Hello again, list-members. I want to apologize (as the one who initiated the topic) to anyone who finds these exchanges less than endifying or entertaining. That said, I want to clarify my purposes in offering a course on the Jefferson-Hemings scandal and the resulting two centuries of controversy. As a cultural historian I am interested in the phenomenon of how the controversy has unfolded: from political scandal, to family scandal, to inspiration for novels, to grist for biographers and psycho-biographers, to interesting test of modern genetic technologies, etc., etc. It is not my intent -- or interest for that matter -- to present my students a "directed result" as Mr. Dixon calls it. Far from it; I expect my students to read a variety of perspectives. My own interests in history touching on the subject are more general: the phenomenon of interracial sex and what is indicates about the nature of our antebellum slave society. The Jefferson-Hemings rumors (or whatever one wants to call it) are illustrative of how people thought (and think) about those issues. David Kiracofe On Thu, 27 Mar 2003 09:08:47 -0500 Richard Dixon wrote: > That is an interesting comment. Is there a distinction between "self > appointed" and "independent?" The reputations of the scholars on the > Scholar Commission are well established. I don't think you want a > debate on > the messenger. The issue for a course study should be the breath of the > materials for study. Relying only on Gordon-Reed, Ellis, Onuf, etc., and > the suggested National Genealogical Society article, presents the unread > (i.e., students) with a directed result. > > Richard E. Dixon > Clifton, VA 20124-2115 > 703-830-8177 > fax 703-691-0978 > > > > > [Original Message] > > From: Paul Finkelman <[log in to unmask]> > > To: <[log in to unmask]> > > Date: 3/26/2003 4:11:14 PM > > Subject: Re: Jefferson-Hemings popular resources > > > > I think it is worth noting that the "scholars commission" was a > > self-appointed commission with the goal of refuting the work of more > > independent scholars. > > > > paul finkelman > > > > Richard Dixon wrote: > > > Your suggested syllabus contains only writers that advance the claim > that > > > Jefferson fathered children by Sally Hemings. The Scholars Commission > did > > > not conclude that but you indicate only "selected essays" will read. > The > > > work of the Scholars Commission is the only comprehensive analysis of > this > > > issue. The full report is at http://www.tjheritage.org/ That is > the web > > > site of the Thomas Jefferson Heritage Society and it contains other > > > articles that contradict the evidence relied on by Gordon-Reed, Ellis, > etc. > > To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions > at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html David Kiracofe College of Charleston Department of History 66 George Street Charleston, SC 29424 To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html