Virginia Archive
NOTES ON THE STATE OF VIRGINIA: Journey to the Center of an American Document, Query XXIII
Though Jefferson says his catalogue is “far from being complete or correct,” this part of Notes presents an impressive compendium of historical, legal, and political language that details the character of the Commonwealth.
NOTES ON THE STATE OF VIRGINIA: Journey to the Center of an American Document, Queries XIX-XXII
In these sections of Notes on the State of Virginia, Jefferson concludes his meditation on American liberty with a pecuniary focus that seems strange at first. These four queries are about money.
Notes on the State of Virginia: Journey to the Center of an American Document, Queries XVII-XVIII
Here’s a confession. When I talk about NOTES ON THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, I sometimes refer to Jefferson’s “queries” as “cantos.” Like a poetic canto, which stands or falls on the music of its syllables, Jefferson’s queries must have enough tensile strength to contain his ideas, and space to
Notes on the State of Virginia: Journey to the Center of an American Document, Queries XV-XVI
This is the eighth installment of a year-long journey through Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on the State of Virginia.
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Query XV: The colleges and public establishments, the roads, buildings, &c.
Query XVI: The measures taken with regard to the estates and possessions of the rebels, commonly called Tories
Notes on the State of Virginia: Journey to the Center of an American Document, Queries X, XI, XII, and XIII
In these queries, Jefferson continues enumerating the features of Virginian civilization: its marine vessels (X), the activities of Native American tribes (XI), the locations of urban centers (XII), and the nature of civic power in the Commonwealth (XIII).
Notes on the State of Virginia: Journey to the Center of an American Document, Queries VII, VIII, and IX
Author: Kiki Petrosino | Categories: Critical Essays, Nonfiction, Poetry, Series, Writing, Writing Advice No comments
In these three queries, Jefferson attempts to distill the complex meteorological, demographic, and military features of Virginia into a series of data points. His prose—supplemented by graphical tables tracking everything from rainfall to carriage wheels—draws a fine grid over the natural and human activities of the Commonwealth.
Notes on the State of Virginia: Journey to the Center of an American Document, Query VI
Author: Kiki Petrosino | Categories: Nonfiction, Poetry, Series, Writing, Writing Advice No comments
This is the fourth installment of a year-long journey through Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on the State of Virginia. You can read previous installments here, here and here. ** Query VI: “Productions mineral, vegetable and animal” A notice of the mines and other subterraneous riches; its trees, plants, fruits, &c.
Notes on the State of Virginia: Journey to the Center of an American Document, Queries IV and V
Author: Kiki Petrosino | Categories: Nonfiction, Poetry, Series, Writing, Writing Advice No comments
This is the third installment of a year-long journey through Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on the State of Virginia. You can read previous installments here and here. ** Query IV: A notice of its mountains Query V: Its cascades and caverns I walked into Queries IV and V thinking Jefferson
NOTES ON THE STATE OF VIRGINIA: Journey to the Center of an American Document, Queries II and III
Author: Kiki Petrosino | Categories: Nonfiction, Poetry, Reading, Series, Writing, Writing Advice No comments
This is the second installment of a year-long journey through Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on the State of Virginia. Here’s the first installment. ** Query II: A notice of its rivers, rivulets, and how far they are navigable Query III: A notice of the best Seaports of the State, and
NOTES ON THE STATE OF VIRGINIA: Journey to the Center of an American Document
This is the start of a monthly journey through Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on the State of Virginia. I’ve loved this book for many years. It’s scholarly and luminous, unfolding a rich lexicon. Open its pages and whole rivers, chunks of amethyst, living birds, and secret mammoth skeletons tumble forth.