THE
MONTICELLO
ASSOCIATION

I. BACKGROUND

A. History of the Graveyard

Dabney Carr, Thomas Jefferson’s longtime friend and later brother-in-law who died in 1773, was the first person buried in the Monticello graveyard. Fifty-three years later, in 1826, Thomas Jefferson himself became the 13^th person to be buried there.

Although in his will Thomas Jefferson left Monticello to his daughter, Martha, the burden of his debts was so great that the estate had to be sold. In 1833, Martha Jefferson Randolph and her son Thomas Jefferson Randolph conveyed Monticello, then containing 522 acres, to James T. Barclay. The deed stated explicitly that "the parties reserve to themselves the family graveyard with free access to the same."

When Martha died in 1836, Thomas Jefferson Randolph inherited the graveyard. In the same year, James Barclay sold Monticello (now reduced to 218 acres) to Uriah Levy. At his death in 1862, Uriah Levy sought by his will to leave Monticello to the United States or to the State of Virginia, but neither government would accept the terms of the bequest. Levy’s will was attacked by his heirs and was subject to litigation for the next 20 years.

When Thomas Jefferson Randolph died in 1875, he made no specific mention of the graveyard in his will, and by law the graveyard then became the undivided property of his heirs. The Albemarle County Land Books of 1876-1879 list the Monticello graveyard as the property of the "Thomas Jefferson Randolph estate," although it appears that his heirs did not or could not properly care for the graveyard.

Public outcry soon demanded that the federal government give attention to the graveyard, which had fallen into a state of great disrepair. In particular, Thomas Jefferson’s tombstone and those around it had been damaged and defaced by souvenir hunters. In 1878, Congress proposed a resolution to appropriate money for a monument to Jefferson in the Monticello graveyard "on condition that the owners of the graveyard should quit claim to the United States Government the grave and a lot two rods square containing it." The family of Thomas Jefferson Randolph considered this proposal, but the transfer was never made due to the legal difficulties and potential delays involved in conveying the property of minors.

In 1882, the United States Congress appropriated $10,000 for a monument to be erected over Thomas Jefferson’s grave. This monument was more than twice the size specified by Jefferson in his will and covered his gravesite as well as those of several family members. Transfer of the graveyard title to the United States Government was no longer pursued.

The estate of Monticello was sold at auction to Jefferson Monroe Levy (Uriah Levy’s nephew) in 1879. In 1923, Levy sold Monticello to the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation, which sought to preserve Monticello as a national shrine.

Just before the 1923 transaction, Jefferson M. Levy conveyed to Thomas Jefferson Randolph IV and Hollins Nicholas Randolph (as trustees) an additional lot, containing approximately ½ acre, adjacent to the original graveyard parcel, "for burial purposes only for the descendants of Thomas Jefferson."

Today, the Monticello graveyard consists of two parts: the original parcel (Parcel E shown on the plat in Appendix 2) is still owned by the descendants of Thomas Jefferson Randolph, and the Levy addition (Parcels C, D, and B) is owned by The Monticello Association. The current fence encloses Parcels E, C, and D, while Parcel B remains outside the fence.

In the 139 years between Dabney Carr’s burial in 1773 and the creation of the Monticello Graveyard Association in 1913 (see next section), 61 burials were recorded in the graveyard. Of those burials, 33 were descendants of Thomas Jefferson and 28 were not. Most of the non-descendants were spouses of descendants, but there were also several cousins, some of their in-laws and relatives, and four persons who were not related to Thomas Jefferson. For a more detailed accounting of persons buried in the graveyard, please see Appendix 4.

Since the formation of The Monticello Association in 1913, there have been an additional 137 burials in the Monticello graveyard (83 descendants and 54 non-descendants), bringing the total number of burials to 198, as of January 2000. Two persons buried since 1913 are neither a descendant nor a spouse of a descendant (for details, please see Appendix 4).

B. History of The Monticello Association

During the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, the Randolph-Eppes descendants of Thomas Jefferson who lived in the Charlottesville vicinity continued to be caretakers of the Monticello graveyard, but they eventually found the task overwhelming. In 1912 and 1913 they solicited other family members for help. On April 14, 1913, a group of thirteen descendants met in Charlottesville for the first meeting of the "Monticello Graveyard Association." Officers were elected and a constitution and by-laws adopted (see Appendix 1).

The Monticello Association’s constitution states that "[a]ny lineal descendant of Thomas Jefferson who applies for membership, and annually pays dues … shall be a Regular Member of the Association …." It also states that the "property rights of the lineal descendants of Colonel Thomas Jefferson Randolph as owners of the original Monticello graveyard are affirmed and shall be defended by the Association; and no proposition looking to the transfer of ownership from said descendants shall be initiated or supported by the Association until it shall have received the approval in writing of two thirds of the adult descendants of said Colonel Thomas Jefferson Randolph having proprietary interest in the graveyard" (referring to the original 1/5th of an acre shown as Parcel E in Appendix 2).

The Association’s Purpose, as listed in Article II of its constitution, in somewhat abbreviated form, is:

1. (first) to preserve and care for the graves and grounds of the Monticello graveyard,
   (second) to protect and perpetuate the reputation and fame of Thomas Jefferson, and
   (third) to encourage friendship among the descendants of Thomas Jefferson;

(B) To defend the property rights of the lineal descendants of Colonel T. J. Randolph as owners of the original graveyard (Parcel E in Appendix 2), and

(C) To affirm the rights of the descendants of Thomas Jefferson to burial in the addition to the Monticello graveyard as provided in the covenant under which this property was deeded (in 1923).

Article IV (E) notes that "the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and the immediately preceding Past-President, shall constitute the Executive Committee of the Association, which shall transact the business of the Association in accordance with its Constitution and By-Laws, and as may be directed by vote of the Association."

Regarding changes to the constitution, Article VI (A) states that "[a]mendments to the Constitution shall require the affirmative vote in writing of a majority of the voting members of the Association. Such amendment shall become effective three months after the affirmative vote of such majority, which shall be announced by the President."

In 1926, the Association’s constitution was amended to provide two new non-voting classes of membership. Following the requirement for a constitutional change, a mail vote ensued, the amendment passed, and the following new membership classes were added to Article III:

"Honorary Members: Persons in an official position who in that position have assisted the Association and shown interest in furthering its aims, may upon nomination by the Executive Committee of the Association, be elected Honorary Members by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the members present at any duly called meeting at which a quorum is present. [The President of the University of Virginia and the Director of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation have traditionally been Honorary Members.]

Associate Members: Adopted children, stepchildren, and spouses of regular members, including widows and widowers of regular members, who assist the Association and show interest in furthering its aims, as evidenced by making contributions to the Association, or by attending its meetings, or by corresponding with the Secretary of the Association, may be elected Associate Members by an affirmative vote of a majority of the members present at any duly called meeting at which a quorum is present."

The Association’s by-laws contain sections regarding dues, the order of business at meetings, termination or suspension of membership, and standing committees. They may be found in their entirety in Appendix 1 of this report.

Although most changes to the Association’s constitution since its adoption in 1913 followed the constitution’s provision for amendment, at least one example exists where the Association failed to follow the specified amendment procedure. In 1922, the name of the Association was changed from the "Monticello Graveyard Association" to "The Monticello Association." The name change was made on a motion and unanimously carried, although it was noted at the 1924 meeting that the motion process for the name change "was not in accordance with the constitution." A mail vote should have been taken, but since the change had gone unchallenged and was established by use, no further action was taken.

One of the major points of concern in the early years of the Association was that future burials should not encroach upon the open area around the Jefferson monument. This was expressed in a resolution adopted in 1922 that "the Northern half of the graveyard . . . shall not be used for future burials." The line beyond which there are to be no new burials runs from the upward edge of the large ceremonial gate across the graveyard to the downhill side fence.

At its annual meeting in 1952, the Association passed a resolution (by vote of those present) stating that spouses of lineal descendants are entitled to interment in the Monticello graveyard. This action formalized a practice that had been followed since the formation of the graveyard.

It is important to recognize that membership in The Monticello Association is not a prerequisite for burial in the Monticello graveyard. The current criteria for membership in the Association are set forth in its constitution. There has been at least one example of the burial of a descendant of Thomas Jefferson who was not a member of The Monticello Association.

C. Current Membership Application Process

The current application process for membership in The Monticello Association is relatively simple. Requests for membership are addressed to the Association Secretary and are usually accompanied by genealogical information. The Secretary then mails a membership application and dues information to the applicant.

The completed application form is returned to the Secretary, who checks the name against the genealogy published in the Collected Papers of The Monticello Association, Volume 2 (published in 1984) and/or the Secretary’s records of additions to that genealogy. If the applicant is related to a descendant of Thomas Jefferson listed in this genealogy, a family identification number is assigned and recorded on the application form. New members are recorded in the Secretary’s files. The completed application form with any dues payment is then sent to the Treasurer. If there is any doubt as to the descent of an applicant, the Secretary consults with the Association Historian, and together they make a decision based upon the available information. The applicant is then notified in writing of this decision.

Although the Association’s by-laws provide for a Membership Committee, this committee is not currently active. According the by-laws, the purpose of the Membership Committee is "to interest eligible persons in the Association and to encourage them to enroll as members.…" and to "make nominations at the annual meetings for election of associate members…." It is important to note that under the Association’s current by-laws the Membership Committee does not act upon membership applications.

II. RECOMMENDATION ON GRAVEYARD TRUSTEES

Under Virginia law, trustees must be appointed to complete any legal transaction pertaining to a graveyard. Trustees are appointed by the circuit court of the county where the graveyard is located. The Monticello graveyard is located in Albemarle County, Virginia. Trustees have never been appointed for the original portion of the Monticello graveyard that is still owned by the descendants of Thomas Jefferson Randolph. In 1979, trustees were appointed by the Circuit Court of Albemarle County, Virginia, for the Levy addition to the Monticello graveyard. Two of those trustees have since died and three desire to resign. Although the Monticello graveyard contains two sections with different sources of title, it has historically been managed by The Monticello Association as one graveyard. The MAC recommends that new trustees be appointed for the entire Monticello graveyard. The section below gives a brief history of the chain of title and deed restrictions on the two sections of the graveyard. The MAC recommends that The Monticello Association adopt a resolution to petition the Circuit Court of Albemarle County, Virginia, for the appointment of trustees for the entire Monticello graveyard.

Background: Chain of Title and Deeds

The current Monticello graveyard contains 0.692 acres and is the aggregate of Parcels B, C, D and E as shown on the plat of survey by Kurt M. Gloeckner, C.L.S. dated January 27, 1975, revised June 12, 1975, attached hereto as Appendix 2.

The original graveyard was reserved by Thomas Jefferson Randolph and Martha Jefferson Randolph when Monticello was conveyed to James T. Barclay by deed dated November 1, 1833 and recorded in the Clerk’s Office of the Circuit Court of Albemarle County, Virginia, in Deed Book 31, page 170. This original graveyard contains 0.185 acres and is shown as Parcel E on the Gloeckner survey.

The graveyard was enlarged when Jefferson M. Levy conveyed to Thomas Jefferson Randolph IV and Hollins Nicholas Randolph (as trustees) "a lot to contain one half ... acre of land lying next to and contiguous to the present burial ground to the eastward thereof ... for burial purposes only for the descendants of Thomas Jefferson." This conveyance was made by deed dated June 30, 1923, recorded in the Clerk’s Office of the Circuit Court of Albemarle County, Virginia, in Deed Book 185, page 199, and was contemporaneous with the conveyance of Monticello by Mr. Levy to the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation. The Levy addition to the graveyard contained 0.507 acre and is shown as Parcels A, D, and C on the Gloeckner survey.

In 1979, The Monticello Association conveyed a portion of the Levy addition, containing 0.287 acre, to the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation in exchange for a parcel of equal size. This exchange was made by deed dated November 16, 1979, recorded in the Clerk’s Office of the Circuit Court of Albemarle County, Virginia, in Deed Book 687, page 787, and is shown on the Gloeckner survey as being Parcel A, which was conveyed to the Foundation, and Parcel B, which was conveyed to the Association.

In order to make this exchange with the Foundation, six trustees of the Levy addition to the graveyard were appointed by order of the Circuit Court of Albemarle County, Virginia, dated April 11, 1979. (This action of appointing trustees did not affect the original portion of the graveyard, which remained without trustees.) The trustees appointed in 1979 were V.R. Shackelford, Jr., Frank S. Walker, Jr., John Byrd Taylor, William Mann Randolph, III, William Leigh Taylor, Sr., and Jane W. Rotch. John Byrd Taylor and William Leigh Taylor, Sr. are now deceased. V.R. Shackelford, Jr., Frank S. Walker, Jr. and Jane W. Rotch desire to resign as trustees.

The MAC recommends that current trustees be appointed pursuant to Virginia law for the entire graveyard containing 0.692 acres and being the aggregate of the original graveyard (Parcel E, 0.185 acre) and the Levy addition as adjusted by the exchange with the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation (Parcel B, 0.287 acre; Parcel C, 0.085 acre; and Parcel D, 0.135 acre). The MAC recommends that V.R. Shackelford, III, Susan S. Walker, Robert M. Gillespie, William Mann Randolph III, Nancy Morgan and Jane R. Boissevain be appointed to serve as such trustees. V.R. Shackelford, III is the son of V.R. Shackelford, Jr.; Susan S. Walker is the daughter of Frank S. Walker, Jr.; and Jane R. Boissevain is the daughter of Jane W. Rotch. V.R. Shackelford, III, Susan S. Walker, Robert M. Gillespie, and William Mann Randolph III are descendants of Thomas Jefferson Randolph.

The process for appointment of current trustees for the Monticello graveyard begins with the adoption of a resolution by The Monticello Association. This resolution will then be attached to a petition seeking entry of a court order by the Judge of the Circuit Court of Albemarle County, Virginia, to appoint such trustees.

The MAC recommends that The Monticello Association adopt the following resolution at the May 2000 Annual Meeting:

RESOLUTION

IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that The Monticello Association petition the Circuit Court of Albemarle County, Virginia, pursuant to Virginia Code Section 57-8 and 57-23 (1950, as amended) for the appointment of trustees for the Monticello graveyard, containing 0.692 acres, and being the aggregate of Parcels B, C, D and E as shown on the attached plat of survey by Kurt M. Gloeckner, C.L.S., dated January 27, 1975, revised June 12, 1975; and

IT IS FURTHER RESOLVED that V. R. Shackelford, III, Susan S. Walker, Robert M. Gillespie, William M. Randolph III, Nancy Morgan, and Jane R. Boissevain be appointed as said trustees.

[Note - this motion was passed at the Annual Meeting, May 7, 2000]

III. THOMAS JEFFERSON AND SALLY HEMINGS: WHERE WE ARE AND NEXT STEPS

The MAC is considering the following questions pertaining to its task:

1. What evidence of descent is required for membership in The Monticello Association?
2. What evidence of descent is required for burial in the Monticello graveyard?
3. Who has the authority to determine the criteria for membership in The Monticello Association?
4. Who has the authority to determine the criteria for burial in the Monticello graveyard?
5. What is the procedure to act upon applications for membership in The Monticello Association?
6. What is the procedure to act upon requests for burial in the Monticello graveyard?
7. Should the existing organizational documents (constitution and/or by-laws) of The Monticello Association be amended?
8. Should The Monticello Association initiate a legal action to obtain a court interpretation of the applicable deed restrictions for the Monticello graveyard?

Background

To address these questions, the MAC has sought access to the most recent information and analysis of the Jefferson-Hemings controversy. Just after the November 1998 publication of Dr. Eugene Foster’s DNA study in the journal Nature, Dr. Daniel Jordan, president of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation (TJMF), appointed a Research Committee charged "to gather and assess critically all relevant evidence about the relationship between Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings…." The MAC believed that the Foundation’s findings would be essential to its efforts and understood that the Foundation’s report would be available in the fall of 1999. As it turned out, the report was not released until January 26, 2000.

The MAC also felt that legal advice was essential. Before last spring’s annual meeting of The Monticello Association, then President Robert M. Gillespie sought legal opinion in anticipation that one or more of the descendants of Sally Hemings might seek membership in the Association and the right to burial in the Monticello graveyard. Professor Denis J. Brion of the Washington and Lee University Law School was asked to study the deed restrictions of the Monticello graveyard with respect to the descendants of any child of Sally Hemings that might have been fathered by Thomas Jefferson. He was asked whether it is mandatory or permissive that such descendants be considered Jefferson descendants or whether it is mandatory that such descendants not be considered descendants of Jefferson. The emphasis in these original questions was on the deed restrictions governing burial in the graveyard and not on membership in the Association. These initial questions also assumed that it was established that Thomas Jefferson was the father of Sally Hemings’ children.

Professor Brion made a preliminary analysis of these issues. He concluded that the restriction imposed on the Levy addition to the Monticello graveyard was a restrictive covenant, and that the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation had the right to enforce such covenant by injunction. He also raised the issue of whether the covenant could be enforced at all, in view of the fact that many persons other than descendants of Thomas Jefferson have been buried in the Monticello graveyard. His conclusion was that a court would probably determine that the term "descendant" is confined to Thomas Jefferson’s two daughters (Martha and Maria) and their descendants, unless a court ruled that the Randolph-Eppes descendants had waived the restrictive covenant by burial of non-descendants (mostly spouses) in the Monticello graveyard.

Although Professor Brion’s report was helpful, the MAC realized that there were prior questions to consider. We still needed to define criteria to be used as evidence of descent both for membership in the Association and for burial in the Monticello graveyard. Although a descendant does not have to be a member of the Association to qualify for burial rights, it is nevertheless usual for qualified persons to seek membership in the Association as well as burial rights.

In order to determine whether descendants of the children of Sally Hemings are also descendants of Thomas Jefferson, it is necessary to establish paternity by Thomas Jefferson of the children of Sally Hemings. Proof of paternity usually requires some acknowledgment by the father, or a birth certificate (which was not available for slaves), or other documentary proof. In the absence of documentary proof, there is a statutory procedure for establishing paternity, used primarily for child support cases and for wills and estates. In order to prove paternity, there must be "clear and convincing evidence," which may be difficult to provide in the absence of documentary evidence.

Authority for defining evidence of descent

Several of the descendants of Sally Hemings have applied for membership in The Monticello Association and seek the right to burial in the Monticello graveyard. In responding to these applications, questions have arisen about the authority of the Executive Committee. Does the Executive Committee have the authority to make a decision on whether there is descent from Thomas Jefferson using any criterion other than a traditional interpretation of the term "lineal descendant" in Article III (A) of the Association constitution (i.e., Randolph-Eppes descendants only)? Or, if a change in the criteria for regular membership were proposed, would it require a written vote of the membership (and a majority vote of all Regular Members to pass) as stipulated by Article VI (A) of the constitution? In the event that a new definition of descendant were approved by the membership, would that definition apply to the word descendant as used in the restrictive covenant governing the right to burial in the Levy addition of the Monticello graveyard?

As noted above, Professor Brion undertook his original analysis of the legal issues confronting the Association on the assumption that Thomas Jefferson was the father of one or more Hemings descendants. In early 2000, the MAC posed additional questions to Professor Brion with regard to membership rights in the Association as well as burial rights in the Monticello graveyard. With these additional questions, the MAC sought a legal analysis of the powers of the Association and its Executive Committee. The additional questions were:

1. Who is a descendant of Thomas Jefferson and how is that fact determined?

2a. Under current law as applied to the existing constitution of The Monticello Association, is it mandatory that descendants of illegitimate children of Thomas Jefferson be admitted as members, or is it permissible that such persons be admitted as members, or is it mandatory that such persons not be admitted as members?

2b. If it is permissible for the Association under current law as applied to the existing constitution to admit descendants of illegitimate children of Thomas Jefferson as members, how does the Association exercise such authority?

2c. Under current law as applied to the applicable deed restrictions, is it mandatory that descendants of illegitimate children of Thomas Jefferson be given the right to burial in the Monticello graveyard, or is it permissible that such persons be given such burial right, or is it mandatory that such persons not be given such burial right?

2d. If it is permissible that descendants of illegitimate children of Thomas Jefferson be given the right to burial in the Monticello graveyard under current law as applied to the applicable deed restrictions, can the Association grant such burial right?

Professor Brion has agreed to examine these questions, but his response has not been received in time to be incorporated into this Interim Report. No predisposition with respect to a possible recommendation by the MAC should be read into these questions.

Relevant issues

In its deliberations, the MAC has considered many interpretations of the alleged relationship between Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings. In many instances, there are widely differing views drawn from the same historical evidence. Some of the relevant points raised are listed below. More details on all these issues can be found in the resources listed in Section 4.

1. Dr. Eugene Foster’s DNA test results published in November 1998 provided information on the descendents of two children of Sally Hemings alleged to have been fathered by Thomas Jefferson.
   
   A. One of these children was Thomas Woodson, allegedly the first child of Sally Hemings, born in 1790 soon after she returned from France with Thomas Jefferson and his daughters. In the DNA study, five descendants of Thomas Woodson were tested. Four of these showed a shared ancestry. The fifth showed "illegitimacy in the line," and was properly disregarded. The DNA of the Woodson descendants tested did not match that of the Jefferson descendants. The result of an additional DNA test on another branch of the Woodson family, released in March 2000, also did not show a match with Jefferson DNA.
   
   Some argue that there is insufficient historical evidence to show that Sally Hemings was Thomas Woodson’s mother. Thomas Woodson does not appear in Jefferson’s Farm Book, while Sally Hemings’ other children do. When Madison Hemings listed the children of Sally Hemings in his autobiographical statement of 1873, he did not include Thomas Woodson. On the other hand, each branch of the Woodson family has passed down through the generations significant oral history stating that Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings were Thomas Woodson’s parents. Woodson family oral history has been considered by some to be the most authoritative of all the branches of Hemings descendants.
   
   B. The second line of Hemings descendants tested by Dr. Foster was that of Eston Hemings, Sally’s youngest son, born in 1808. Here the DNA did match the Jefferson pattern, leading to the conclusion that Eston was most likely fathered by a Jefferson, but the test itself cannot provide evidence as to which Jefferson that might have been. According to the TJMF report, the oral tradition in Eston’s family held that they were descended from an uncle, cousin, or nephew of Thomas Jefferson.
   
   C. Randolph family history has suggested that one or both of Thomas Jefferson’s nephews, Samuel and Peter Carr, fathered one or more of Sally Hemings’ children. In the 1998 tests, DNA from descendants of John Carr (grandfather of Samuel and Peter Carr) was compared to that of Eston Hemings’ descendants. There was no match, thus refuting the claim that a Carr was the father of Eston Hemings.
   
   D. Since no male-line descendants of Sally’s other three children, Beverly, Harriet, and Madison, have been identified to date, no DNA testing has been possible on their lines.
   
2. Thomas Jefferson was born into a society where the institution of slavery was legal. His family owned slaves, as did his wife’s family, and Jefferson remained a slave-owner until his death.
   
3. The institution of slavery, and the legal system defining it, deprived slaves and children of slaves of public records of their births, marriages, and deaths. Documentary evidence of lineal descent may therefore never be available for descendants of slaves.
   
4. Sally Hemings’ children, Beverly, Harriet, Madison, and Eston, were the only set of siblings to have been freed or permitted to run away from Monticello. Beverly and Harriet left Monticello in 1822 and were not pursued. (According to his overseer, Jefferson provided funds for Harriet’s fare to Philadelphia). Madison and Eston were freed at Jefferson’s death. Thomas Jefferson freed very few other slaves. Some of the others freed were also relatives of Sally Hemings, but others of her relatives remained slaves and were later sold at auction. Sally herself appears to have been freed by Jefferson’s daughter Martha after Thomas Jefferson’s death. She lived with her sons Madison and Eston in Charlottesville until her death.
   
5. Some historical events can be interpreted as evidence of a long and intimate relationship between Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, but there is no legal proof of that relationship, and there is no reason to believe that additional proof exists.
   
6. There is evidence that Thomas Jefferson was at Monticello for the necessary period of conception before the birth of each of Sally Hemings’ children and therefore could have been their father. (This list excludes Thomas Woodson, who does not appear in Jefferson’s Farm Book records). Some people argue that Randolph Jefferson (Thomas’ brother), one of his sons, or another Jefferson relative, was the father of Eston Hemings and perhaps of one or more of his siblings. There is little evidence of the whereabouts of any of the other Jeffersons during the periods of conception of Sally Hemings’ children. Some have argued, however, that other members of the Jefferson family were more likely to visit Monticello when Jefferson was in residence than when he was not, and therefore that others could also have been present during the periods of conception of Sally Hemings’ children. With the exception of an invitation to Jefferson’s brother Randolph near the time of Eston’s conception, there is little evidence specifically pointing to another male Jefferson’s presence at Monticello during the conception periods. In the case of Randolph, there is no evidence as to whether or not he accepted that invitation. The TJMF report notes that other correspondence suggests that Randolph did not always come to Monticello when invited, and that recorded visits tended to be on his own initiative, rather than at Thomas’ invitation.
   
7. Several eminent historians, including Dumas Malone, have examined the available facts and concluded that Thomas Jefferson was not the father of any of the Hemings children and did not have a significant relationship with Sally Hemings. On the other hand, the analysis of these historians has been challenged by Professor Annette Gordon-Reed’s study of the controversy. Professor Gordon-Reed’s study argued that these historians had overlooked black sources that contradicted their theses. Her analysis of primary and secondary sources points to the likelihood that Thomas Jefferson was the father of Sally Hemings’ children Beverly, Harriet, Madison, and Eston.
   
8. The only documentary reference by Thomas Jefferson to a relationship outside of marriage was in the cover to a letter written to the Secretary of the Navy while Thomas Jefferson was President. Many commentators believe that this letter was part of a negotiated settlement of Jefferson’s admitted approach to the wife of John Walker when Jefferson was a young man. The letter itself has been lost or destroyed. Jefferson’s statement has been interpreted by some historians to include a denial of a relationship with Sally Hemings. Others believe that this denial did not necessarily mean to include the alleged relationship with Sally Hemings. The statement was as follows "You will perceive that I plead guilty to one of their charges, that when young and single I offered love to a handsome lady. I acknowledge its incorrectness. It is the only one founded in truth among all their allegations against me."
   
9. The 1833 deed that reserved the original Monticello graveyard described it as a "family graveyard." Of the 198 persons buried in the original portion and the Levy addition of the Monticello graveyard since 1773, 82 are not descendants of Thomas Jefferson. Most of these are spouses of descendants, but the list also includes an assortment of other cousins, neighbors, and persons unrelated by blood to Thomas Jefferson. (See Appendix 4 for more information.)
   
10. One of the purposes of the Association, as stated in its constitution, is "to endeavor in every practicable way to protect and perpetuate the reputation and fame of Thomas Jefferson." Some believe that the relationship with Sally Hemings, if true, makes Thomas Jefferson a more human person and acknowledges the innate contradictions of the slavery system. Others argue that Jefferson denied the charges of a relationship with Sally Hemings and that any affirmation of that relationship is tantamount to calling Jefferson a liar and a hypocrite.

Forming a recommendation

In the months since its appointment, the MAC has assembled large quantities of information dealing with the Jefferson-Hemings issue. It has examined the report of the TJMF Research Committee, its Minority Report, and its response to the Minority Report. It has considered the views of a wide range of individuals, both within the family and outside it, read newspaper stories, magazine articles, and books, and reviewed historical records of The Monticello Association.

When the MAC has received the report on legal issues from Professor Brion (described earlier in this section), it will proceed with its primary task of formulating a recommendation for the Executive Committee. While the experience of this past year has taught the MAC not to anticipate how long it will take to finalize such a recommendation, it earnestly intends to complete and publish a final report in time for consideration at the Annual Meeting in May 2001. In the meantime, we welcome comments from Monticello Association members, Hemings descendants, and interested others. Comments may be sent to the committee chair at the address noted in the Introduction to this report.

The MAC has a formidable, maybe impossible, task, but it is determined to use its best judgment in completing its work. The committee recognizes that its recommendations may not satisfy the expectations of all persons. Despite the controversy involved in its mission, the committee will seek to incorporate in its final report an appreciation of Thomas Jefferson and his significant role in our nation’s development, both past and future.

IV. ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION

Several websites contain considerable further information and links to other sources on Thomas Jefferson, Sally Hemings, and the Monticello Association. These include the websites of The Monticello Association (www.monticello-assoc.org), the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation (www.monticello.org), and the Public Broadcasting Service (www.pbs.org), which aired a Frontline program entitled Jefferson’s Blood, May 2, 2000. Some details are given below. The MAC welcomes suggestions of other resources, which should be sent to the committee’s chairman at the address provided in the Introduction of this report.

INFORMATION ON THE MONTICELLO ASSOCIATION

Website