Scholars and intellectuals from across the nation will be gathering on Grounds for the next four days to examine and discuss slavery in America and Thomas Jefferson's complex relationship with slavery and race.
The University Center for University Programs is holding its tenth annual Jefferson Symposium today through Sunday. Every summer, the center holds a conference covering Jefferson and an aspect of his life and work. This year the symposium will be looking at Jefferson and slavery.
"It will be a straight forward look at slavery," said Center director Thomas Dowd, program director of the symposium. The participants "will make their own decisions about whether Jefferson handled things right based on knowledge, not emotions," he said.
Dowd said participants hope to gain a better understanding of Jefferson's actions and writings in terms of slavery, race and black-white relations. Jefferson's approaches to slavery, "were not always consistent," he said.
He added that an "incredible faculty" will be sharing their insights, including Jeremy Black, professor of history at the University of Exeter in England, Annette Gordon-Reed, professor of law at the New York Law School, Peter Onuf, Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation professor of history at the University, and James Horn, director of the International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello. Dowd said that nine historians are scheduled to speak, as well as a couple "surprise guests."
Onuf said the symposium participants will be looking at the topic "from both sides." They will be examining the history of slavery in the Chesapeake area, and the actual day-to-day life of a slave in Jefferson's time, as well as examining Jefferson's moral problems with slavery.
Cinder Stanton, the Shannon Senior Research Historian at Monticello, said she will be talking about specific slave families who lived on Jefferson's plantation.
She will be telling stories from their perspective, but "Thomas Jefferson will be reflected in their experiences," Stanton said.
Dowd said he is looking forward to the conference because the participants will be able to separate the facts from the fiction about Jefferson's views on slavery. With the recent controversy about Jefferson's slave and mistress, Sally Hemings, people's passions have hidden some truths about Jefferson, he said.
"There has been a lot of heat about [Jefferson and slavery] but not a lot of light," he added.
The symposium is a "rare opportunity," for people to gather and come to their own conclusions about Jefferson without a lot of baseless passionate debate, Dowd said.
The people coming to the conference, "enjoy intellectual vacations," Dowd said.
Sixty-one Jefferson buffs from 20 states are planning to participate in the event.
The symposium will be held on Grounds and at Monticello.
The participants may stay in rooms on the Lawn for a total symposium fee of $825; without a room, the cost is $695.
Last year the symposium title was Jefferson and France, and next year the symposium will cover Jeffersonian architecture.
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