“A Founding Friendship and its Discontents: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson”

From the venue:

Please note that the series package includes all 7 lectures taking place every Monday from January 26 to March 9, 2026. Tickets for single lectures will be available beginning December 1, 2025

What is civic friendship, and why does it matter? Thomas Jefferson and John Adams were founding friends in the 1770s who became factional foes in the 1790s, and distant enemies for over a decade thereafter. The remarkable reknitting of their relationship in the 1810s offers a model of frank disagreement navigated through shared commitment to the American project. Dr. Kamensky will show how Monticello is sharing their complex history. She will also explain how museums, historic sites, and other community learning partners can help revitalize the ties that bind Americans as a people.