Monticello Curatorial Assistant Jodi Frederiksen was sifting through various artifacts during the course of the painstaking job of cataloging nails, bricks and other such objects when she came across something unusual: tin-plated iron shingles from Monticello's dome, dating back to Jeffersonian times, with signatures scratched into them. Upon further research, Frederiksen discovered that approximately two-thirds of the legible signatures were those of University students. The inscriptions were made between 1827 and 1834.
"It was interesting, to say the least," Frederiksen said. "Even early on in Monticello's history, [students] were interested -- it was enough of a landmark for them that they would climb all the way up to the roof to write their names. U.Va. students at the time had some kind of tie to Jefferson."
From the early 1800s to today, Monticello and the University have maintained strong relations. The connection began with Thomas Jefferson -- creator of both Monticello and the University -- and has extended through the years, from the students who climbed up to Monticello's dome in the 1800s to today's students who intern, visit and explore the home of their university's founder.
Wayne Mogielnicki, director of communications at Monticello, said Monticello and the University co-sponsor a number of programs, such as the Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medals, given out annually in the fields of law, architecture and this year, for the first time, civic leadership.
In addition, the University's continuing education course about Jefferson and Monticello is taught by Monticello staff members, Monticello's summer archaeological field school is operated in conjunction with the University and some of the senior staff members at Monticello are also faculty members at the University.
Fraser Neiman, director of archaeology at Monticello, is one such person.
"We have a pretty extensive archaeological research program at Monticello," Neiman said. "That program benefits in many ways from the fact that I teach at U.Va. as well."
The fact that Monticello staff members work at the University allows them to bring undergraduate and graduate students to research at Monticello, Neiman said.
"We do rely on U.Va. for people who want to come and actually learn how to do real archaeological research," Neiman said. "If you're trying to do cutting edge research, you need a source of smart folks, and U.Va. is it for us."
The University also benefits from this relationship.
Monticello is able to do things "that we couldn't do nearly as easily, and we're able to provide opportunities for U.Va. students that they wouldn't have otherwise," Neiman said. "From the archaeology point of view, both institutions benefit from having each other. It's really great to have U.Va. next door."
Frederiksen experienced this first-hand when she was doing research at the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library.
"Everyone was really helpful and seemed interested in my project," Frederiksen said. "Obviously [Monticello and the University] have a very close tie with Jefferson, and I hope that we have a good relationship because of it."
Mogielnicki agreed, commenting on the "mutually beneficial" relationship between Monticello and the University.
"We have a very longstanding, cooperative, cordial and fruitful relationship with the University," he said.
The University's proximity to Monticello also provides students with the unique opportunity of easily visiting Jefferson's home.
"The conventional wisdom is that it's thought that every U.Va. student comes here at least once during their college career," Mogielnicki said.
As part of Monticello's "good neighbor policy," University students receive discounted rates for the House Tour and Grounds Ticket -- $7 as opposed to the usual $15. In addition, Monticello usually holds a "U.Va. free day" in February, primarily geared towards first-year students -- buses running from Newcomb Hall transport interested students to the historic home.
Third-year College student Stephanie Glover has been to Monticello twice
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