FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 4, 2025
Media Contact: J.A. Lyon, Director of Marketing & Communications, jlyon@monticello.org
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – The Thomas Jefferson Foundation, the private, nonprofit organization that owns and operates Monticello, announced today at its annual Independence Day Celebration and Naturalization Ceremony the launch of a new initiative: Declaration Book Club. Created with support from More Perfect, this engaging three-part reading and discussion tool kit is designed for learners of all ages to delve into the enduring principles of the Declaration of Independence and their relevance today.
“The Declaration Book Club is one of the many exciting elements of our celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday in 2026,” said Jane Kamensky, president of Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. “We think Americans are hungry for the opportunity to rediscover, discuss, and celebrate the Declaration. We can all take inspiration from its global impact and lasting legacy.”
The Declaration Book Club consists of a free, downloadable kit that is designed to be used over three meetings.
Meeting 1: 1776 — Participants will explore the creation of the Declaration, analyzing Jefferson's original drafts, Congress’s revisions, and the revolutionary ideals that shaped the nation's birth.
Meeting 2: 1826 — This session reflects on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration and the legacies of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, who both died on July 4, 1826, by then well aware of the document's evolving significance.
Meeting 3: Legacies — The final session examines how the Declaration's ideals have inspired movements for equality and self government, from Elizabeth Cady Stanton at Seneca Falls to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
Each meeting includes curated readings, guiding questions, and multimedia resources to facilitate meaningful conversation. Participants can download the free kit and access materials at monticello.org/bookclub.
“The Declaration is more than a historical artifact; it’s a living promise,” said More Perfect CEO, John Bridgeland. “This Book Club offers communities across the country a space to consider how we carry that promise forward.”
The Declaration Book Club is just one of the ways that Monticello will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. Learn more at monticello.org/250.
About The Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello
The Thomas Jefferson Foundation was incorporated in 1923 to preserve Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, in Charlottesville, Virginia. Today, the foundation seeks to bring history forward into national and global dialogues by engaging audiences with Jefferson’s world and ideas and inviting them to experience the power of place at Monticello and on its website. Monticello is recognized as a National Historic Landmark, a United Nations World Heritage Site and a Site of Conscience. As a private, nonprofit organization, the foundation’s regular operating budget does not receive ongoing government support to fund its twofold mission of preservation and education. For information, visit monticello.org.