Proposed list of instruments for the classes of Natural philosophy and Mathematics, Thomas Jefferson [ViU-2025-0126]

Containers:

Folder 1824 April 26

Creator:

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Extent:

0.03 Cubic Feet One letter-sized file folder

Scope and content:

This is one eight-page manuscript is entitled "Proposed list of instruments for the classes of [N]at[ural] philosophy & Mathematics," written by Thomas Jefferson around April 26, 1824. The instruments recommended by Jefferson were to outfit the departments of science in the Academical Village classrooms and laboratories at the University of Virginia, which held its first term in 1826. The listed is organized through headings by equipment requirements for each scientific department at the University: "Genl purposes," "Mechanics," "Hydrostatics," "Optics," "Electricity Etc.," "Astronomy," and "Miscellaneous." Jefferson's list includes a "very accurate set of weights" outlined with a table, a "model of Braham's fire engine," "a good Kaleidoscope," a "simple Planetarium, 3f diam. with Sun, moon & earth only," a "Lithographic press," an "Electric battery," a "Turning lathe with Tools for working in wood & brass," a "Magic lanthern," "12 f of brass chain for electrical machine," a camera lucida, a variety of pumps, a charcoal furnace, and many other scientific dependencies. For his request of "a very large supply" of glass tubes, Jefferson included three simple drawings of his preferred tube types. This list of proposed instruments was penned by Jefferson shortly before Francis Walker Gilmer, an emissary of Jefferson, was dispatched to Europe to gather mechanical and scientific instruments, as well as recruit professors from London, Cambridge, and Edinburgh colleges for the forming University of Virginia. Gilmer returned to Virginia at the end of 1824 with five professorships filled. Three small paper fragments from the manuscript are also present.

Language:

English

Subjects:

University of Virginia

Names:

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

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