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Virginia Military Institute Archives
VMI ArchivesResearchers must use copies of the Thomas Jefferson letters. The originals are not released for handling.
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The two letters from Thomas Jefferson to Claudius Crozet are avaliable online .
Additional selected documents are also avaliable online .
Claudius Crozet papers, 1792-1832. MS 0059. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.
Claudius Crozet, engineer and educator, was born in Villefranche, France on December 31, 1789. Following his graduation from the Ecole Polytechnique, he entered the French Army as an artilleryman and served until 1816. He was a prisoner of war in Russia from 1814 to 1816. In 1816 he married Agathe DeCamp, and the couple immigrated to the United States.
Crozet accepted an appointment as a Professor of Engineering at the United States Military Academy at West Point (New York), where he taught until 1823. During this time he published "A Treatise of Descriptive Geometry for the Use of the Cadets of the United States Military Academy."
Subsequent to his career at West Point, Crozet served as: State Engineer of Virginia (1823-1832) State Engineer of Louisiana (1832-1834) President of Jefferson College, Louisiana (1834-1836) President of VMI Board of Visitors (1837-1845) President of the VMI Board of Visitors (1837-1845) Principal Engineer of Virginia (1837-1843) Principal of the Richmond Academy (Virginia) (1845-1849) In 1849, Crozet was appointed Chief Engineer on a project to build a tunnel through the Blue Ridge. From 1857 to 1859 he worked on constructing an aqueduct for Washington, D.C. Crozet died in Richmond, Virginia on January 29, 1864.
The bulk of the Claudius Crozet papers are in French and chronicle Crozet's early years in France prior to his move to the United States in 1816. Included are letters, military orders, discourses on linguistics and grammar, papers pertaining to his marriage and family, and mementos relating to his daughter, Adele, who died in 1830.
Also included are two letters (dated 1821) from Thomas Jefferson to Crozet. The letter of March 31 is Jefferson's reply to Crozet's inquiry about a teaching position at the University of Virginia. The letter of November 23 acknowledges the receipt of Crozet's book and includes comments on scientific advancements.
Chronological
Letter regards Claudius Crozet's promotion to Second Captain.
To DeCamp family from (signature illegible). Letter encloses the certificate of death for Pierre DeCamp, brother of Claudius Crozet's wife, Agathe.
Letter honors Claudius Crozet for his service.
To Claudius Crozet from Baron De [Maller?]. Crozet is asked to supervise the construction of a bridge.
Letter explains that bridge equipment needs to be sent to Paris. Claudius Crozet is to proceed to St. Denis where officer's quarters were established. Also, Crozet is to inform General Neigre about disposition of troops.
Letter regards Claudius Crozet's French Army rank.
Letter instructs Claudius Crozet to proceed to Vincennes (France) and report to Colonel Renaud.
Written from Monticello, Virginia. Thomas Jefferson responds to Claudius Crozet's offer to teach at the University of Virginia. Letter also comments on the progress of the University and on the uncertainty of funding.
Monticello. Mar. 31. Sir Your favor from West Point has been duly received. We are as yet far from the time at which we may think of procuring Professors for our University. The buildings indeed will all be finished in the course of 2 or 3 years, but our funds will be left burthened with a heavy debt, which will absorb them many years, if left to discharge it. Whether the legislature at some future day may take it off their hands and enable it to commence its operations is quite uncertain. With my regrets therefore that I can say nothing more satisfactory accept the assurance of my respect.
Th. Jefferson M. Crozet.
Written from Monticello, Virginia. Thomas Jefferson thanks Claudius Crozet for sending him a copy of his new geometry textbook and for his contributions to teaching. The letter also comments on the advancement of science.
Monticello. Nov. 23.21
Sir Monticello Nov. 23. 21. I thank you, Sir, for your kind attention in sending me a copy of your valuable treatise on Descriptive geometry. I felicitate the student of the present day on this important supplement to his knolege of the theory of geometry, and those of our country particularly on their fortunate acquisition of so able an instructor in it. We are sometimes disposed to think with regret that we have been born an age too soon for the luminous advance of sciences of which we see the dawn. But justice suggests that our age has had it's turn, and it's honors too, and that the enjoyment of advancing science which we have had more than those who have gone before us, should not be envied to those who are to come after us. With my thankfulness for the services you are rendering my young countrymen, accept the assurance of my great esteem and respect.
Th. Jefferson M. Crozet.
A composition book which also includes several pages of analytic geometry proofs.
Topics include formation of adverbs, prepositions, letters, and vowels.
A manuscript of approximately 100 pages on the Russian language, written for French readers. This may have been written during the period 1814-1816, when Claudius Crozet was a prisoner of war in Russia.
Discourse on German grammar that was probably written while Claudius Crozet was in Holland.
Includes discussion of articles and beginning of dative.
Includes a discussion of consonants and their pronunciation.
Covers the period between 420 and 843 AD.
Covers the period between 876 and 996 AD.
Includes discussion on the use of the participle.
Likely a fragment of one of the linguistic discourses.
Chronological
Indicates that M. DeCamp and her husband had life insurance for their daughter Agathe. Agathe's existence is verified each year from 1793 to 1808 by endorsements on the back of the document.
A statement that appears to document an agreement between Pierrette Varion (Claudius Crozet's mother) and a landlady regarding payment for living quarters.
A document indicating that Madame DeCamp's estate is to be divided by the daughters, the son having died in 1813.
A marriage contract between Claudius Crozet and Agathe DeCamp. The document gives the names, ages, and addresses of the parties involved and their parents.
In the letter, Claudius Crozet expresses his deep affection for his daughter.
Includes a clipping from an 1830 newspaper on keepsakes of deceased loved ones, which suggests a lock of hair is the best remembrance. The file includes a lock of Adele Crozet's hair, four baby teeth, and eyelashes.
Adele Crozet's script book, published by W. Darton in 1815, and a page of her practice with script.
Includes memorial verses written by Claudius Crozet and a receipt for painting an enclosure in a graveyard (dated April 21, 1830).
Three place cards bearing signature of Mrs. Crozet.