she successfully worked to raise the profile of the library to the most preeminent of its kind in the world by partnering with an international network of diverse scholars and thought leaders. 

Dr. Kamensky is the author or co-author of seven books spanning four centuries of American history, including the prize-winning A Revolution in Color: The World of John Singleton Copley (2016). She is also a member of the author team on A People and a Nation, one of the preeminent textbooks in American history, and the co-editor, with Edward G. Gray, of The Oxford Handbook of the American Revolution. A principal investigator for the NEH-DoE funded social studies initiative Educating for American Democracy, Dr. Kamensky brings a commitment to civic education and engagement that deeply aligns with Monticello’s mission.

Endrina Tay is the Fiske and Marie Kimball Librarian at the Jefferson Library at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello.

Since 2004, her research has focused on Thomas Jefferson’s libraries and on reconstructing and understanding Jefferson’s reading universe. In 2008, she discovered (with Jeremy Dibbell) a previously unidentified Jefferson booklist that documented for the first time the library George Wythe bequeathed to Jefferson in 1806 while Jefferson was president of the United States. In 2011, together with Ann Lucas Birle, she located over 80 previously unknown extant volumes from Thomas Jefferson’s library at Washington University in St. Louis.

Her publications include “Enlightened Networks: Thomas Jefferson’s System For Working From Home,” in The Spirit of Inquiry in the Age of Jefferson (Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society Press, 2022); and “Forming the Body of a Library Upon the “Illimitable Freedom of the Human Mind:” Books for the University of Virginia,” in The Founding of Thomas Jefferson’s University, ed. John Ragosta, Andrew O’Shaughnessy and Peter Onuf (Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2019).

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello and the University of Virginia Library
are pleased to present the
Thomas Jefferson Foundation Lecture

"Pursuing Happiness in the Revolutionary Atlantic"

by Sarah Pearsall
Professor of History, Johns Hopkins University

Monday, May 13, 2024
4:00 p.m. | Lecture
5:00 p.m. | Reception

Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
170 McCormick Road, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904
Parking available in the Central Grounds Parking Garage.

This event is operated by the University of Virginia. The program is free and open to the public. If you are interested in attending, please register online using UVA's webpage by Friday, May 3.

About the Program
Happiness was a preoccupation for many in the Anglophone world of the 1770s. However, what did it mean for the individuals—from noted authors such as Thomas Jefferson and Phillis Wheatley to far more obscure debaters, voyagers, and letter-writers of this era—who used it? This question, deceptively simple, opens up new ways of approaching this era. This lecture will grapple with the concept of happiness, puzzling out what it meant to a wide range of people across a broader landscape.

About the University of Virginia Library and Thomas Jefferson Foundation Distinguished Lecture Series
The Thomas Jefferson Foundation Distinguished Lecture Series is a collaborative effort between the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello, the University of Virginia Library, and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Chair in the Corcoran Department of History at the University. The lecture was established to bring to the University eminent scholars whose research will provide fresh insights into topics related to Jefferson. The UVA Library is proud to be a sponsor of this event, continuing its mission of connecting people with resources and ideas as the center of the University's unique educational community.

THE TRUSTEES AND STAFF OF
THE THOMAS JEFFERSON FOUNDATION
INVITES YOU TO THE THIRTY-SECOND

Monticello Cabinet Retreat

Friday and Saturday,
The Third and Fourth of May,
Two Thousand Twenty Four

FEATURING

Welcome Reception at Jefferson Vineyards

Illuminating discussions on Monticello's priorities
for the 250th anniversary, including preservation,
restoration, research, and education

Dinner on the West Lawn of Monticello
Keynote conversation on Renewing Our Democracy with
Dr. Danielle Allen, Dr. Jane Kamensky, and The Honorable J. Michael Luttig

The favor of your reply is requested by April 19th.
To view the full schedule of events and additional details, please visit our Cabinet Retreat webpage.

To respond, please visit our online form.

Visit Tufton Farm for our spring plant sales and open house programs on Saturday, April 27, 9 a.m.–2 p.m., and Saturday, May 25, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. The events include an always-popular nursery sale, guided tours, and talks by guest speakers. These programs are open to the public.

More information about the April event can be found at: https://www.monticello.org/house-gardens/center-for-historic-plants/visit-us/spring-plant-sale-at-chp/

More information about the May event can be found at: https://www.monticello.org/house-gardens/center-for-historic-plants/visit-us/may-open-house/

The Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants GPS Address is 1293 Tufton Farm, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902.

Join Monticello in Charleston for a conversation on different approaches to preservation at two remarkable historic sites – Thomas Jefferson's Monticello and Drayton Hall.

Philosophies of Historic Preservation

featuring

Lucy Midelfort, Conservator and Curator of Historic Architecture, Thomas Jefferson Foundation,
and Patricia Lowe Smith, Director of Preservation and Archives, Drayton Hall

Monday, April 22, 2024

5:30 p.m. | Cocktail Reception
6:15 p.m. | Program

Charleston Library Society
164 King Street, Charleston, South Carolina

Hosted with Ms. Lindsay Marshall and Dr. Courtenay Beebe
Monticello Cabinet participants

Space is limited. If you are interested in attending, please contact events@monticello.org or (434) 984-9821.

Lucy Midelfort

For several years, Lucy Midelfort has served full time as the architectural conservator at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. Current and past projects include developing proper treatment protocol for stabilizing masonry ruins, removing and preventing multiple types of roof corrosion, cleaning marble hearths, and preventing mold growth on earthen floors. She is also well-versed with monitoring and ensuring sensitive and quality work from contractors on big projects.

She completed her Master of Science in Historic Preservation from the University of Pennsylvania, with an emphasis in architectural conservation. With that training comes a strong familiarity with historic building materials, their vulnerabilities, and how they change over time. She has experience with mineralogy, site surveys, a wide variety of treatments, finishes analysis, and conditions assessments.

Patricia Lowe Smith

Patricia “Trish” Lowe Smith is the Curator of Historic Architectural Resources at Drayton Hall. After graduating with a B.A. in Art History from the University of South Carolina Honors College, Smith received her M.S. from the Clemson University and College of Charleston joint graduate program in Historic Preservation. Smith came to Drayton Hall in 2010 as a Wood Family Fellow, and joined the staff permanently upon completion of her fellowship. In 2013, Smith was awarded a residential fellowship at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s Digital History Center to study the application of 3D visualization technology for the documentation and interpretation of cultural heritage sites. During her tenure at Drayton Hall she has assembled the site’s first preservation archive, carried out several architectural conservation projects, launched a digital restoration of Drayton Hall, and is currently managing the rehabilitation of Drayton Hall’s iconic portico.

Celebrate Thomas Jefferson's birthday at Monticello during our annual Founder's Day program. Join us on the morning of Friday, April 12th for our public Founder's Day activities starting at 9 a.m. Following the event, we hope you'll enjoy a private luncheon for Cabinet and Summit participants & invited guests at the new Development Offices.

Friday, April 12, 2024

9 a.m. | Wreath Laying Ceremony at Jefferson's Gravesite

10 a.m. | Founder's Day Ceremony on Monticello's West Lawn
Featuring a 2024 recipient of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medals

11:30 a.m. | Private Luncheon for Summit, Cabinet, and invited guests
Hosted at Development Offices

Space is limited for the luncheon. To RSVP, please contact events@monticello.org or (434) 984-9821.

Join us for a tour of the first floor of the historic Redlands, a private residence on the National Register of Historic Places. The original Redlands estate of 9,350 acres was granted in 1730 to John Carter, son of Robert (“King”) Carter. The late Georgian mansion was begun ca. 1792 for Robert Carter on a site chosen for its views. The house was erected by builder Martin Thacker and stands as one of the Commonwealth’s great landmarks of the Federal period. 

We extend our gratitude to Bob and Carol Carter for making this program possible.

Thursday, April 4, 2024
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

This event is currently full. If you are interested in attending, please contact acable@monticello.org or (434) 984-9850.

Monticello in Nashville

Hosted with Monticello Cabinet participants Jeff and Wendy Dahlgren

Tuesday, April 2 and Wednesday, April 3, 2024

"Feast of Reason" Jeffersonian Dinner
featuring Monticello's Thomas Jefferson, portrayed by actor-historian Bill Barker

Tuesday, April 2, 2024
6:00-8:00 p.m.

The Standard Club
167 Rosa L Parks Boulevard, Nashville, Tennessee

About a "Feast of Reason"
Writing to her mother in 1818 from Richmond, Virginia, where she was attending the social season, Thomas Jefferson's granddaughter Ellen Randolph bemoaned the shallowness of that society, comparing it to the intellectual climate of Monticello, which she referred to as "the feast of reason." Wherever Jefferson hosted a meal, whether at Monticello or in Paris, Philadelphia, or Washington, guests were inspired by the conversations that took place at his table. Scholars at Monticello continue this tradition today through "Feast of Reason" dinners, where they engage guests in true Jeffersonian discourse.

Rather than a typical dinner party where there might be multiple conversations happening simultaneously at the table, a "Feast of Reason" relies on guests participating in one shared conversation. Discussion leaders are not there to lecture while others eat -- Jefferson sometimes said very little himself -- but instead draw guests into conversation.

"Behind the Glass" Tour of Andrew Jackson's Hermitage and Wine Tasting at Natchez Hills Winery
featuring Howard Kittell, President and CEO, and Pam Minor, Chief Curator and Vice President of Collections

Wednesday, April 3, 2024
1:30-4:30 p.m.

Andrew Jackson's Hermitage
4750 Rachel's Lane, Nashville, Tennessee

If you are interested in attending one or both events, please contact Abby Cable, Development Assistant, at acable@monticello.org or (434) 984-9850. Space is limited.

Garden Follies: How Failures Led to Greater Perfection, from Thomas Jefferson to Henry Mitchell

featuring Adrian Higgins, Former Garden Columnist, The Washington Post,
and Peter J. Hatch, Director Emeritus of Gardens and Grounds, Thomas Jefferson Foundation

Tuesday, March 26, 2024
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m. | Reception with hors d'oeuvres and refreshments
6:30 p.m. | Program

Montalto, overlooking Monticello
Parking is available at the David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center

Business Casual

Space is limited. The favor of your response is requested by March 8th. Please register online or RSVP to events@monticello.org | (434) 984-9821.

About Adrian Higgins

Adrian Higgins began his career in the mid-1970s as a reporter in England for East Midlands Allied Press and its flagship daily paper, The Evening Telegraph. Since the late 1980s, he has specialized in writing about gardening, landscape architecture, and related environmental areas. He joined The Washington Post in 1994. He previously worked for shelter magazines as an editor and contributor. He has authored three garden books and contributed to several more. Higgins has wide artistic interests and sees his work and life entwined in a continual journey of creative exploration and expression. In addition to his work as a writer and horticulturist, he is a classical pianist, and studied for more than 20 years in the studio of the noted Peruvian-American pianist Myriam Avalos Teie. He has studied abstract and figurative painting at the Art League of Alexandria; poetry and creative writing at the University of Oxford's department of continuing education; and architecture and decorative arts as an active member of the Victorian Society in America.

About Peter J. Hatch

Peter J. Hatch is a professional gardener and historian with 38 years' experience in the restoration, care, and interpretation of historic landscapes. A celebrated author of four books on the gardens of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, where he served as Director of Gardens and Grounds for 35 years, Hatch has lectured in 38 states on Jefferson and the history of garden plants. Presently, he gardens and botanizes from his home on Lickinghole Creek in Crozet, Virginia, travels extensively to promote his latest work, ‘A Rich Spot of Earth’: Thomas Jefferson’s Revolutionary Garden at Monticello, and consults on the installation and maintenance of both public gardens and private estate landscapes.

Revolutionary Women: A Symposium

As we celebrate Women's History Month and prepare for the upcoming 250th anniversary of American Independence in 2026, this symposium will provide engaging opportunities to explore the diverse ways that women have shaped American history and society. The symposium will highlight recent research and publications by prominent scholars featuring a variety of Revolutionary women. Panelists will share their research on the expansive roles, experiences, and aspirations of women who sought equality, freedoms, and opportunities for themselves during an Age of Revolutions. The audience will discover the wide-ranging ways women were active players and not merely passive spectators during this tumultuous era.

The conference is co-sponsored by Monticello's Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies and the University of Virginia press.

Friday, March 22, 2024

We are pleased to invite you to a special day at Monticello, including invitation-only programs at 10 a.m. & 11:30 a.m., followed by the public conference in the afternoon. Transportation will be provided between activities.

10 a.m.
"Revolutionary Women at Monticello," a new guided tour of Monticello
David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center & mountaintop

11:30 a.m.
Lunch, hosted by Monticello
Development Offices

1:00-5:00 p.m.
Revolutionary Women: A Symposium
Montalto, overlooking Monticello

If you are interested in attending, please contact events@monticello.org or (434) 984-9821. The conference is open to the public. Space for the full day program is currently full.

Event is postponed and currently being rescheduled for a later date!

Our Arts & Architecture in the World of Thomas Jefferson program series continues with a special tour of the Virginia State Capitol led by Calder Loth, Senior Architectural Historian, Virginia Department of Historic Resources, and Mark Greenough, Tour Supervisor and Historian, Virginia State Capitol. The program will include a conversation with Calder Loth on Jefferson's design for the building and partnership with French architect Charles-Louis Clérisseau.

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

1 p.m. | "Architecture of the Virginia State Capitol, " a presentation by Calder Loth
with snacks and refreshments

2:30 p.m. | Private Guided Tour of the Virginia State Capitol with Calder Loth and Mark Greenough

Richmond, Virginia

If you have any questions, please contact to acable@monticello.org or (434) 984-9850.

About Calder Loth

Calder Loth is the retired Senior Architectural Historian of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources where he still serves part-time. His publications include The Virginia Landmarks Register, Virginia Landmarks of Black History, Lost Virginia, as well as numerous articles relating to historic preservation and classical architecture. In 2008 Loth was the first recipient of the Secretary of the Interior’s Preservation Award for service to state preservation programs. In 2017 he received the Virginia AIA Honor Award for significant contributions to the understanding of Virginia’s built environment. He also serves on the Virginia Art and Architectural Review Board and on the University of Virginia Historic Preservation Advisory Committee. Loth is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Architecture.

Monticello in Philadelphia

Exploration of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society 2024 Philadelphia Flower Show with welcome by Matt Rader, President, PHS, and Seth Pearsoll, Creative Director and Vice President, Philadelphia Flower Show

Pennsylvania Convention Center
12th & Arch St. (West Entrance)

followed by

"Botany & Friendship" featuring Monticello's Thomas Jefferson, interpreted by actor-historian Bill Barker, and Peggy Cornett, Curator of Plants

The Philadelphia Club
1301 Walnut St.

Thursday, March 7, 2024
2:30 p.m. – Flower Show
5:30–7:30 p.m. – Program and Reception with hors d'oeuvres and refreshments

Hosted with Ken and Teresa Wood
Cabinet Co-Chairs 2024

Business casual

Space is limited. Please respond by February 22 to events@monticello.org | (434) 984-9821.

Learn about maps and cartography in the age of Jefferson with S. Max Edelson, Professor of American History at the University of Virginia, and Eliane Dotson, Old World Auctions. This program is part of our Arts & Architecture in the World of Thomas Jefferson program series.

Tuesday, February 27, 2024
4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Kenwood Parlor
1329 Kenwood Farm, Charlottesville, Virginia

Space is limited. Please RSVP to Abby Cable, Development Assistant, at acable@monticello.org or (434) 984-9850.

About S. Max Edelson

S. Max Edelson is a Professor of American History at the University of Virginia, Co-Director, UVA Early American Seminar, and Co-Director, MapScholar. Edelson studies the history of British America and the Atlantic world. His research examines space, place, and culture in colonial North America and the Caribbean. Edelson and Research Professor Bill Ferster were awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities Digital Implementation Grant in 2012 to develop MapScholar at UVa's SHANTI (Sciences, Humanities, and Arts Network of Technological Initiatives). MapScholar is a dynamic visualization tool for historic map collections. It offers a free, open-source portal that gives scholars the ability to bring together high-resolution map images from a variety of sources, analyze them in rich geospatial contexts, and use them to illustrate new interpretations in the history of cartography. Edelson received an American Council of Learned Societies Digital Innovation Fellowship in 2010 to begin this digital humanities research.

About Eliane Dotson and Old World Auctions

Old World Auctions (OWA) is owned and operated by Eliane and Jon Dotson of Richmond, Virginia. Old World Auctions specializes in genuine antique maps, atlases and decorative graphics originating between the 14th and early 20th centuries. The company began operations in 1978 and through the years has grown tremendously from a small mail auction to one of the largest specialist auctions in the United States. The Dotsons purchased the company from Curt and Marti Griggs in 2011 and have worked hard to build upon the excellent reputation built by the Griggs. Prior to running OWA, the Dotsons received their MBAs from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia and established careers in the corporate world in Fortune 500 companies. After realizing that the corporate world was not for them, they sought business opportunities that were more meaningful and rewarding. The Dotsons learned about OWA through Eliane's father, Duncan Payne, an avid map collector for over 50 years. Since taking over the business, Eliane and Jon have catalogued over 30,000 maps, books, globes, and prints. They love coming to work each day and learning something new.

President's Day Livestream with Dr. Jane Kamensky and Bill Barker

Join us on Wednesday, February 21st at 4:30 pm ET for a live Q&A with Monticello's new president Dr. Jane Kamensky and historic interpreter Bill Barker. Dr. Kamensky and Barker will discuss the opportunities and challenges of public history, connecting with guests on the mountain top, and Monticello's preparation for a generation milestone: the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. This virtual event is open to the public. Registration is not required.

We invite Cabinet and Summit participants to join us for a Cabinet Virtual Town Hall with Monticello's new president, Dr. Jane Kamensky. The meeting will be held via Zoom.

Thursday, February 1, 2024
7:30 – 8:30 p.m. EST

Zoom

To reserve your spot, please contact Abby Cable, Development Assistant, at acable@monticello.org | 434.984.9850.

The Zoom link will be provided shortly before the program. If you have any questions for Dr. Kamensky you would like to submit ahead of the program, please send them to acable@monticello.org.

We encourage our River City and Tidewater Cabinet and Summit participants to join us in Richmond to meet Monticello's new president Dr. Jane Kamensky and hear about her plans for Monticello's next chapter.

Wednesday, January 31, 2024
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

The Valentine Room of Lemaire Restaurant
The Jefferson Hotel
101 W Franklin Street, Richmond, Virginia

Space is limited. Please respond to Monticello Events at events@monticello.org | 434.984.9821.

Join us in welcoming President Dr. Jane Kamensky and learn about her vision for Monticello's future at our first Cabinet Cocktails event of 2024.

Wednesday, January 24, 2024
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Keswick Hall
701 Club Drive, Keswick, Virginia 22947

Business Casual

Space is limited. To reserve your spot, please contact Monticello Events by January 10 at events@monticello.org | 434.984.9821.

In appreciation of your Monticello Cabinet participation, we are happy to reserve complimentary tickets to Monticello for you throughout the year. We suggest that you reach out as early as possible to ensure best tour availability.

Helpful information to provide with your request includes:

Date(s) for your group's visit
Preferred tour time (morning, afternoon, or a specific time, subject to availability)
    We recommend reserving at least 2-3 hours for your visit to the mountaintop
     and the David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center
Number of people in your party
Any special interests or needs of the group

Make sure to save time to visit the Farm Table café, our Visitor Center galleries, and The Monticello Shop! Cabinet participants receive 20% off nearly all items in the Shop.

When you are ready to plan your visit, please contact Abby Cable, Development Assistant, at acable@monticello.org | (434) 984-7595.

Cabinet Cocktails with Dr. Jane Kamensky, President, Thomas Jefferson Foundation

The Jefferson Hotel, Richmond, VA | January 31, 2024

Fall Evening Conversation
October 20, 2022

The Poetic Justice, an Evening Conversation with The Honorable John Charles Thomas from Thomas Jefferson's Monticello on Vimeo.

Peter J. Hatch Spring Cabinet Evening Conversation
June 8, 2022

Monticello Cabinet Retreat Dinner Program
May 6, 2022