Getting Word African American History at Monticello

07/30/2026

Including our newest consultant Karice LB!

The Danville Research Center for African American History, which will house historic artifacts and genealogical research, will open in a historic home on Holbrook Street.

07/30/2026

07/17/2026

Each day, we roll up our sleeves to rediscover the stories of the 610+ people who labored at this mountaintop!

07/05/2026

July 4th is over. Now what?

The words Thomas Jefferson articulated in the Declaration of Independence—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—set forth unrealized aspirations that generations of Americans have inherited and worked to bring closer to reality.

That pursuit is exemplified by the lives of the many descendants of Monticello, where some 400 of the more than 600 individuals enslaved by Jefferson lived and labored. Across time, they and their descendants have sought to actualize the aspirational ideals of the founding.

Explore their stories in “Fulfilling the Declaration,” a digital exhibit launching later this year at monticello.org

07/03/2026

Did you see us on TV last night?

Jay O'Brien of ABC News chatted with our director Auriana Woods about the ongoing work of the Getting Word African American History Department, and how our efforts highlight the contradiction between Thomas Jefferson’s ideals and the life he lived here at Monticello.

You can watch the full news segment at the link in our bio.

06/23/2026

In the past 50 years, the way we tell the story of the Revolution has become dramatically more complex. Can it still inspire us all?

06/20/2026

Well said, from our research and oral historian Tiana Woodard!

06/17/2026

Send kudos to Tiana Woodard, our department's research and oral historian, on her selection as a scholarship recipient by the Board for Certification of Genealogists!

Woodard is a 2026 recipient of the Paul E. Sluby Sr. Scholarship, named for the board's first African American certified genealogist. The scholarship covers expenses to attend one of the board's five premier institutes, along with the application fee for those seeking certification.

Congrats, Tiana!

05/20/2026

The future of cultural conservation is in good hands! 👩🏾‍🎓

Please send kudos to Jenna Owens, a Getting Word oral historian, for earning her Master of Arts in Cultural Heritage Management from Johns Hopkins University. We are oh-so proud of you and lucky to call you a teammate!