Episode 8: An Indifferent Game Of Chess

Your Most Obedient & Humble Servant: A Women's History

Ellen Wayles Randolph (Coolidge) to Martha Jefferson Randolph, Washington, 14 Dec. 1821 In which Thomas Jefferson's granddaughter Ellen (the one with brittle teeth) absolutely eviscerates an unfortunate suitor in a letter to her mom. Also, "Mountains will be in labor, and an absurd mouse will be born." -Horace, Ars Poetica. Many thanks to this week's guest, Kate Johnson! Kate is an archival assistant at the University of Northern Colorado and public historian extraordinaire. Further Reading: The text of this week's letter can be found here: http://tjrs.monticello.org/letter/906 Ellen's sister Virginia writing to her fiance: http://tjrs.monticello.org/letter/904 Ellen's letter to Thomas Jefferson: https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/98-01-02-2500 Madame De Neuville: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Marguerite_Hyde_de_Neuville as an artist: https://emuseum.nyhistory.org/objects/42102/selfportrait-17711849?ctx=1c92a5ceecfb354ff0776a8f6362e24936a66af7&idx=22