“Being Thomas Jefferson” at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture

07.2026

 Dr. Andrew Burnstein will deliver a lecture on Thomas Jefferson at 5:30 pm on July 22 at The Virginia Museum of History & Culture. In “Being Thomas Jefferson,” acclaimed Jefferson scholar Andrew Burstein peels away layers of obfuscation, taking us past the veneer of the animated letter-writer to describe a confused lover and a misguided humanist, too timid to embrace antislavery. Presenting a society that encouraged separation between public and private, appearance and essence, Burstein paints a dramatic picture of early American culture and brings us closer to Jefferson's life and thought than ever before.