History of the University of Virginia
The University of Virginia began in Thomas Jefferson’s head on January 18, 1800 when he alluded to plans for a new university when he wrote a letter to Joseph Priestley, a British scientist. In the letter, he stated that he wanted the university to be located in upper Virginia, and he wanted to build a university that was broad, liberal, and modern to attract people from out of state. Although Virginia already had a university, Jefferson ruled it out due to his religious prejudices and lack of a proper education in the sciences.
James Monroe purchased the land on which the University of Virginia stands in 1788. Jefferson helped lead Monroe in laying the cornerstone for the school’s first building in late 1817, and two years later the Commonwealth of Virginia founded the new university on January 25, 1819. Jefferson toasted as the father of the University of Virginia at the school’s inaugural banquet held in 1824. The following March is when the classes first met. Jefferson broke the norm by allowing University of Virginia students to major in more than three options. He did this because he thought that a university was a place to expand your mind.
An even more controversial direction for the University was through the belief that higher education should be an activity entirely separate from religious doctrine and learning. Following this direction, the new grounds focused on a library instead of the traditional church. Jefferson even attempted to ban the teaching of theology altogether. Jefferson was so closely associated with the University of Virginia that he made mention of it in his tomb. During the winter, the beautiful lawn is covered in snow with trails running through it.
In 1826, another president became involved with the University by becoming Chancellor of the University of Virginia. Around the same time, President Monroe moved his home onto the grounds as a member of the Board of Visitors. Both presidents remained at the university until his death. Jefferson was the only president in the history of the United States who was the founder of an institution of higher learning.
