"This institiution of my native State, the hobby of my old age, will be based on the illimitable freedom of the human mind, to explore and to expose every subject susceptible of its contemplation." -Thomas Jefferson

A comprehensive study of Thomas Jefferson and his role in invention and discovery is incomplete without an analysis of the University of Virginia as one of Jefferson's personal inventions. Following is a brief overview of such a consideration; however, if you are interested in a more extensive analysis, the following paper focuses upon Jefferson's invention, The University of Virginia.

The University of Virginia: An Invention?

Before contemplating this alternative view of invention, a thorough and broad definition of invention must be established. The standard definition of invention implies the creation of a novel, tangible device destined to be sent to the patent office. True invention encompasses not only material contrivances, but also all original thought, no matter what the physical manifestation. This definition recognizes any development and application of ingenuity as invention. Ascribing to this school of thought allows us to consider the University of Virginia as one of Thomas Jefferson's inventions. The university is "the product not only of an idea that had persisted in him for almost forty years, but the culmination of his entire life" (Bell). His methods of developing the university are parallel to those found in inventive and discovery processes.

Jefferson was struck with an idea to create a university that was centered around an Academical Village, a concept "based on the assumption that the life of the mind is the pursuit of all participants in the University, that learning is a lifelong and shared process, and that interaction between scholars and students enlivens the pursuit of knowledge" (UVA home page). The focus of the village is the Rotunda, not only representative of Jefferson's architectural accomplishments, but also symbolic of Jefferson's value for academics in that the Rotunda was built as the original library.

Jefferson's inventive processes included constant development of written plans for both the architecture and physical aspects of the university, as well as the academic and atmospheric development. Drawings and sketches of the Academical Village and the Rotunda demonstrate these processes. In terms of academic structure, Jefferson exemplified his theory of invention, "that one new idea leads to another…until someone, with whom no one of these ideas was original, combines all together, and produces what is justly called a new invention," by drawing on previous practices to formulate an innovative approach to college education. Jefferson created a "system of free election" instead of a "fixed curriculum" for his university to allow students to choose their course of study (Malone). Jefferson also included a more varied science curricula and a comprehensive curricula of religious studies, preferring none over another, characteristics unique to the University of Virginia (Malone).

Jefferson clearly deserves the title of university inventor, in addition to that of its primary architect, land purchaser, ground planner, supervisor, director of professors, devisor of curricula, chief executive officer and secretary, and of course, founder and "Father of the University of Virginia" (Barrett). Ingenuity is clearly employed in the creation of this university by Jefferson as seen in its architecture, the Academical Village, curricula, self-government system, and general philosophy of higher education.

His devotion to this significant achievement is summarized in his own words, "I am closing the last scenes of my life by fashioning and fostering an establishment for the instruction of those who are to come after us. I hope its influence on their virtue, freedom, fame, and happiness will be salutary and permanent."

Back to Homepage