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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC03897 |
| From Archive Folder | Documents Relating to 1803 |
| Title | Thomas Jefferson to James Oldham discussing building work at Monticello |
| Date | 8 June 1803 |
| Author | Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826) |
| Recipient | Oldham, James |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | Discusses construction materials and methods used at Monticello. Suggests that it would be better to use riven pine slabs than linen. Includes a drawing of six parallel lines to show how the boards can be laid out. Mentions that if Oldham needs more help than just Lewis (a slave), contact Mr. Gabriel Lilly, who will do the job for less money than Mr. John Perry, who charges one dollar a day. |
| Subjects | President Monticello Architecture Building Construction Artisans Slavery African American History Finance |
| People | Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826) Oldham, James (fl. 1803) |
| Place written | Washington, D.C. |
| Theme | The Presidency; Merchants & Commerce; Slavery & Abolition; African Americans |
| Sub-collection | The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1493-1859 |
| Additional Information | Oldham was a carpenter and house joiner employed at Monticello. Gabriel Lilly worked as overseer there. Lewis, a slave, and John Perry were also carpenters and joiners who worked on Jefferson's home. From Jefferson and Monticello: The Biography of a Builder, by Jack McLaughlin, New York, 1988. |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859 |
| Transcript | Show/hide |