Editing Thomas Jefferson (section)

===University of Virginia===
{{Main|University of Virginia}}
[[File:Lawn UVa Rotunda Pavilions II and IV.jpg|thumb|The [[University of Virginia]] in [[Charlottesville, Virginia|Charlottesville]], which Jefferson founded in January 1819]]

Jefferson envisioned a university free of church influences where students could specialize in new areas not offered at other colleges. He believed that education engendered a stable society, which should provide publicly funded schools accessible based solely on ability.<ref>[[#UVALibrary|U Va. Library]]</ref> He initially proposed his university in a letter to [[Joseph Priestley]] in 1800<ref>[[#Adams88|Adams, 1888]], p. 48.</ref> and, in 1819, founded the [[University of Virginia]]. He organized the state legislative campaign for its charter and, with the assistance of [[Edmund Bacon (1785–1866)|Edmund Bacon]], purchased the location. He was the principal designer of the buildings, planned the university's curriculum, and served as the first rector upon its opening in 1825.<ref name="Peterson 1970 ch11">[[#Peterson70|Peterson, 1970]], ch. 11 [e-book].</ref>

Jefferson was a strong disciple of Greek and Roman architectural styles, which he believed to be most representative of American democracy. Each academic unit, called a pavilion, was designed with a two-story temple front, while the library "Rotunda" was modeled on the [[Pantheon, Rome|Roman Pantheon]]. Jefferson referred to the university's grounds as the "[[The Lawn|Academical Village]]", and he reflected his educational ideas in its layout. The ten pavilions included classrooms and faculty residences; they formed a quadrangle and were connected by colonnades, behind which stood the student rooms. Gardens and vegetable plots were placed behind the pavilions and were surrounded by [[Crinkle crankle wall|serpentine walls]], affirming the importance of the agrarian lifestyle.<ref>[[#Hogan87|Hogan, 1987]], pp. 28–29.</ref> The university had a library rather than a church at its center, emphasizing its secular nature—controversial at the time.<ref>[[#Gordon08|Gordon-Reed, 2008]], p. 649.</ref>

When Jefferson died in 1826, James Madison replaced him as rector.<ref>[[#TJFMadison|TJF: James Madison]]</ref> Jefferson bequeathed most of his reconstructed library of almost 2,000 volumes to the university.<ref>[[#Crawford2008|Crawford, 2008]], p. 235.</ref> Only one other ex-president has founded a university; [[Millard Fillmore]] founded the [[University at Buffalo]] in 1846.<ref>{{cite web |title=Millard Fillmore |url=https://www.buffalo.edu/news/key-issues/Millard-Fillmore.html |website=University Of Buffalo |access-date=November 24, 2022}}</ref>