| Episodes |
While the "white" Jefferson family is busy defending Jefferson's reputation, the "black" family version enters history for the first time through the memoir of Madison Hemings.
The "white family" version:
Ellen Randolph Coolidge, letter to her husband (1858): Jefferson's grand-daughter advances the "character defense" and points the finger at Jefferson's nephews Samuel Carr and Peter Carr.
Edmund Bacon, "Mr. Jefferson's Servants" (1862): Jefferson's overseer describes him as a kind master and points the finger at another unnamed man.
Sarah N. Randolph, The Domestic Life of Thomas Jefferson (1871): benign portrait of Jefferson drawn by his great-granddaughter from family letters and reminiscences. This book has a very detailed table of contents. Use it to browse the book for sections -- such as the death of Mrs. Jefferson and Jefferson's subsequent grief in chapter 3 -- that promise to create the positive image of the domestic Jefferson that Randolph wants.
John A. Jones, editorial rebuttal to Madison Hemings (1873): The editor of a competing newspaper rebuts Madison, asserting a "victim syndrome" argument that slaves typically claim illustrious parentage to bolster their pride.
Thomas Jefferson Randolph, rebuttal to Israel Jefferson (1873): Jefferson's grandson reiterates the "other man" defense and advances hatred of the Southern white man as motivation for the continued attacks on Jefferson's character
The "black family" version:
Isaac Jefferson, memoirs (1847): in reminiscences of Jefferson and life at Monticello, this slave provides the only description of Sally: "Sally Hemings' mother Betty was a bright mulatto woman, and Sally mighty near white; she was the youngest child. Folks said that these Hemingses was old Mr. Wayles's children. Sally was very handsome, long straight hair down her back."
Madison Hemings, memoirs (1873): Through a newspaper interview with her son, Sally tells her side of the story, and Madison claims Jefferson as his father
Israel Jefferson, memoirs (1873): One of Jefferson's slaves backs up Madison's story.
Peter Fossett, memoirs (1898): another slave reminisces about Jefferson as master.
