Encyclopedia
A Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge
Jefferson's "Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge" was his most enduring work on the subject of education.
Education
Articles about Jefferson's lifelong interest in and advocacy of education.
page 1 of 2
-
![Printed version of Jefferson's "A Bill for the more general diffusion of Knowledge"]()
-
![]()
StoryA Jewish Prayer for the Dead
In 2017, 50 members of the Congregation Shearith Israel synagogue traveled from New York City to Virginia to honor one of their own, Rachael Levy buried at Monticello 178 years ago.
-
![]()
EncyclopediaAnglo-Saxon Language
Learn about Jefferson's lifelong interest in Anglo Saxon language and history, which he thought fundamental to North American culture.
-
![]()
Benjamin Snead
Benjamin Snead, Thomas Jefferson's neighbor, was a weaver and teacher, who instructed several of Jefferson's siblings and at least one of his grandchildren.
-
![Image of Spring fellows MaKshya Tolbert, Tony Boll, Evan Friss, and Kori Price. Photo by Aleen Carey.]()
StoryBuilding Fellowship: Inside Monticello's Scholar Community
Nicole Brown, a historian at Monticello’s International Center for Jefferson Studies, shares how a reimagined fellowship program is cultivating the next generation of scholars—blending independent research with a rich, collaborative community of experts.
-
![Peter Maverick's engraving of John Neilson's plan drawing of the academical village of the University of Virginia, including the rotunda, pavilions, student rooms, gardens, and serpentine garden walls.]()
EncyclopediaCentral College
A look at Jefferson's early efforts to create a public university, which he initially referred to as Central College.
-
![A room with small windows, a bed, a cradle and various children's toys]()
EncyclopediaChildren's Reading
Investigate Jefferson's thoughts on children's literature and the significance of reading for young minds.
-
![The Wren Building at the College of William and Mary.]()
EncyclopediaCollege of William and Mary
Starting at age 16, Thomas Jefferson attended the College of William and Mary for two years before reading law with Williamsburg lawyer George Wythe.
-
![A bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson stands in front of the Rotunda of the University of Virginia.]()
StoryConnections Between Monticello’s Enslaved Community & UVA
Jefferson's role as the founder of the University of Virginia can be found everywhere on its grounds, but the recently dedicated Memorial to Enslaved Workers at UVA reveals further connections between Monticello and the University.
-
![National Archives/PD]()
Constantine Samuel Rafinesque
Thomas Jefferson and Constantine Samuel Rafinesque shared interests in botany, exploration, and education and maintained a correspondence that spanned 20 years.
-
![National Gallery of Scotland/Public Domian]()
Dugald Stewart
Dugald Stewart was a Scottish philosopher and mathematician whom Thomas Jefferson met and socialized with frequently while living in Paris.
-
![]()
EncyclopediaElementary School Act
The Elementary School Act, Thomas Jefferson's "Bill for Establishing Elementary Schools," was proposed legislation that was never officially adopted.
-
![Painting depicting Dr. James Jenner performing his first vaccination on James Phipps, a boy of age 8, on 14 May 1796.]()
StoryEpidemics and Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson knew a thing or two about epidemics. The virulent diseases most feared in his time were smallpox and yellow fever.
-
![One of the Bibles Thomas Jefferson cut from to create his own version of the Gospels turned to a page with four sections missing.]()
StoryFive Fascinating Religious Texts from Jefferson's Library
Thomas Jefferson’s relationship with religion was... complicated, to say the least.
-
![Profile of Francis Wayles Eppes as a young boy facing to his right with blond-brown hair, pink cheeks, and a slight overbite wearing a pink and purple garment with a wide white, frilled collar.]()
Francis Wayles Eppes
Francis Wayles Eppes was Thomas Jefferson's grandson and the only surviving child of Maria Jefferson Eppes and her husband, John Wayles Eppes.
-
![]()
EncyclopediaFrench Language
Thomas Jefferson was known to be fluent in French, though he confessed to understanding "imperfectly" after first arriving in France in 1784.
-
![An engraving of Natural Bridge by J.C. Stadler after William Roberts showing the tall natural arch and two couples standing along the river below it.]()
EncyclopediaGeology
A look at Thomas Jefferson's lifelong interest in the science of geology.
-
![]()
George Carr
Albemarle County lawyer George Carr (1800–1886) was hired by Monticello owner Uriah Levy in 1838 to manage the estate during his absences, a role he held — with Civil War interruptions — until 1879.
-
![]()
George Wythe
George Wythe was Thomas Jefferson's teacher, mentor, and friend as well as a fellow signer of the Declaration of Independence from Virginia.
-
![Painting of one wing of the U.S. Capitol in 1800 during the building's construction.]()
StoryHow the Rivalry Between Hamilton and Burr Influenced Election of 1800
How Hamilton's view of Burr ultimately sent Thomas Jefferson to the White House in 1801.
-
![]()
Story“I cannot live without books.”
Endrina Tay, Fiske and Marie Kimball Librarian, explores Thomas Jefferson's decision to sell his beloved personal library to the Library of Congress.
-
![Elevation drawing by John Neilson of the University of Virginia's Rotunda show the wings and two of the Pavilions.]()
EncyclopediaIllimitable freedom of the human mind (Quotation)
Learn more about the famous Thomas Jefferson quote "the illimitable freedom of the human mind" and how it relates to his founding of the University of Virginia.
-
![The Wren Building at the College of William and Mary.]()
EncyclopediaJefferson's Formal Education
Thomas Jefferson's formal education included a Latin school, "a correct classical scholar", the College of William and Mary, and study with lawyer George Wythe.
-
![Peter Maverick's engraving of John Neilson's plan drawing of the academical village of the University of Virginia, including the rotunda, pavilions, student rooms, gardens, and serpentine garden walls.]()
EncyclopediaJefferson's Plan for an Academical Village
A look at the development of the Academical Village of student housing and faculty pavilions designed by Thomas Jefferson to enclose the Lawn of the University of Virginia.
