Jefferson's paternity

A research committee appointed by the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation, which owns and operates Monticello, released its report Jan. 26 on the relationship between Jefferson and his slave, Sally Hemings. Its conclusion: Jefferson almost certainly fathered one of Hemings' sons, and likely all six of Hemings' known children.

Foundation president Dan Jordan appointed the committee in the wake of the October 1998 publication of a DNA study that concluded that Jefferson was likely the father of Hemings' youngest son, Eston.

The committee's research validated the DNA findings and documented Jefferson's presence at Monticello at the times that Hemings presumably conceived. It also cited prevailing beliefs that Jefferson had a slave family.