Lock of hair settles questions about Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings

Researchers say they now have the most conclusive proof that Thomas Jefferson fathered children with Sally Hemings, a finding built around a strand of hair discovered inside Jefferson's Bible. That discovery set off an investigation drawing together DNA scientists, historians, genealogists and descendants of both the Jefferson and Hemings families. The effort and its findings are recounted in a new book by Richard Kurin, "History by a Hair," which was the subject of a September 24 conversation on PBS NewsHour with co-anchor Geoff Bennett. The segment traced how a single physical artifact tucked inside a family Bible became the basis for a multidisciplinary inquiry spanning genetics, archival research and oral family history passed down through generations of descendants on both sides. By bringing together scientific testing with historical and genealogical work, the investigation aimed to resolve long-debated questions about the paternity of Hemings' children, questions that have shadowed Jefferson's legacy and the history of Monticello for decades. Kurin's book lays out how the various strands of evidence were assembled and cross-checked, and the NewsHour interview offered viewers a look at how the hair sample fit into that broader body of proof. The segment did not detail every scientific method used but presented the hair's discovery as the catalyst that brought DNA specialists and family historians into direct collaboration, culminating in what researchers describe as the strongest evidence yet on the matter.

Summarized by PolitiKool from PBS NewsHour’s reporting. Read the full story at PBS NewsHour →