Through a network of scholars, teachers and resources, the Thomas Jefferson Foundation engages a global audience in a dialogue about Jefferson's ideas and establishes relationships with people from around the world. Our scholars take an interdisciplinary approach to the study of Jefferson and his legacy by supporting a wide range of inquiry and programs in the Charlottesville area and abroad. From organizing academic conferences around the world to restoring and preserving Monticello, our scholars are passionate about uncovering insights into Jefferson's world.
The primary focus of these efforts is Monticello's Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies (established in 1994) and its Jefferson Library (opened in 2002), the first free-standing research facility dedicated to the study of a founding father. The Center is designed to be proactive. It serves as a nerve center of Jefferson scholarship and teaching and as a clearinghouse for Jefferson research. It seeks an active role in the ongoing study of Thomas Jefferson internationally by supporting a wide range of inquiry; by building a network of scholars, teachers, and resources; by helping to define new areas of investigation; and by promoting the application of new technologies to Jefferson scholarship.