"Those Who Labor for My Happiness": Slavery at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello by Lucia Stanton (review)

A groundbreaking collection of scholarship by Lucia Stanton sheds new light on slavery at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, shifting the focus from Jefferson's hypocrisy to the lived experiences of his enslaved people. Through meticulous analysis of Jefferson's Memorandum Books and other primary sources, Stanton reveals the harsh realities of plantation life, including labor conditions, family structures, and the economic exploitation of enslaved individuals. Her work underpins significant public exhibitions, such as the Smithsonian's 'Slavery at Jefferson's Monticello,' which challenged national narratives by centering the voices and perspectives of those enslaved, rather than merely examining Jefferson's ambivalence toward slavery.

(Ed.). (2013). “Those Who Labor for My Happiness”: Slavery at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello by Lucia Stanton (review). Journal of the Early Republic, 33(2), 350–353. https://doi.org/10.1353/jer.2013.0031