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Mathematical Treasure: Mathematics Notebook from Harvard

Author(s): 
Frank J. Swetz (The Pennsylvania State University)

This mathematical notebook and commonplace book held by Harvard University contains hand-copied excerpts from arithmetic and geometry textbooks published in England in the late 17th century as well as sections transcribed from John Ward’s Young Mathematician’s Guide, which was taught in the classes of John Winthrop (1714–1779), Hollis Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy from 1738 to 1779. The notebook also contains notes taken during Winthrop’s lectures on natural philosophy and various reading notes and quotations from works on history and geography.

Page on classifying forms of mathematical reasoning from an 18th-century Harvard notebook.

Page on mathematical definitions from an 18th-century Harvard notebook.

Page on first principles of arithmetic from an 18th-century Harvard notebook.

Page on addition and subtraction from an 18th-century Harvard notebook.

Page on multiplication from an 18th-century Harvard notebook.

Page on vulgar fractions from an 18th-century Harvard notebook.

A full digitization is available from Harvard Library.

Index to Mathematical Treasures

Frank J. Swetz (The Pennsylvania State University), "Mathematical Treasure: Mathematics Notebook from Harvard," Convergence (August 2023)