Object(-ive) History at Monticello

Every object tells a story, right? So, imagine what 5,000 might have to say. In this episode, Monticello curators Susan Stein, Diane Ehrenpreis, and Emilie Johnson discuss the extensive collection of objects they and their predecessors have amassed over the past 100 years related to Thomas Jefferson and his famous Virginia home and plantation. They highlight some of the most significant items belonging to Jefferson and his family, and objects connected to the enslaved people who lived and worked at Monticello. The curators explore how the collecting priorities and interpretive approach have evolved over time to provide a more complete picture of Jefferson as a thinker and founder, but also the complicated reality of slavery and the diverse lives of all those who called Monticello home.