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Subject:
From:
Adrian Zolkover <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Thu, 9 Oct 2008 01:03:37 -0700
Content-Type:
text/plain
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I wrote that this is of significance because in other most recent VA HIST 
blogs it has been claimed that Jefferson wrote about having an affair, but 
the fact that he was 15 when he had that affair was not mentioned as being 
significant. And I thought that the commonplace book might have also 
included some Thomas Jefferson writing. It seems to me that anyone aspiring 
to historical sophistication about Thomas Jefferson should be aware of the 
basic historical records and documents, and not ignore them. And I agree, 
this thread has been contaminated.

Adrian Zolkover

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stephan A. Schwartz" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, October 08, 2008 11:02 PM
Subject: Re: [VA-HIST] ANSWERS - Annette Gordon-Reed


commonplace book
noun
a book into which notable extracts from other works are copied for
personal use.

New Oxford American Dictionary

It may be of interest what captured Jefferson's attention at 15, but
what a commonplace book is can not be disputed, and any person
aspiring to historical sophistication should know this. Kevin is
absolutely correct.

Having previously posted my views on the Jefferson Hemmings matter I
have stayed entirely out of this thread which, I believe, has come to
seem more like a personal tic than a collegial discussion — far more
revealing of some of the posters than the subject of their posts.

-- Stephan


Stephan A. Schwartz
Email:
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Personal Website:
www.stephanaschwartz.com
Schwartzreport:
www.schwartzreport.net
Explore - Schwartzreport Column:
  www.explorejournal.com





On 9 Oct 2008, at 01:45, [log in to unmask] wrote:

> Adrian Zolkovar's statement below is downright odd.  I can't see  any kind 
> of logical connection to the words I wrote.  Zolkover's  comment is a 
> non-sequitor.
>
> To reprise: MacDonald implied that Kukla had been misleading, or  perhaps 
> even dishonest.  This was because, MacDonald wrote, Kukla  did not 
> explicitly reveal that the stuff in Jefferson's Commonplace  book was not 
> actually written by Jefferson, but rather was a bunch  of quotes that 
> Jefferson transcribed from other people's writing.
>
> I replied with the comment below.  A commonplace book, by  definition, is 
> a collection of quotes from other people's writings.
>
> What does any of this have to do with what Jefferson was thinking  about 
> when he was 15?  Yes, Jefferson was 15 when he compiled the  Commonplace 
> book--but that fact is irrelevant to the implication by  MacDonald, and to 
> my reply.
>
> And how does any of this relate to my maturity, or lack thereof?
>
> All best,
> Kevin
>
> ---- Original message ----
>> Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2008 21:38:47 -0700
>> From: Adrian Zolkover <[log in to unmask]>
>> Subject: Re: ANSWERS - Annette Gordon-Reed
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>>
>> Professor Kevin, grow up (smile, smile). What is in TJ's head when  he is 
>> 15
>> is worth noting.
>>
>> az
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Friday, September 26, 2008 11:04 PM
>> Subject: Re: [VA-HIST] ANSWERS - Annette Gordon-Reed
>>
>>
>>> A small thing, but worthy of comment.  Neil MacDonald writes:   "Kukla
>>> apparently didn't reveal that TJ's Literary Commonplace Book was a
>>> collection of excerpts from other author's literary work . . ."
>>>
>>> Of course Kukla revealed this.  This is what a commonplace book  *is*, 
>>> by
>>> definition.  By identifying the source as a commomplace book, Kukla
>>> fulfilled his obligation to his readers.
>>>
>>> All best,
>>> Kevin
>>> Kevin R. Hardwick, Ph.D.
>>> Department of History
>>> James Madison University
>>>
>>> ______________________________________
>>> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the 
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>>> at
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>>
>> ______________________________________
>> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the  instructions 
>> at
>> http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
> Kevin R. Hardwick, Ph.D.
> Department of History
> James Madison University
>
> ______________________________________
> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the  instructions 
> at
> http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html


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