The Domestic Life of Thomas Jefferson

What it is

This book, published in 1871, was compiled by Sarah N. Randolph, Thomas Jefferson's great-granddaughter, from family letters and the reminiscences of his daughter and grandchildren. It focuses on Jefferson's private, domestic life rather than his public career.

Why it matters

Because it draws on Jefferson's own family correspondence, the book offers a more personal view of him than most political biographies, showing how his descendants wanted him remembered as a loving family man. It reveals how family memory and private letters can shape a historical figure's public image.

Look closer

• Why might a family member choose to write about Jefferson's private life rather than his politics?
• How might letters written by people who loved Jefferson differ from accounts written by his political opponents?
• What parts of Jefferson's life might this book leave out because of who wrote it?