People
Dr. Maggie Blackhawk
Professor at NYU and prize-winning scholar
Pen to Paper: The Civic Gospel of the Declaration of Independence
- Outdoor: Tented
Celebrate 250 years of Jefferson’s Declaration at Pen to Paper, an afternoon of conversation, music, poetry, and theater, honoring our most shared piece of history.
Past Event
Overview
Featuring voices from across American public life, Pen to Paper reflects on the Declaration’s enduring words and looks forward to a spirit of civic renewal as the nation embraces its 250th anniversary. This program also launches DECLARE: A Civic Gospel, a new collaboration between Thomas Jefferson's Monticello and the Arion Press of San Francisco.
Join us after the program for a special performance of Jefferson & Adams: A Stage Play
A VA250 Signature Event, Pen to Paper takes place on Monticello’s iconic West Lawn, featuring:
A shared reading of the Declaration of Independence
- Remarks from VA250 Honorary Chair Carly Fiorina and Ted Gioia, Program & Development Director from Arion Press
- Musical performances by gospel musician Horace Scruggs
- A panel discussion with DECLARE contributors, moderated by Monticello President and DECLARE editor Dr. Jane Kamensky
- Maggie Blackhawk, Professor at NYU and prize-winning scholar
- Dr. Andrew Davenport, historian and Vice President of Research at Monticello
- Chip Kidd, graphic designer and writer
- George Packer, journalist and novelist
- Tré Seals, founder of Vocal Type and type designer
- Poetry reading by Tim Seibles
- Concessions, including award-winning Jefferson Vineyards wine and our own Monticello beer, will be available.
About the Speakers & Performers
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![Headshot of Maggie Blackhawk, posing on a porch with pillars behind her]()
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PeopleDr. Andrew Davenport
Vice President for Research and Saunders Director of the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies
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PeopleCarly Fiorina
National Honorary Chair of the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250)
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PeopleTed Gioia
Program & Development Director, Arion Press in San Francisco
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![Jane Kamensky poses for a headshot in the Monticello Parlor, wearing a collared shirt with dark green print and an antique piano, mirror, and paintings in the background.]()
PeopleDr. Jane Kamensky
Monticello's President and CEO
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PeopleChip Kidd
Graphic designer and writer
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PeopleHorace Scruggs
Gospel musician
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PeopleTré Seals
Founder of Vocal Type and type designer
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![Headshot of Tim Seibles, pictured wearing a blue button-down shirt and a tan and blue fedora or trilby hat.]()
PeopleTim Seibles
Poet Laureate of Virginia, 2016 - 2018
Related Events
Monticello gratefully acknowledges the partnership of More Perfect in our 250th anniversary initiatives.
Collection Exclusives
Shop the Collection-
![A red t-shirt with words from the Declaration outlined by a silhouette profile of Jefferson's head with the words "Our Guy Wrote It" in large blue letters written over it.]()
Shop250th Apparel
Wear it proudly with one of our Declaration-inspired t-shirts.
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![Cover of Our Declaration by Danielle Allen.]()
ShopRevolutionary Books
Danielle Allen's "Our Declaration" is just one of many books we feature about the founding of the United States.
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![Image of 2 books on the Declaration of Independence]()
ShopDeclare & Declaration Book Club Set
Celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with this engaging two-book set from Monticello. Featuring the Declaration Book Club and Declare: A Civic Gospel, this bundle offers a rich exploration of America’s founding ideals, past and present.
