Jefferson’s Children: Reflecting on the Complex Legacy of America at 250

Buy Tickets $25 | $10 Members FREE for Gallery Guild and Artist Forum Members Join photojournalist and author Jane Feldman and Shannon LaNier, media personality, author and descendant of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, for a fascinating program that will explore the complexities of lineage, historical memory, and the enduring legacy of the American Revolution as the nation’s 250th anniversary approaches. Currently featured in the exhibition American Stories: Revolution to Rockwell, Feldman’s photographs were originally included in the groundbreaking book Jefferson’s Children: The Story of One American Family, which she co-authored with LaNier. Through Feldman’s striking photographic images and the deeply personal oral histories that were compiled during their joint research, this presentation will touch on the stories of Thomas Jefferson’s diverse descendants, including LaNier’s own journey of discovery and reconciliation as the sixth great-grandson of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings. By reflecting on and acknowledging the uncomfortable truths of our shared history, the program envisions a more inclusive next chapter for our nation. Presented in partnership with the NAACP Berkshire County Branch, the program will open with introductory remarks from D. Caleb Smith, Assistant Professor in the Department of History and an affiliate faculty member in the Department of Critical Race and Political Economy at Mount Holyoke College.