History of the University of Virginia, 1819-1919: The Lengthened Shadow of One Man

Commissioned to commemorate the centennial of the University of Virginia, this five-volume work was authored by the historian Philip Alexander Bruce. Published in 1920, the series was intended to provide a comprehensive, scholarly chronicle of the institution's first century, tracing its development from Thomas Jefferson's original vision for an 'academical village' through its evolution into a major American university. The title draws upon Ralph Waldo Emerson’s observation that 'an institution is the lengthened shadow of one man,' clearly attributing the university’s foundational character to Jefferson.

Philip Alexander Bruce, a distinguished historian and UVA alumnus, was selected for the monumental task of documenting the university's complex history, including its antebellum origins and its survival through the Civil War and Reconstruction. His writing style reflects the historiographical conventions of the early twentieth century, offering a narrative that emphasizes the administrative and intellectual milestones of the university. While the set is valued today as a foundational reference for historical research on the institution, it is also studied for how it reflects the perspectives and societal priorities prevalent in Virginia at the end of the university's first century.