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Zeta Brown Nichols

Nichols-Zeta-and-Cynthia-Stratton-cropped.jpg
Zeta Brown Nichols (right) with her niece, Cynthia Stratton, 2000

Dates: 1933–

Family: Hern

Residence (at time of interview): Keswick, VA

Zeta Brown Nichols grew up in Keswick, just east of Charlottesville. She shared memories of life in the area in the 1940s and 50s. Like many others in the Hern family, she became a teacher, initially in a one-room schoolhouse in western Albemarle County and later at Albemarle Training School. She learned of her connection to Monticello from her aunt Martha Hearns Boston, also a teacher.  

Interview Information

12 July 2000, Charlottesville, VA
Interviewees: Zeta Brown Nichols, Cynthia Stratton
Also present: Ella Hoffman

Excerpts

(audio)
"I didn't hear a lot"

Zeta Brown Nichols recalls being unaware that her ancestor, Lewis Hern, helped to found her church, Union Run Baptist.

Themes: Oral History Transmission, Religion

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(audio)
"You belong to Thomas Jefferson"

Cynthia Stratton describes learning about her connection to Monticello from her aunt, Martha Boston.

Themes: Jefferson Descent, Oral History Transmission

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Ancestry

  • David Hern 1755–post 1827 Isabel Hern 1758–1819
  •  
  • Moses Hern 1779–post 1832
  •  
  • David Hern 1803–post 1829
  •  
  • Zeta Brown Nichols 1933–

Related People

  • Martha Hearns Boston  aunt
  • Cynthia Jones Stratton  niece
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