Portrait of a Mind: Three Letters from Thomas Jefferson (In-person)
Winter (4 - 8.5 hours) | Registration opens 11/23/2026 12:00 AM EDT
One of the great correspondents of his or any age, Thomas Jefferson wrote more than 18,000 letters. Addressed to audiences private and public, they vividly illuminate both his inner and outer life. We’ll dive into this rich trove of evidence to meet Jefferson at three personally and publicly important moments: in 1782, 1820, and 1826. Analyzing a single letter written at each time will offer insight into the character of the man one biographer aptly called the “American Sphinx.”
Readings will be limited to the three letters and a variety of supporting materials. Participants must read the documents provided with extreme care and prepare to discuss them in detail. Short lectures to provide context, but we’ll focus on discussion. Previous background in this period of American history or the details of Jefferson’s life and career are welcome but not required. Those interested may wish to consult the excellent short biography listed here as an optional text. The Study Leader will distribute a required reading packet for this course.
This course will combine lecture with class discussions.
Optional Book:
- Thomas Jefferson – R. B. Bernstein (ISBN-13: 978-0195181302)
Victor Henningsen
A graduate of Yale, Stanford, and Harvard, Vic was a ranger-naturalist with Vermont’s Dept. of Forests & Parks before teaching history for many years at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. He’s also been a visiting scholar at Dartmouth, a summer research fellow at the Massachusetts Historical Society and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello, and a regular commentator on Vermont Public Radio.