Thomas Jefferson Grave Marker, (sculpture).

Thomas Jefferson Grave Marker, (sculpture).

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826, designer.

Perry, John M., fabricator.

Dinsmore, James, fabricator.

Thomas Jefferson Grave Marker, (sculpture).

Jefferson Monument, (sculpture).

Erected 1826 or 1833. Relocated 1883. Dedicated June 4 or July 4, 1885. Rededicated April 13, 1932. Relocated 1976. Rededicated April 3, 1976.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: New Hampshire (?) granite; Base: stone and concrete.

Sculpture: approx. 106 x 35 x 35 in.; Base: approx. 20 x 59 x 59 in.

(Metal plaque on lower back of sculpture, facing Francis Quadrangle:) "THIS ORIGINAL MARKER/PLACED AT THE GRAVE OF THOMAS JEFFERSON AT MONTICELLO,/VIRGINIA, IN 1826, CONSTRUCTED FROM HIS OWN DESIGN,/WAS PRESENTED JULY 4, 1883, BY THE JEFFERSON HEIRS TO THE/UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI, FIRST STATE UNIVERSITY TO BE/FOUNDED IN THE LOUISIANA TERRITORY PURCHASED FROM/FRANCE DURING PRESIDENT JEFFERSON'S ADMINISTRATION./THE OBELISK, DEDICATED ON THE CAMPUS AT COMMENCEMENT,/JUNE 4, 1885, COMMEMORATES THOMAS JEFFERSON, THIRD/PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, WHOSE FAITH IN THE/FUTURE OF WESTERN AMERICAN AND WHOSE CONFIDENCE IN THE PEOPLE HAS SHAPED OUR NATION; COMMEMORATES/THE AUTHOR OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND/OF THE VIRGINIA STATUTE FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM,/FOUNDER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, FOSTERER OF/PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES./THE ORIGINAL EPITAPH/HERE WAS BURIED THOMAS JEFFERSON/AUTHOR OF THE DECLARATION OF/AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE/OF/THE STATUTE OF VIRGINIA/FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND/FATHER OF THE UNIVERSITY/OF VIRGINIA/Born April 2nd, 1743 OS - DIED JULY 4, 1826 unsigned (On reverse side, facing Chancellor's residence, incised lettering:) BORN. APRIL 2nd/1743 OS/DIED. JULY 4, 1826 unsigned

A rough-hewn obelisk marker once used as a gravestone, mounted upon a two-tiered base of stone on concrete, set in a brick-paved courtyard, flanked by benches. A marble plaque is missing from the face.

Homage -- Jefferson, Thomas

Occupation -- Political -- President

Occupation -- Political -- Statesman

Occupation -- Political -- Diplomat

Occupation -- Law -- Lawyer

Occupation -- Education

Occupation -- Writer -- Author

Outdoor Sculpture -- Missouri -- Columbia

Administered by University of Missouri, Campus Facilities, General Services Building, 900 East Stadium, Columbia, Missouri 65211

Located University of Missouri, East side of Francis Quadrangle, Columbia, Missouri

Gift of Jefferson, Thomas, family of, July 4, 1883.

Formerly located Monticello, Graveyard, Charlottesville, Virginia

Sculpture originally marked the grave of President Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) at his estate, Monticello, in Charlottesville, Virginia. It was designed by Jefferson, a rough sketch of which was discovered by his descendants shortly after his death. It was fabricated by John M. Perry and James Dinsmore, who had earlier helped Jefferson as carpenters and builders of Monticello, and placed over his grave with a white marble slab around the base. At the time of his death, Jefferson's estate was in debt, and sources disagree as to whether the gravestone was erected in 1826, or not until 1833. Jefferson's instructions were followed exactly, including adding "O.S." to his birthdate inscription, referring to the "old style" calendar in use at the time of his birth. Jefferson directed that the stone be "the coarse stone of which my columns are made" to deter vandalism; but, because of the coarseness, it was not possible to cut the epitaph on the face. Instead, a carved marble plaque (now removed) was set into the facing. Incised inscription on side of gravestone, below where plaque was originally placed, are the last words of the original epitaph.

Monticello was sold outside the Jefferson family beginning in 1831, with "free access" given to the graveyard for the Jefferson family. Monticello eventually fell into squalid conditions, and the gravestone was vandalized. Some sources of the period suggest that the "original" gravestone may have been destroyed and replaced. In 1878, Congress passed a resolution to repair the graveyard and replace the gravestone. The Jefferson heirs gave the gravestone to the University of Missouri, which was the first state university in the Louisiana Purchase, which Jefferson had been instrumental in acquiring. It was relocated to the University in 1883, presented by the Jefferson heirs on the anniversary of Jefferson's death, on July 4, 1883. It was dedicated the last day of Commencement, either June 4 or July 4, 1885, sited to the right of the entrance of Academic Hall.

The gravestone was moved frequently on campus. In 1931, Jefferson's birthday was declared a State holiday, and on April 13, 1932, the gravestone was rededicated with a new marker. University of Missouri President and Representative Joseph B. Shannon of Kansas City were influential in obtaining funds for the marker. In 1976, the gravestone was moved to its current site, given a new concrete base and rededicated on April 3rd (the day after Jefferson's birthday), aided by a gift from the Class of 1926. The Quadrangle was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

The original marble plaque on the gravestone was removed for safekeeping to Academic Hall when the gravestone was initially relocated to the University. The building was destroyed by fire on January 9, 1892, and the plaque was cracked and burned, broken in three pieces. The restored plaque in now kept in a vault in Jesse Hall, and is displayed annually for Jefferson's birthday.

IAS files contain William Peden's booklet "The Jefferson Monument at the University of Missouri," which contains Jefferson's original design, and a historic pictures of the sculpture at Monticello and Academic Hall; George Green Shackelford's "Collected Papers to Commemorate Fifty Years of the Monticello Association of the Descendants of Thomas Jefferson," Princeton University Press, 1965, pg. 9-18; and George Armstrong Wauchope's "Burning of the University of Missouri, January 9, 1892. Descriptive Sketch," Columbia, MO: E. W. Stephens Printer and Binder, 1895, pg. 7.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Missouri survey, 1994.

Peden, William, "The Jefferson Monument at the University of Missouri."

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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