As we prepare to celebrate the Fourth of July and our nation’s 250th anniversary, we also recognize a special Mizzou connection to a Founding Father right in the heart of campus. 

In 1883, Thomas Jefferson’s tombstone and plaque at Monticello had begun to deteriorate. The federal government previously approved funding for a new monument, and Jefferson’s heirs personally selected the University of Missouri to receive the original grave marker, in recognition of Mizzou’s role as the first public university in territory acquired through Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase. 

The Columbia Herald-Statesman reported an initial reveal scheduled for July 4, 1884 – a date corresponding to Jefferson’s death in 1826 – but a formal unveiling near Academic Hall was delayed until commencement in June 1885. After various moves around campus over the decades, and a trip to St. Louis for the 1904 World’s Fair, the monument was permanently relocated on July 4, 1976 to its current place along Francis Quadrangle, in time for the nation’s bicentennial. 

Jefferson’s commitment to public higher education has shaped Mizzou from its earliest foundations. The 1839 Geyer Act established the University of Missouri and was inspired by legislation Jefferson crafted to develop the University of Virginia. James Rollins, often called the Father of the University of Missouri, also expressed admiration for Jefferson and his many contributions to our nation. As president of the Board of Curators, Rollins personally wrote Jefferson’s heirs to share the university’s gratitude for their gift. 

Last week, Chair of the Board of Curators Todd Graves and I were invited by the Monticello Association to discuss the importance of the Jefferson Gravestone to the University of Missouri.