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Pen to Paper: The Civic Gospel of the Declaration of Independence

Pen to Paper invites you to gather at Monticello for an afternoon of reflection, conversation, and shared civic history.

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Pen to Paper marks the month 250 years ago when Thomas Jefferson, who would become the Declaration’s primary author, returned to Congress in Philadelphia with his enslaved valet, Robert Hemmings. Consumed with Virginia’s local constitution-making, he waited on what the delegates to the convention in Williamsburg would instruct. “I suppose they will tell us what to say on the subject of independence, but hope respect will be expressed to the right of opinion in other colonies who may happen to differ from them,” he wrote to a colleague in the House of Burgesses. Compromise and coalition-building were part of the drafters’ work before it started, in other words.  

The event will also serve as a public launch for a joint publication venture between Monticello and the Arion Press of San Francisco. The project titled DECLARE: A CIVIC GOSPEL invites a chorus of essential American voices – from Poet Laureates to Four-Star Generals – to reflect on our country’s inaugural words. DECLARE gathers an optimistic polyphony of esteemed American authors, artists, and artisans to craft a printed testament to the American experience. As our nation reaches the quarter millennium mark, DECLARE aims to embody a spirit of civic renewal.

The event we’re envisioning takes inspiration from a living Declaration, forged by imperfect visionaries, who (like all of us before them and since) saw the future both clearly and cloudily. Featured as a Signature Event by the Virginia 250 state commission (VA250), it will take place on the West Lawn of Monticello, under a tent with seating for 300-500 guests, and will run from approximately 2-4pm. Program elements will include 

  • A declamation of the entire Declaration, in all its beauty and complexity
  • Remarks from VA250 Honorary Chair Carly Fiorina and Ted Gioia of Arion Press
  • Musical interludes (Horace Scruggs)
  • A panel discussion with DECLARE contributors moderated by Monticello President and DECLARE editor Jane Kamensky
  • Poetry readings 

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