MINUTES
OF THE ANNUAL MEETING The serene beauty of the Monticello graveyard seems to
draw very close together all who gather there each year. The stately fence, the old trees,
familiar names on the stones-these things surround uS as we greet family and friends.
Beautiful weather once more made the morning one to be remembered happily. Whichever young
people were willing to be called "children" put flowers on Mr. Jefferson's
grave. Colonel Randolph welcomed everyone and then led us in saying the Lord's Prayer.
Then he read several family prayers from the 1928 edition of The Book of Common Prayer.
Among these was: "Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to thy
never-failing care and love, for this life and the life to come; knowing that thou art
doing for them better things than we can desire or pray for; and beseeching thee to
continue thy protection to them through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." The following
names were then read: Martha Jefferson Kean Chason; Edmund Jefferson Coolidge; Philip
Coolidge; Mary Louise Hill Coolidge; Charles Brown Eddy, Jr .; Gertrude Blackbum Fowler;
Emily Carr Bell Man; Mary Cheney Crocker Newbold; Francis Meriwether Randolph; Richard
Alexander Shine; Wayne Horton Snowden; Margaret Lamb Taylor. These are descendants of
Thomas Jefferson, or Associate or former Associate members of the Monticello Association,
who have, during the past year, been reported as having died. (Of the eight descendants,
three were Regular members. Four were Associate or former Associate members. Four of the
twelve are buried at Monticello.) Time for silent prayer was followed by the reading of
two more prayers. We were then dismissed to reassemble at the Keswick Hunt Club for lunch
and the Annual Meeting.
OF
THE MONTICELLO ASSOCIATION
May 6, 1979
While we were finishing lunch, the meeting was called to order by the President.
Bill first thanked Anne Barnes and Ena Whitmore and their helpers for all the thought and labor that went into preparations for the reception on Saturday at Monticello and for lunch today. Enthusiastic applause underscored his thanks. Association members were then asked to introduce their guests. The descendants of John Warner Bankhead (see Annual Report, 1978, pages 29 to 34) from Missouri were recognized as having come the most miles. A wife and a guest brought the number of this contingent to seven.
The President asked that unless there were corrections to the minutes of the 1978 Annual Meeting (as published in the last Annual Report) the reading of those minutes be omitted. It was so moved, seconded, and passed.
The Secretary gave a preliminary tabulation of members. The count as of June 15, 1979, follows:
| Regular (Dues-paying) (Adult = 388; Junior = 198) |
586 |
| Associate | 167 |
| Honorary | 5 |
Total |
758 |
Changes in numbers since June 18, 1978, among the several classes of members, are here tabulated as of June 15, 1979 :
| Member Class |
New or Promoted or Reinstated |
Promoted | Lost
Dropped |
Died | Net Change |
| Regular - Adult | 21 | - | 11 | 3 | +7 |
| Regular - Junior | 20 | 11 | 4 | 0 | +5 |
| Associate | 16 | - | 1 | 2 | +13 |
| Honorary | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total |
57 | 11 | 16 | 5 | 25 |
Of these, five adult, 20 junior, and 16 associate members have not belonged previously to the Association. There were II promotions from junior to adult members. Of the new Associates (see page 12) 12 are spouses and three are step~hi1dren. Among the deaths, three were Regular and two were Associate members. Of those tabulated as "Lost," one resigned and 14 had not paid dues since 1975. A complete list of members with their addresses was published last year. Additions, deletions, and changes appear on pages 35 through 39 of this report. The Association extends a warm welcome to all new and reinstated members and regrets all those it has lost.
The Treasurer, Bob McMurdo, read the complete report for the fiscal year January 1 through December 31, 1978. His report, together with the report of the Trustee, who was not present, appears on pages 17 and 18 of this report. The Treasurer further reported that the response to his 1979 bills, which went out in January , has been very good. The President asked that the Treasurer's Report be accepted with thanks. It was so ordered.
Bob Coolidge said that he had no formal report, but that he has been busy assembling and recording information for the updating of the genealogical portion of the proposed Volume II of Collected Papers. ...He is also compiling a list which he calls "single life-span links with Jefferson." By this he means a living descendant who could have known an ancestor who was born before Jefferson died. As of May, 1979, this list totaled seven. If anyone knows of an additional such link, please let Bob know. Also, please send him any corrections to the Collected Papers... or the Annual Reports that have not been noted already in the Annual Reports' lists of "Corrections. ..."
Jane Rotch presented her report as follows: " All is well with the graveyard. Last summer we had a most successful fence-painting party with family members coming from as far away as Missouri, Pennsylvania, and New York to scrape and paint parts of the fence. Unfortunately, heavy rains on the second day prevented our doing more than the back section, one gate, and parts of two sides, but what was done was well done. This August we plan a smaller painting party to work on a 30-foot section of fence. Moncure Taylor is going to help us experiment with the latest spray-painting and rotary-scraping equipment.
"A windstorm last summer and ice storms this winter have caused us to prune the trees twice. They are now in good shape.
"Since the last Annual Meeting there have been four burials in the graveyard: Margaret Lamb Taylor (Mrs. Raleigh C.) in B-16, Francis Meriwether Randolph in B-26, Gertrude Blackburn Fowler in G-IO, and Martha Kean Chason in D-3. Four stones have been placed during the year on four earlier grave sites.
"The stabilization of the fence which I referred to last year was completed during last summer .
"I am most grateful to Ena Whitmore who stands in as Acting Custodian whenever I have to go away. Frank Walker also served in that capacity for a few weeks last summer, most helpfully. I would like all the family to know that whenever I am out of town for any length of time I always notify the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation (which looks after Monticello) of the name and address of whatever person is Acting Custodian. So, if you cannot reach me after a couple of tries, please phone the office at Monticello. Someone there should be able to give you the name of my substitute.
"The aberrations of tourists who take it into their heads to toss money onto Mr. Jefferson's grave continue. During two weeks this spring $4.49 accumulated between my visits to the graveyard -one of the more comical aspects of the Custodian's job is the task of collecting pennies on hands and knees while watched by a crowd of tourists craning through the gate. The happiest aspect of my job is the chance to be up on the Mountain in all seasons."
After Jane's description of collecting coins from around Mr. J's monument, the suggestion was made from the floor that she always leave a quarter to "sweeten the pot."
Chairman Carey Bankhead read the list of persons nominated for Associate Membership. The motion was made, seconded, and passed that those persons be elected as Associate Members. Each name is followed by the sponsor (the spouse unless otherwise indicated):
David Samelson Druker -(Kristen Audell Howard Druker)
Carol Reaves Eppes -(John Kenda11 Eppes, Jr.)
Margrete Rose Andresen Gadeberg -(Ross Emerson Gadeberg)
Charlotte Taylor Shackelford Hotchkiss -(Cary Randolph Hotchkiss, II)
Janice Kay Perry Loving -(William Bernard Loving, Jr.)
Cynthia Kay Hulen Loving -(William Bernard Loving, III)
Burton Francis Miller -(Margaret Page Sumner Miller)
David Martin Osborn -(Jeannine Bankhead Hall Osborn)
Gayle Lynn Griffin
Gregory Miller Griffin -(step-children of William Lord Rivers)
Gary Howard Griffin
Kenneth Harris Shore -(Nancy Kotz Shore)
Pamela Wetten Hughes Spence -(Alan Keith Spence)
Steven G. Stockwell -(Sharon Jo Ann Howard Stockwell)
James Lawrence Basil Williams -(Griselda Higginson Williams)
Kenneth Shore and Lawrence Williams were present. They were asked to stand while applause welcomed them and the absent new Associates.
COLLECTED PAPERS. .., VOL. II, REPORT
At the 1977 Annual Meeting, the President, following the directive of the Executive Committee, asked George Green Shackelford to investigate the pros and cons of republishing the Collected Papers of the Monticello Association, 1965 versus publishing a second volume that would contain new biographical material and an updated and corrected genealogical section. The action of the Executive Committee on May 6, 1978, based on George's report of that date, is recorded in Annual Report, 1978, page 15, along with the committee to be responsible for publication details and some details of the Editor's plans for Volume II. Today, Mr. Shackelford's progress report (as Editor) included the request that anyone having biographical material that would contribute to the essays on any of the great-grandchildren (see list, page 16, A.R. 1978) write to him, c/o Department of History , V PI, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, if the material concerns Randolphs or Eppes, and to Bob Coolidge if the material concerns Coolidges. Needless to say, please volunteer to write the essay if you can and have not already so volunteered. George has had good response from the Eppes family, and some response from the several Randolph branches.
Concerning the financial aspects, George said: "The University Press of Virginia has told me that to print the volume today would cost about $10,000. The comparable figure for Volume I was $2,900. The difference is inflation. There are various other costs such as advertising, typing, wrapping and mailing, storage, etc., that add about $3,000 to the printing. The Editorial Committee will contribute its time and incidental expenses. The price of each volume today would be about $25 to break even. The Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation will help, as it did before, by buying copies for resale. We received special gifts to help publish Volume I. We shall need special gifts again. We propose to devote one page to listing as patrons those who make a substantial gift towards publication. The Treasurer will honor your instructions to earmark funds for the book. I hope that some of our members will make gifts for this purpose on their own. I expect to request some to do so! Corporate or Foundation gifts will be most welcome."
Eugene Johnstone suggested reprinting parts of Volume I with Volume II. The President asked Mr. Shackelford to talk with Mr. Johnstone about the technical aspects of such an undertaking. When George asked for a show of hands by those who might make a substantial contribution a few hands were raised.
At this point Randy Kean moved that the Monticello Association stop all effort to publish Volume II and let the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation reprint Volume I, with updated genealogical material. The motion was seconded by Sidney Ruffin, stating that although he was not in agreement he wanted to open the way for discussion. John Byrd Taylor proposed as an amendment that a Committee be appointed to study reprinting Volume I versus publishing a new volume. The motion was seconded. Virginius Shackelford proposed a second amendment: That we strike the wordings of the motion and of the first amendment and substitute for them another motion accepting with thanks the report of George Shackelford. This amendment was seconded. Discussion followed centered around these points: Considerable work has already gone into preparing material for Volume II; the genealogy should be updated because over 15 years will separate the two publication dates; family bonds have been tightened by the information in Volume I; the biographical essays of the grandchildren, and of the great-grandchildren who lived during and after the War between the States are truly inspiring. Randy Kean spoke in support of his motion. When a vote on the second amendment was taken, it carried with one opposing vote. As called for by this amendment, a new motion, that we accept the report of George Shackelford with thanks and proceed with plans to publish Volume II, was made, seconded, and passed. Robert Kean then said that he was in favor of Volume II but did not like the idea of listing patrons -we should publish as a family. He moved that Volume II not contain a page naming individual patrons. This motion was seconded, and passed with a few dissenting votes.
Virginius Shackelford had encountered certain technicalities that delayed the court procedures necessary for the exchange of the 0.287-acre parcel now a part of the land administered by the Monticello Association for the adjoining parcel of like acreage now owned by the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation. He reported today, however, that the Trustees for the Monticello Association (see Annual Report, 1977, page 12) were officially appointed by the Court on April 3, 1979. A formal agreement between the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation and the Monticello Association has been entered into approving the exchange, and a petition has been filed with the Circuit Court of Albemarle County, Virginia, to authorize the Trustees of the Association to execute and deliver a deed of exchange thereby closing the transaction. Mr. Shackelford has indicated that he does not anticipate any problem in connection with the matter and expects the exchange to be a fait accompli before these minutes are published. A move to thank "V" for his good work was made, seconded, and passed. Leigh Taylor cautioned that the Association must remember to appoint replacements as the six Trustees (see A.R., 1977, page 12) resign or die.
The nominating committee, consisting of Gerald Morgan, Leigh Taylor, and Jaquelin Lamond, Chairman, presented the following slate:
| President | William Roane Ruffin, III |
| Vice-President | Moncure Robinson Taylor, II |
| Secretary | Martha J. Taylor Stedman |
| Treasurer | Robert Montagu McMurdo |
| Historian | Robert Titus Coolidge |
When there was no response to a request for nominations from the floor, it was moved, seconded, and passed: I) that the nominations be closed; 2) that the slate be accepted; and 3) that the Secretary be instructed to cast an unanimous ballot for that slate.
Bill Randolph told us that he had talked with the Assistant Curator for the Manuscripts Division of the Alderman Library , Mr. Plunkett, who said that the M.D. was most certainly interested in housing Monticello Association papers and that its interest was catholic. The Division would reserve the right to refuse, and return to the donor, any material it deemed unsuitable. The archives would be identified as belonging to the Monticello Association, or to an individual donor. Any necessary restoration would be done by the Division but not without permission of the donor (Association or individual). All archival material would be catalogued and accessible in the library .A contract between the library and the donor(s) would cover each item or group of items. Historian Bob Coolidge requested that anyone sending material to the library please send him a list of the items included in the deposit. Harold Coolidge commented that in some cases it might be more satisfactory to the donor to give directly to the library .The Secretary emphasized the importance of having donations appraised so that the value can be taken as a deduction from Federal income tax.
Bill then made some comments, which he stressed were personal and not "Presidential:" 1) Papers or memorabilia that are not being displayed in owners' homes should be made available for public viewing either at Monticello or in some other public place. 2) The "Collected Papers ..." project will need initial cash support before it becomes self-supporting. 3) Now that the exchange of land is almost accomplished, the question of extending the graveyard fence to enclose some or all of the land becomes of paramount importance -the fenced space is being filled rapidly. 4) The Association must find ways to stimulate the interest of younger members in its activities and must press for financial support through bequests, memorials, and life memberships. The Association's publications and activities must interest non-users of the graveyard as well as users.
The gavel was turned over to Bill Ruffin, whose first act was to thank the retiring President for a job well done. The family evidenced agreement with enthusiastic applause.
President Ruffin announced the following appointments:
| Custodian | Jane R. Whitehill Rotch |
| Interment | E. Colston Taylor, Jr., Chairman |
| M. Elizabeth Butler Moore | |
| Mildred L. Taylor Farmer | |
| Hospitality | Anne Rafferty Barnes |
| Membership | L. Carey Bankhead, Jr., Chairman |
| Angus S. Lamond, Jr. | |
| Anne C. Williston Nowlin | |
| William M. Platt, Jr. | |
| John H. Works, Jr. | |
| Nominating | Jaquelin R. Smith Lamond, Chairman |
| Gerald Morgan, Jr | |
| W. Leigh Taylor | |
| Finance | Moncure R. Taylor, II |
| Collected Papers ... | George G. Shackelford, Chairman |
| Robert T. Coolidge | |
| Sidney M. Ruffin | |
| Olivia A. Taylor | |
| Martha J. Taylor Stedman, Ex-Officio |
The Treasurer was then asked to present the following budget for fiscal year 1980, as recommended to the Association by the Executive Committee:
| President | $ 50 |
| Secretary | 1,050 |
| Treasurer | 150 |
| Custodian | 1,200 |
| Historian | 25 |
| Membership | 200 |
| Insurance | 200 |
| Collected Papers (contingency) | 1,000 |
Total |
$3,875 |
This is within our expected income if we include interest from the Trust Fund. It was moved, seconded, and passed that the budget be approved.
Bill Randolph then moved that Article 6 of the By-Laws have the following sentence added: "On and after January 1,1980, a donation of one hundred and fifty dollars shall be required to secure Life Membership." The motion was seconded, and passed.
Harold Coolidge informed us that the Columbia Broadcasting System has decided against doing the television program about Mr. Jefferson and Sally Hemings. This was the result of pressure brought by Dumas Malone and others.
Jane Rotch announced that Virginius Shackelford has been elected to the Board of Trustees of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation. "V" received our warm applause for this honor. We believe he is the first descendant of Mr. Jefferson to hold such office for the Foundation; his presence on that board can but serve to strengthen the bonds between the two organizations.
Harold Coolidge suggested that we compliment the Foundation for its continued caretaking in the graveyard.
The next meeting of the Executive Committee, with Committee Chairmen, will be in Charlottesville toward the end of October; notification will be sent when the exact date is determined. The next Annual Meeting will be on May 4, 1980.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 3:20 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Martha J. Taylor Stedman, Secretary