Dear fellow list readers,
Reference the recent apologizing message that was posted on this list by the
list owner. I also would like to apologize for any inconvenience, which I don't
believe I may have caused in posting on a subject to the vitality of our
nation's history. Now Ms. Roderick may not desire that I post a line or two
from a message she sent me, "Please REFRAIN from using VA-HIST and VA-ROOTS ANY
FURTHER for disseminating information about the Jefferson/Hemings issue." If I
can no longer discuss the subject with you......am I not gagged? Wasn't it
Jefferson and other brave founding fathers that guaranteed freedom of speech?
The two lists we are speaking about which Ms. Roderick holds the switch to, I
am assuming, must be paid for by taxpayers of Virginia, BUT in establishing
these valuable lists we must assume that they encourage debates and a central
point to discuss our common interests. Ms. Roderick is free to post the private
letter to her raising my objections to her remarks, if she so desires.
Yes, I agree with some subscribers that the topic may not interest some, as
some topics do not interest me, but I have found and know what the delete
button is there for and I frequently use it. I don't complain that their topic
continues for several days doesn't agree with my beliefs so the discussion
should be curtailed. From the kind of posts I see on this list and those sent
privately, it would seem that the topic, Jefferson-Hemings, is very much on the
minds of serious historians and researchers such as yourselves. Up until the
release of the 600 page Scholars Commission Report on April 12, 2001 it was an
all in-house study by Monticello employees, with a small scattering of
consultants. The members of the Scholars Commission are independent scholars,
not beholding to anyone and volunteering their time and funds. Everyone working
on this DNA fiasco (and it is just that, serving the agendas of certain
people), are volunteers because we have seen the injustice that certain agendas
(yes we know what and where they are), are being heaped upon Mr. Jefferson and
eventually upon you the citizens of our great country. Our argument and
research does NOT try to address the slavery issue, the political and
historical life of Mr. Jefferson.
We are discussing the DNA findings and the various warped interpretations
spread by certain groups and individuals, because I and others KNOW what has
happened and what is happening. And the results of the study is in quiet
different contrast to that of Monticello. There was ABSOLUTELY no need for the
Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation (NO, strike that, they are now just plain
Thomas Jefferson Foundation.....a title they sued the now newly named Thomas
Jefferson Heritage Society for), to arrive at the conclusion they did. Even
Annette Gordon-Reed (a book which the TJMF relied heavily on for their
findings), says that there is NO proof that the descendant of Eston Hemings
was a descendant of Thomas Jefferson. Also how could Monticello research state
that possibly ALL of Sally's children were sired by Jefferson, just because a
DNA match was found by "SOME" Jefferson DNA and a descendant of Eston
Hemings......HOW COULD THEY COME TO THAT CONCLUSION.....only ONE was tested,
Eston? DNA eliminated Tom Woodson, another claimed son of Sally Hemings and
Thomas Jefferson, twice.
It must be noted that an African-American woman hired to PUSH the ORAL slavery
issue at Monticello was placed as Chairman of that groups study group. They
even consulted with an Afro-American Group doing research there, the Getting
Word Project, which has several recognized names on this board, including
Professor Julian Bond, Chairman of NAACP and History professor at UVA. At the
Monticello web page you may see the entire listing. Since I had assisted Dr.
Foster with the history part of his study I suggested to Dr. Dan Jordan at
Monticello that I be permitted to appear before their study group and give my
thoughts and findings......this never happened as it didn't happen with Dr.
Foster when I proposed a meeting to match science and family history (which he
thought may be a good proposal), when he received the DNA findings back. I also
informed Dan Jordan (ditto for Dr. Foster), the "researchers", of another
source of DNA in a grave in Kansas, thus adding another son of Sally's for
testing. he DID NOT pursue it or mention it in his TJMF Report of Jan. 26,
2000. After giving oral permission, I sent official forms for Hemings family
members to give permission to get the DNA from William Hemings, by phone they
agreed, but have long refused and state that they are happy with their family
ORAL history, what are they afraid of? Are you the serious reader, happy with
these tactics, I AM NOT?
May I please list a sentence or two from the Dr. Ken Wallenborn report
(Monticello minority report article which was denied public view until my and
others complaint to the Chairman, TJMF) in the TJHS book, "It did not take long
to figure it out, however, as the committee's study outline seemed to be taken
almost directly from Annette Gordon-Reed's book." It didn't take Dr. Wallenborn
(a former long time professor at UVA and well known and well respected
individual of the Charlottesville community who lives across the street from
Dr. Foster), to think it time to complain to Dan Jordan about the tactics being
used by the study group. As stated before, this was an in-house study group
(Dr. Wallenborn being an employee also by reason of being a long time guide at
Monticello who later resigned in protest) and Dr. Mike Moffitt also another
guide resigned in protest and the two are on the board of the Thomas Jefferson
Heritage Society. Another statement of Dr. Wallenborn, after informing the TJMF
President that he was very upset at what was happening in the study committee,
"I informed him (Dan Jordan), that there were not many friends of Thomas
Jefferson on the committee, and that the committee HAD ALREADY REACHED THEIR
CONCLUSIONS." Another passage, "I sensed a strong power play aimed at the TJMF
to force them to accept something that was politically correct and not
historically accurate." Another line, "As the committee began to throw out most
of the evidence that would exonerate Mr. Jefferson, it became even more obvious
that they were following Annette Gordon-Reed's lead, since this was the same
tactic that she had in her book." Ken's complete thirteen page "EXPOSE" of his
participation in the Monticello report is in the TJHS book, "Jefferson-Hemings
Myth, An American Travesty" available from Amazon, B&N etc. Your local book
dealer can special order it from the book data bank. They underplayed Mr.
Jefferson's private statement of innocence to the rumors, to his Secretary of
the Navy and Attorney General and more information, some twisted in meaning
completely and feeble assessments such as, they dismissed the fact that two of
Randolph Jefferson's (Thomas brother) sons were at Monticello during the
conception of three of Sally's children, YET, at age 16-17 and 20 (ages of the
boys at the time), was assessed as "being too young".....HA, HA. The
Gordon-Reed book, has much information from the Fawn Brodie book. By the way,
Fawn Brodie was "thrown out" of her own church, the Latter Day Saints (Mormon)
for her bad-mouthing of the founder of LDS. Thus it was time to form an
opposing society, The Thomas Jefferson Heritage Society to bring the truth to
the world........and you have seen the fruits of "another opinion", never
settle for one opinion of a trusted, "authority", regardless of the perceived
public image.
There MUST be opposition and vigilance in matters as great as our country's
history. Yes, to get the word out is very disturbing and when that occurs in
the very areas that Mr. Jefferson lived in and established his college in, it
is even more important to question, WHY? Three or four large media outlets and
numerous small ones have "pretended" to cover both sides of the issue, when in
reality......they have not. The Wash. Post Ombudsman chastised 8 of that papers
reporters and correspondents for slanting and denying the "he's innocent" side
to get their story out. In recent TV productions on Sally Hemings, the PBS
Frontline and the A&E Biography producers spent considerable time with me
getting my side of the story that TJ was innocent. I informed them that my
"other side" balance to the story would not be used.......it wasn't. I could
name many others who have done just that, and I am contemplating on just that,
another companion book to: "The Jefferson-Hemings Myth, An American Travesty",
produced by the Thomas Jefferson Heritage Society.
If you should not see any further articles on this list from me you will know
why and please click on: www.tjheritage.org (all links) for on going research,
this story has not been finished.
Herbert Barger
Jefferson Family Historian
Bill Bryant wrote:
> I agree. I've read all the post and see nothing wrong. Just a lot of pro's
> and con's as if we were making our case to the judge and jury. Is that not
> the American way?
>
> Bill Bryant
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Henry Wiencek" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, April 16, 2001 6:12 PM
> Subject: Re: gag orders?
>
> > I hope it's NOT true that some individuals have been barred from
> > posting. If that is the case, then I protest. No one has posted
> > anything obscene, libelous, or otherwise illegal. We all have 'delete'
> > buttons and know how to use them. I for one do not wish to have any
> > voices filtered out. That would truly make TJ roll in his grave, much
> > more than anything we say about Hemings. I say, open the discussion to
> > all -- else it's pointless. I want to hear what Mr. Barger has to say.
> >
> > Henry Wiencek
> >
> > To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions
> > at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
> >
>
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