Smithsonian-Linked Book Uses Genomics to Link Jefferson and Hemings's Children

A new book presents what it calls "extraordinary proof" that Thomas Jefferson fathered children with Sally Hemings, according to a report on the project's use of advanced genomics. The work draws on cutting-edge genomic techniques to connect Jefferson's hair to Hemings's children, an evidentiary link announced two centuries after the events in question. The findings center on the Smithsonian, which is associated with the research effort. The book describes how the genetic analysis produced its conclusions, framing the results as extraordinary proof of the paternity at the heart of a long-debated chapter in American history. The report was published by The New York Times on September 18, 2026. No further details on the authors, publisher, or specific methodology were provided in the source material.