What do you think would be on Thomas Jefferson’s desk if he were alive today?
Thomas Jefferson viewed the world around him with the eye of a scientist. His interests were limitless, and he was always on the lookout for “useful knowledge,” new ideas, and inventions.
Keeping in mind that Mr. Jefferson was a man who embraced new technology, what items do you think he would have in his cabinet (or office) if he were alive today? Would he have an e-reader? Would he send a text or prefer to write a letter? Post your ideas for TJ’s 21st-century cabinet below.
Check out the Monticello Explorer, "Drudging at the Writing Table" in the Jefferson section of this website, and the Cabinet in the Thomas Jefferson Encyclopedia.
Send us your ideas using the forms below:
Discussion
"Jefferson definitely would have a windows laptop computer with a webcam, an e reader with an extended battery life, a fountain pen, a tablet, a smartphone, ipod downloaded with classical and folk music, and his fair has to be swivel chair, a graphing calculator and a few scientific instruments oh and also his violin not to far out of reach with all of his music."
- Bethany from Illinois
I actually think he would have a fountain pen. And probably have an IMac and have a kindle fire to read his books on the latest and have the Hunger Games series that hes almost finished with and I also strongly believe he would have one of those white things that you stick in all of your papers and it organizes in your computer :)
From:Littlaxe School
You are spot-on - Jefferson did in fact have a fountain pen! He wrote to Bernard Peyton in 1824, "I saw yesterday in the hands of Mr. Dyer, a fountain pen, one of the best I ever saw. He said it was made for him by Mr. Cowan, a watchmaker of Richmond and cost him 5 D. ...Pray get the favor of Mr. Cowan to make such an one for me..."
An iPad or other tablet for quick communication and reference and a Kindle or a Nook for longer reading sessions. I think for his desktop, though, he would choose a linux machine (with dual screens) -- all that free and open-source software would appeal to the tinkerer in him and to his wariness of patents.
"If Thomas was alive today I bet he would have an laptop and an iPad and text away.He would have a leather jacket and ripped jeans. Instead of his gardens he would try to mix Wendys and McDonalds.He would wear black chucks and would have a different hairdo. He wouldn't be as organized. He would have a sports car.
Also, a laptop. I know he would love texting, so an I-phone. A book of nonfiction on gardening Ivy nursery seeds."
--Channing, age 8, of Charlottesville, VA