Subject: Re: [HM] "President Garfield's Proof"
From: Julio Gonzalez Cabillon (jgc@adinet.com.uy)
Date: Thu Feb 24 2000 - 15:55:17 EST
Dear Colleagues,
As you may imagine I was out of the cyberspace for a month, so I
apologise for my belated responses. I append below another most
helpful email from Amy Rupert, who has been extremely kind in
answering my messages. I am most grateful for this. Time is life,
something that many people, alas, do not seem to understand or
fully grasp at the time of giving proper credits or thanks! But,
yes, I must be aware that "el mundo es bello porque es variado",
and there are many "ways" of living within it.
Best regards,
Julio Gonzalez Cabillon
FWD MESSAGE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2000 09:59:23 -0500
From: Amy Rupert
Subject: Re: [HM] "President Garfield's Proof"
To: Julio Gonzalez Cabillon
Organization: Williams College Library
Cabillon wrote:
>
> Dear Librarians,
>
> As you may remember, I a few days ago I troubled you with an exotic
> question - the feasibility of the proof of the Pythagorean theorem by
> President Garfield.
>
> 1. Would you be so kind as to corroborate whether there is any
> information that states that Garfield devised the proof as a SCHOOLBOY?
I cannot verify when exactly Garfield devised the proof. There is
evidence, however, that Garfield studied geometry as a young man (early
twenties). According to Garfield's diary, he studied geometry
independently while he attended the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute
in Hiram, OH (1851-1853). He mentions studying Davies edition of
Legendre's Geometry. Garfield taught geometry and several other
subjects at a district school in Ohio during the time that he was
studying at the Institute.
>
> 2. Amy Rupert wrote:
> "In a journal entry dated March 7, 1876, Garfield states that during a
> visit to Keene he showed his proof to Professor Quimby who was
> Professor of Mathematics at Dartmouth Univ."
>
> Now, is this information mentioned in the same issue or journal where
> Garfield's proof was first published, that is, in _The Journal of
> Education_ 3:161 (1876)?
I do not know if this information is included in the article. A
citation for the article was included in a foot note to this diary
entry.
> 3. Amy Rupert wrote:
> "James A. Garfield studied Greek and Mathematics at Williams College."
>
> Could you please elaborate on this? That is, I am interested in Garfield
> math studies at Williams. Do your archives produce precise dates on
> Garfield math studies and related interests?
James A. Garfield entered Williams College in July 1854. He studied
Analytical Geometry under Rev. John Tatlock whom Garfield called a
"mighty man in Mathematics." According to the Williams College Bulletin
1854-1855, Analytical Geometry was offered in as a two part course
during the second and third term. During Garfield's second year at
Williams, he focused more on philosophy and literature. Mathematics
courses were generally not offered in the Junior or Senior year.
Garfield's diaries are published in the following source:
Brown, Harry James, Williams, Frederick D., eds. The Diary of James A.
Garfield. East Lansing: Michigan State University Press, 1967.
I've enjoyed researching these questions. If you need any further
information, please let me know.
Regards,
Amy Rupert
Acting College Archivist/Special Collections Librarian
Williams College, Williamstown MA 01267
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