The Words of Thomas Jefferson

Understanding Thomas Jefferson and his significance begins with understanding his ideas. The varied programs of the Thomas Jefferson Visitor Center and Smith Education Center explore Monticello and address different aspects of Jefferson's impact on his world and on our own. Jefferson's words bring all of these experiences together. The Robert H. and Clarice Smith Gallery, an integral part of the Center, contains four exhibitions. This book includes a selection of quotations by and about Jefferson chosen for the exhibition The Words of Thomas Jefferson featured in the Stacy Smith Liss Gallery. The exhibition is as much a work of art as it is a powerful means of conveying Jefferson's ideas. As visitors enter the space, key phrases are projected in light on the floor near words inlaid in the bluestone. These words of the subjects of quotations relating to Jefferson's ideas about the new nation. One by one, full quotations are projected on a wall. The Words of Thomas Jefferson sets the stage for the use of Jefferson's words throughout the exhibitions. As we look back on Jefferson from the vantage point of the twenty-first century, we are reminded that we inhabit a world shaped by his ideas.

"While Thomas Jefferson is best known as a president of the United States, a closer look at his life reveals a long list of accomplishments, including being the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, the founder of the University of Virginia,and the architect of Monticello. This in-depth and accessible biography uses his documents and private letters as primary sources to produce a complete picture of the man and his impact on the country's origins. Historical images, thought-provoking sidebars, and fascinating fact boxes add to the text's appeal"--