Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Cooper, 11 April 1818
To Thomas Cooper
Monticello Apr. 11. 18.
Dear Sir
I wrote to you yesterday, since which it has occurred to me that you can render us a great service. among the duties required by the legislature from the Commrs for the location of their University, one is to state to them the sciences proper for such an institution, and the number of Professors necessary. to determine this so as not to endanger overburthening any Professor, it is essential for us to know the number of lectures which will probably constitute a course in each of the sciences. will you then be so good as to send me a statement of this as to every science lectured on in Philadelphia, either in the college or out of it? and that with as little delay as your convenience will admit. I do not mean to include languages. direct it to me at this place, if you please, & be assured of my affection & respect.
Th: Jefferson
PoC (DLC); on verso of a reused address cover from John Wayles Eppes to TJ; at foot of text: “Dr Cooper”; endorsed by TJ.
“An Act appropriating part of the revenue of the Literary Fund, and for other purposes,” enacted by the Virginia General Assembly on 21 Feb. 1818, directed the “board of commissioners” for the university to report on the “branches of learning, which should be taught therein,” and the “number and description of professorships” ( [1817–18 sess.], 11–5, esp. 14).
The college was the University of Pennsylvania.
Index Entries
- An Act appropriating part of the revenue of the Literary Fund, and for other purposes (1818) search
- Cooper, Thomas; and university curriculum search
- Cooper, Thomas; letters to search
- education, collegiate; curriculum of search
- education, collegiate; faculty for search
- education; TJ solicits advice on search
- Jefferson, Thomas; Public Service; and University of Virginia Commission search
- Pennsylvania, University of search
- schools and colleges; University of Pennsylvania search
- Virginia, University of; Construction and Grounds; site of search
- Virginia, University of; Establishment; commissioners’ meeting at Rockfish Gap search
- Virginia, University of; Faculty and Curriculum; organization of professorships search
- Virginia, University of; Faculty and Curriculum; proposed curriculum search
- Virginia; General Assembly search