Matthew Fisher
Interests
About Me
When my company, Night Kitchen Interactive, began redesigning the Monticello.org website early in 2010, my knowledge of, and appreciation for, Thomas Jefferson was similar to most Americans—limited. But while I am still no expert, I am now, definitely, a fan, although less so of Jefferson himself (though I have great respect for his ideas and achievements) than of the history of Jefferson and Monticello, and what they say about the American story in microcosm.
So much of our nation's dreams and aspirations, hypocrisies and tragedies, and struggles and successes can be explored at Monticello. I will forever be a fan of that exploration, and the wonderful work the Monticello team does in bringing our nation's rich history to life for us all, on-site and online.
Annette Gordon-Reed's award-winning work is meticulously researched. She and a host of leading historians familiar with the circumstances of TJ and his children have largely come to the same conclusions. Suggesting Monticello, by embracing her work, is "PC" and "pathetic", is simply narrow-...more »
In my visits to Monticello I have been lucky enough to experience the dome room. With its echo-chamber acoustics and over-sized baseboards, devoid of any furniture, it feels to be right out of Alice and Wonderland rather than American history. Cinder Stanton, Monticello's Senior Research...more »
I find Sally Hemings' story absolutely captivating, particularly as it was brought to life in The Hemingses of Monticello. No known portraits of Sally were made or remain today. As such, in favoriting this page and viewing it as it appears on my profile, I find it suitably ironic that the...more »