‘Those Who Labor for My Happiness’: Slavery at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello

Thomas Jefferson's Monticello is revealed as a complex site where the ideals of Enlightenment co-existed with the harsh reality of slavery. Lucia Stanton's 2012 study, 'Those Who Labor for My Happiness': Slavery at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, challenges the romanticized narratives of Jefferson's life by meticulously examining the lived experiences of enslaved individuals and their contributions to the estate. Through archival research, oral histories, and archaeological evidence, Stanton reconstructs the lives of over 600 enslaved people, highlighting their labor, resistance, and agency within the Monticello community. The study underscores the duality of Monticello as both a symbol of democratic ideals and a site deeply entrenched in the institution of slavery, offering a nuanced perspective on its historical significance.

Ellis, J. J. (2013). ‘Those Who Labor for My Happiness’: Slavery at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. Slavery & Abolition, 34(1), 187–189. https://doi.org/10.1080/0144039x.2012.759681