Sign-In
Cart
Peculiar Satisfaction: Thomas Jefferson and the Mastery of Subjects
Paperback
General ReferenceGeneral Racism & Ethnic StudiesGeneral United States History
ISBN13: 9781531511944
Publisher: Fordham University Press
Published: Dec 2 2025
Pages: 352
Weight: 1.15
Height: 0.94 Width: 5.98 Depth: 8.82
Language: English
How Thomas Jefferson's vision for knowledge shapes what we know and how we access it--and why that matters more than ever
As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Peculiar Satisfaction examines how the ideals and contradictions of the nation's founding live on in libraries, archives, and museums. Thomas Jefferson championed an informed citizenry as essential to democracy, yet the systems he built to organize knowledge reinforced racial and ideological hierarchies that persist today.
Melissa Adler explores Jefferson's lasting influence on public institutions, from his personal library, which became the foundation of the Library of Congress, to his archival practices in gov-ernment record-keeping and his museum at Monticello as a site of colonial knowledge production. Through an interdisciplinary lens, she reveals how his methods of classification and preservation shaped national memory and democratic participation.
Drawing from archival research and critical theory, Peculiar Satisfaction exposes the paradoxes of access, exclusion, and control embedded in information systems. As censorship and disinformation threaten democracy, Adler argues that understanding these foundational structures is essential to defending the role of knowledge in public life.
Offering a fresh perspective on the ways information, power, and race have shaped American institutions, this book will engage scholars and general readers interested in how libraries, archives, and museums influence history, democracy, and collective memory and argues for a nuanced understanding of these institutions at a critical moment where disinformation and authoritarian rule threaten to undo them.
Also in
General Reference
Dungeons & Dragons Player's Handbook (Core Rulebook, D&d Roleplaying Game)
Dungeons & Dragons
Hardcover
The Science Magpie: Fascinating Facts, Stories, Poems, Diagrams and Jokes Plucked from Science
Flynn, Simon
Paperback
Peculiar Questions and Practical Answers: A Little Book of Whimsy and Wisdom from the Files of the New York Public Library
New York Public Library
Hardcover
The Parenting Project: Build Extraordinary Relationships with Your Kids Through Daily Conversation
Alamar, Amy
Schlichting, Kristine
Paperback
Lost in Space: 5,000 Facts for Navigating the Universe
Tyson, Neil Degrasse
Walker, Lindsey Nyx
Hardcover
Within the House of Murdaugh: Amid a Unique Friendship, Blanca and Maggie
Turrubiate-Simpson, Blanca
Weaver, Mary Frances
Paperback
Canning & Preserving: The Techniques, Equipment, and Recipes to Get Started
Harmeling, Michele
Paperback
The New Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Expert Advice for Extreme Situations
Piven, Joshua
Borgenicht, David
Hardcover
Floriography: An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers Volume 1
Roux, Jessica
Hardcover
Mushrooms of the Upper Midwest: A Simple Guide to Common Mushrooms
Marrone, Teresa
Yerich, Kathy
Paperback
White Elephant Gifts for Adult: 500 Serial Killers Encyclopedia Facts and Figures
Murdle, K.
Paperback
The Book of Unusual Knowledge: Big Book of Fascinating Facts & Information Hardcover Gift for Trivia Buffs, Curious Minds, Adults, Dad & Knowledge See
Publications International Ltd
Hardcover
Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool
Oster, Emily
Paperback
Take It from Me: An Agent's Guide to Building a Nonfiction Writing Career from Scratch
Habib, Alia Hanna
Hardcover
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: The Last Book on Novel Writing You'll Ever Need
Brody, Jessica
Paperback
The Modern Guide to Querying Literary Agents: From Rejection to Representation in 8 Steps
McDonald, Patrick
Matesic, Alyssa
Paperback
Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence
Leo XIV, Pope
Paperback
American Sign Language Made Easy for Beginners: A Visual Guide with ASL Signs, Lessons, and Quizzes
Belmontes-Merrell, Travis
Paperback
The New Dark Ages: The Death of Reading and the Dawn of the Post-Literate Society
Marriott, James
Hardcover
The Writing Rope: A Framework for Explicit Writing Instruction in All Subjects
Sedita, Joan
Paperback
The Writing Revolution 2.0: A Guide to Advancing Thinking Through Writing in All Subjects and Grades
Hochman, Judith C.
Wexler, Natalie
Paperback
Freeing the Natural Voice: Imagery and Art in the Practice of Voice and Language (Revised & Expanded)
Linklater, Kristin
Paperback
Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, 12th Edition
Balch, Thomas J.
Robert, Henry M., III
Honemann, Daniel H.
Paperback
Seberson Method: New Sat(r) Vocabulary Workbook: Over 700 High-Frequency Words to Master
Seberson, Katya
Paperback
The Trusted Advisor: 20th Anniversary Edition
Green, Charles
Maister, David H.
Galford, Robert
Paperback
The Public Domain: Find and Use Free Content for Your Website, Book, App, Music, Video, Art, and More
Secor, Glen
Paperback
Next Steps in Literacy Instruction: Connecting Assessments to Effective Interventions
Smartt, Susan, PH. D.
Glaser, Deborah, Ed D.
Paperback
French Short Stories: Thirty French Short Stories for Beginners to Improve your French Vocabulary
Moreau, Dylane
Paperback
Chase's Calendar of Events 2027: The Ultimate Go-To Guide for Special Days, Weeks and Months
Chase's, Editors Of
Paperback
The New Lifetime Reading Plan: The Classical Guide to World Literature, Revised and Expanded
Major, John S.
Fadiman, Clifton
Paperback
The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College (Revised and Updated)
Cohen, Harlan
Paperback
Effective Phrases for Performance Appraisals: A Guide to Successful Evaluations
Neal Jr, James E.
Paperback
True Facts That Sound Like Bull$#*t: 500 Insane-But-True Facts That Will Shock and Impress Your Friends 1
Carley, Shane
Paperback
The Preparation: How To Become Competent, Confident, and Dangerous
Smith, Maxim
Casey, Doug
Smith, Matt
Hardcover
5 Steps to a 5: AP English Language and Composition 2027: Practice AP Tests + AP Content Review + Digital Exams
Murphy, Barbara
Paperback
The Reading Strategies Book 2.0: Your Research-Based Guide to Developing Skilled Readers
Serravallo, Jennifer
Paperback
The Essentials of Adolescent Literacy: Integrating Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Instruction in Grades 5-12
Sedita, Joan
Paperback
Read These Banned Books: A Journal and 52-Week Reading Challenge from the American Library Association
American Library Association (ALA)
Paperback
The Bookshop: A History of Bookselling from the Dawn of Print to the Twenty-First Century
Pettegree, Andrew
Hardcover
Writing Fiction, Tenth Edition: A Guide to Narrative Craft
Stuckey-French, Ned
Burroway, Janet
Stuckey-French, Elizabeth
Paperback
The Vocabulary Builder Workbook: Simple Lessons and Activities to Teach Yourself Over 1,400 Must-Know Words
Magoosh
Lele, Chris
Paperback
Elledge's Nontrivial Trivia: The Seriously Enlightening Stories Behind Supposedly Simple Facts
Elledge, Jonn
Paperback
Stuff Every Adult Should Know: A Pocket-Sized Guide to Grown-Up Know-How, from Taxes to Small Talk
Cohen, Brett
Favreau, Alyssa
Kalb, Alanna
Hardcover
5 Steps to a 5: AP English Literature and Composition 2027: Practice AP Tests + AP Content Review + Digital Exams
Hartnett, Michael
Paperback
Vanishing Culture: A Report on Our Fragile Cultural Record
Ziskina, Juliya
Freeland, Chris
Messarra, Luca
Paperback
Spelling High School Grades 9-10: Vocabulary and Writing Practice with Interactive Activities
Attard, Natasha
Paperback
180 Days(r) Reading for Fifth Grade, 2nd Edition: Practice, Assess, Diagnose
Kopp, Kathleen N.
Kopp, Kathy
Levsey, Dylan
Paperback
7 Keys to Comprehension: How to Help Your Kids Read It and Get It!
Hutchins, Chryse
Zimmermann, Susan
Paperback
The Book For Men Who Have Everything: Unusual Knowledge and Boredom Busters for Intelligent Men
Iq Street
Paperback
Thinking Critically about What Matters: A Punk Rock Guide
Klipfel, Kevin Michael
Klipfel, Lyndsay
Paperback
Black People Invented Everything: The Deep History of Indigenous Creativity
Dass, Sujan Kumar
Paperback
The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them Better
Storr, Will
Paperback
The Backyard Birdwatcher's Bible: Birds, Behaviors, Habitats, Identification, Art & Other Home Crafts
Sterry, Paul
Perrins, Christopher
Ellis, Sonya Patel
Hardcover
The Essentials: The Art of Interior Design: A Guide to Furnishing, Decorating, and Styling Your Home
Goebel, Julie
Flemming, Caitlin
Hardcover
The New American Ephemeris for the 21st Century 2000-2100 at Midnight, Michelsen Memorial Edition
Michelsen, Neil F.
Paperback
The Orvis Quick-Start Guide to Fly-Fishing: Everything You Need to Know to Catch Fish Your First Time Out
Monahan, Philip
Paperback
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Second Edition: How to Edit Yourself Into Print
King, Dave
Browne, Renni
Paperback
Hoyle's Rules of Games, 3rd Revised and Updated Edition: The Essential Guide to Poker and Other Card Games
Morehead, Philip D.
Morehead, Albert H.
Mott-Smith, Geoffrey
Paperback
The Best Punctuation Book, Period (Revised Edition): A Comprehensive Guide for Every Writer, Editor, Student, and Businessperson
Casagrande, June
Paperback
The What Does the Bible Say about: The Ultimate A to Z Resource
Nelson Reference
Thomas Nelson Publishers
Paperback