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A History of the Teaching of

Elementary Geometry

BY

Alva Walker Stamper, A. M.

Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements
for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, in the
Faculty of Philosophy, Columbia University.

NEW YORK

1909

PREFACE

While much has been written on the history of mathematics, comparatively little attention has been given to the history of its teaching. Günther's "Geschichte des mathematischen Unterrichts im Deutschen Mittelalter bis zum Jahre 1525" and Suter's "Die Mathematik auf den Universitäten des Mittelalters" are the only prominent works that emphasize the teaching side. Among the works that treat the general history of mathematics, those of Cantor, Hankel, Gow, and Allman have been of great assistance. Much information has also been gained from miscellaneous articles, standard works on the history of education, and early texts, the latter constituting, for the most part, the original sources for this study.

The material that has been utilized in the first three chapters is to be found chiefly in the standard histories of mathematics, but wherever possible the original sources have been consulted. Originality is claimed only for the selection and arrangement of this portion of the subject-matter and for the conclusions drawn. The material for the next three chapters has been gleaned very largely from the original sources.

The author is under great obligation to Professor David Eugene Smith of Teachers College, Columbia University, under whose direction this dissertation has been prepared, for helpful counsel and criticism, and for rendering much of this work possible through his valuable collection of early printed books. Alva Walker Stamper.

New York, June, 1906.

201587

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