Jefferson Research Continues

Board Secretary Phyllis McLaughlin is building a case that Thomas Jefferson’s granddaughters did, in fact, attend Eleutherian College. Her research is based on genetic genealogy. The project will result in the publication of a book about Eleutherian and its legacy.

An ambrotype from the early 1860s likely is a wedding portrait of Willam A. Roberson and Lucy Jefferson, based on later photos of them.

William and Lucy’s photo is owned by Emily Brin Roberson of San Francisco, shown here holding a photo of her father, Mason Roberson.

Emily’s second cousin Bill Roberson of Los Angeles, poses with a portrait of his dad, William Artrudoe Roberson.

Board Member Phyllis McLaughlin, second from left, stands with other second-cousins: Peggy Lee Anderson of Tacoma, Washington, left, and her sisters, Jean, center, and Ginger, right. The cousins are part of a genetic-genealogy research project meant to determine if they are, indeed, the third-great-grandchildren of President Thomas Jefferson through Robert Jefferson, Lucy’s father. Born into slavery, Lucy and her sister, Georgianna, both attended Eleutherian College in the 1850s.

Fall Gathering – October 19, 2024

Historic Eleutherian College will host its annual Fall Gathering on October 19 from 10 AM to 4 PM. Join us for tours, historic programming, art and music! Pack a...

Preservationists tout Indiana college’s legacy of flaunting slavery laws – WISH TV Indianapolis

Jan Vetrhus, president of Historic Eleutherian’s board of directors and board member Roland Newman welcomed WISH TV’s Adam Pinsker to the college to learn more about its history. ...

Hanover College students tour HEC

We were happy to host Hanover College students from Dr. Lake Lambert’s class on the theology and life of Martin Luther King, Jr. that was offered this spring. The...