University of Virginia Library

Virginia's Gain

But UT's loss was the University
of Virginia's gain. Jefferson applied
the ideas first put forth in his letter
of reply to the trustees to his design
of the university, which one author
has called Jefferson's "crowning architectural
achievement." This is no
small praise indeed for the man
who designed his own home
Monticello - and who greatly influenced
early American architecture.

In the letter sent from Monticello
on May 10, 1810, Jefferson
applauded efforts to establish the
Tennessee institution, but begged
out of the lottery.

HE EXPRESSED THE OPINION
that the common plan followed
in the United States of constructing
one large building for a
college was erroneous. He proposed
instead an "academical village."

He felt that it would be "infinitely
better to erect a small and
separate lodge for each separate
professorship with only a hall below
for his class and two chambers
above for himself."