Episode 22: She Has Claims Upon Me

Your Most Obedient & Humble Servant: A Women's History

Martha Jefferson Randolph to Septimia A. Randolph, 29 Jan. 1829 In which Priscilla Hemmings, an enslaved nurse-maid to Thomas Jefferson's white grandchildren, refuses to do what the white family wants her to do. I'm joined this week by the delighful Lora Cooper, the Continuing Education Coordinator at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. Further Reading: The letter: https://tjrs.monticello.org/letter/2485 MJR to TJ, 31 Jan. 1801: https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-32-02-0375 More on Priscilla Hemmings: https://www.monticello.org/mulberry-row/people/priscilla-hemmings More on John Hemmings: https://www.monticello.org/mulberry-row/people/john-hemmings More on the sale of Monticello: https://www.monticello.org/site/research-and-collections/sale-monticello