The Years Bring Enlightenment: The Friendship and Politics of Abigail Adams and Thomas Jefferson

Abigail Smith Adams was an educated upper class woman whose well-articulated opinions on government, politics and life in general influenced at least two American presidents: her husband President John Adams, and her son President John Quincy Adams. She embraced her role as wife and mother, passionately embodying the Enlightenment concept of Woman as keeper of household virtue. Abigail’s biggest causes were education and fairer treatment of women. She advocated education for both men and women, so they would be informed enough to deserve to be enfranchised. Although she could be blunt, Abigail advocated discussion and usually accorded and received respect. She is probably best remembered for her letter asking her husband to “…remember the ladies…” when enacting new laws. She asked John to limit the power of husbands over their wives, advocating the creation of legislation which would empower women with property ownership and access to educational and political opportunities.

Kim Hanley’s academic training includes a BFA in Restoration and History of Applied Arts from the Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York. She is an actor, singer, costumer and dancer who trained and performed from an early age with the School of American Ballet and the Eglevsky Ballet in New York, as well as with the visiting Bolshoi Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet. Ms. Hanley is also an accomplished costumer whose specialty is historical fashion. She has costumed for Many of the Nation’s top historical Interpreters and historical sites such as George Washington’s Mount Vernon. On a lighter note, she includes among her “bigger” clients The Philly Phanatic.

Kim began interpreting Abigail with AHT in 1997. Ms. Hanley has appeared in venues that include the White House Visitors Center, National Archives in Washington DC and NYC, National Portrait Gallery, Fraunces Tavern Museum at Trinity Church in NYC, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Franklin Institute, National Constitution Center, Independence Visitors Center, Museum of the American Revolution, Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania Historical Society, Durham Museum, Mount Rushmore, Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace, Delaware Humanities Forum Chautauqua, and many other historical and educational institutions throughout New Jersey and the Greater Philadelphia area.

In addition to Abigail Adams, Kim’s character portrayals include: Dorothy Quincy Hancock, Annie Oakley, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Mary Young Pickersgill, Betsy Ross, Molly Pitcher, Eliza Goodfellow, Allice Roosevelt Longworth, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, and Grace Coolidge. Upcoming Projects include Mother Jones!

While earning his BA from Dickinson College, Steve Edenbo’s focus was research and writing, His theater experience included improvisation, and training in voice and singing. Mr. Edenbo was introduced to American Historical Theatre in 1999. He bases his interpretation of Thomas Jefferson on the insight that comes from continuing years of research and reflection, for which he was awarded a Research Fellowship at Monticello in 2008 by the International Center for Jefferson Studies. Steven also has the honor of interpreting Thomas Jefferson at Philadelphia’s Declaration House, a re-creation by Independence National Historical Parks of the building in which Jefferson lived and wrote the Declaration of Independence. He is the only person invited to interpret Thomas Jefferson at this historic site.

Mr. Edenbo shares Jefferson’s love of reading, writing, and good wine, as well as a love of the outdoors and the need to balance intimate friendships with solitude.

In 2025, the History Channel released a 6-part documentary on the life of Thomas Jefferson in which Mr. Edenbo starred in the title role. In 2026 he will be featured again as Thomas Jefferson in a documentary produced by Craig Fergusson- release date TBA.

Mr. Edenbo has interpreted Thomas Jefferson at venues that include Monticello; The National Archives, DC and NYC; Independence National Historical Park: Independence Hall, Declaration House, Congress Hall and City Tavern; The Smithsonian Institution; National Constitution Center; University of Virginia; The Jefferson Education Society; Founding Forward; Carpenter’s Hall; Hamilton Grange National Memorial; Federal Hall National Memorial; the Philly Pops at Independence Hall; Texas A & M International University; Academy of Natural Sciences; and numerous middle and high schools and colleges, and at professional improvement seminars for Judges, Lawyers, and Educators at locations throughout the United States.