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: [log in to unmask] 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 >>> instructions >>> at >>> http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html >> >> ______________________________________ >> 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 ______________________________________ To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html ______________________________________ To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html