Page images
PDF
EPUB
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

INTRODUCTORY.

Simon Newcomb was one of the most notable scientists that America has ever produced and no other among her men of research has ever achieved such general recognition of eminence. In 1916 the writer published a paper1 which was designed to contain a complete record of Newcomb's diplomas, medals, decorations, certificates of membership, and other honors. In the following pages an attempt is made to bring together references to sources of information concerning his life and work.

The references to sources in the case of his life are grouped under the headings: "Majora" (the more important material), "Minora" (material which though of lesser importance seemed worthy of listing), "Portraits-Published Photographs" (reproductions of 16 photographs taken at various times during 50 years), and "Portraits-Paintings" (to be found in public and private places).

As to sources regarding Simon Newcomb's work, it has been the intention to indicate all of his books, pamphlets, memoirs, reports, magazine articles, letters to newspapers or periodicals, reported addresses, etc.-in short, everything in print which he has written or spoken." It has further been the endeavor to make mention of everything published in every edition. and every language. For example, in the case of his Popular Astronomy, first published in New York in 1878, there are listed 15 American editions or reprints, 3 English, 7 German, 1 Norwegian, and 1 Russian. Many of the items may appear trivial from some points of view. But in the case of a man so highly honored everything he wrought has interest in indicating his sympathies, his habits of mind and methods of work, and the development of his career.

In order more clearly to indicate different lines of Simon Newcomb's activity, the titles have been rather roughly grouped under the four headings "Astronomy," "Mathematics," "Economics," and "Miscellaneous," but many titles under "Astronomy" might be classed also under "Mathematics" and "Miscellaneous," while some titles under "Mathematics" or "Miscellaneous" might come under "Astronomy" also. There are 541 titles in all."

The most extensive previously published bibliography of Simon Newcomb's work was the one by the writer which appeared in the Transactions of the Royal Society of Canada for 1905. Some 370 titles were there listed. In the present work this list has been radically revised and amplified, and more than 160 new titles have been added. While it is known that even the resulting list is not complete, especially in connection with anonymous editorials, reviews, and notes in The Evening Post, The Nation, and Science, nevertheless it is believed that the approximation to completeness is a good one. Checks have been made with all the English, French, and German bibliographic works, and with the Library of Congress catalog, but there were scores of titles not to be found in any of these sources.

The authorship of a very large number of anonymous notes, reviews, and editorials was determined by consulting the editorial file of The Nation and the index volumes of the Atlantic Monthly and of the North American Review.

At one time it was intended to list all the more important reviews of Simon Newcomb's publications, but this plan was abandoned in favor of listing only those which had been noticed in connection with the main inquiry.

Occasional notes, explanatory of the titles, or containing additional information which would appear to be of interest for one reason or another, have been added to the titles.

As mathematical editor of Science, 1895-1903, and as associate editor or editor in chief of the American Journal of Mathematics between 1878 and 1909, much of Simon Newcomb's scientific work was unsigned and will never be known.

In the preparation of the material for the following pages it is the writer's duty and privilege to acknowledge the enthusiastic and able cooperation of Simon Newcomb's daughter, Dr. Anita Newcomb McGee.

Brown University, APRIL, 1923.

R. C. A.

1 Science, n. s., vol. 44 (Dec. 22, 1916): 871-878.

'No attempt has been made to list all articles quoted in such a periodical as The Literary Digest.

• Observation records as in Astronomische Nachrichten, vols. 69, 70, 71, 86, and 90, have not been listed.

[blocks in formation]

.Proceedings of the National Education Association.

.Philosophical Magazine, London.

.Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, London.

.Popular Astronomy, Northfield, Minn.

.Popular Science Monthly.

.Popular Science Monthly, Supplement.

Publ. Astr. and Astrophysical Soc. of Publications of the Astronomical and Astrophysical Society of America, Ann America.

Q. Jl. Econ.

8....

Sci. Amer. Suppl.

Sid. Mess...

Smithsonian Contribs. Kn...
Smithsonian Misc. Coll...
Sirius....

Vierteljahrsschrift Astr. Gesell..
Wash. Obs............

Arbor, Mich.

.Quarterly Journal of Political Economy.

..series.

Scientific American Supplement, New York.

.Siderial Messenger, Northfield, Minn., and Cincinnati, Ohio.
..Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge, Washington, D. C.
Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, Washington, D. C.

..Sirius, Zeitschrift für populäre Astronomie, Leipzig.
Vierteljahrsschrift der Astronomischen Gesellschaft, Leipzig.

U. S. Naval Observatory, Washington Observations, Washington, D. C.

SECTION I.

LIFE.

MAJORA.

1. J. B. NEWCOMв. Genealogical memoir of the Newcomb family, containing records of nearly every person of this name in America from 1635 to 1874; also the first generation of children descended from females who have lost the name Newcomb by marriage. With notices of the family in England during the past seven hundred years. Elgin, Ill. Printed for the author by Knight & Leonard, Chicago, 1874. 600 pp.

S. Newcomb and father, pp. 437 and 368; ancestors, pp. 3, 4, 22, 50, 85, 185. A new edition of this work (6x1021 pp.) was published by The Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor Co., of New Haven, Conn., in 1923. S. Newcomb, etc., pp. 540-542, etc.

2. A. CAYLEY. Address before Royal Astronomical Society on presenting the gold medal of society to S. Newcomb on Feb. 13, 1874.

Mo. Notices R. Astr. Soc., vol. 34 (Feb., 1874): 224-233.

Also in A. Cayley, Collected Mathematical Papers, Cambridge, vol. 9 (1896): 176–184.
Contains an account of S. Newcomb's writings.

3. M. BENJAMIN. In Appleton's Cyclopædia of American Biography.

New York, Appleton, vol. 4 (1888): 502-503.

Anonymous sketch with wood-cut portrait.

4. F. CAJORI. Teaching and history of mathematics in the United States.

Washington, Gov't. print. off., 1890.

Pp. 272, 277: Sketch of S. Newcomb's teaching and work at Johns Hopkins University.

5. S. NEWCOMв. Formative influences.

Forum, vol. 11 (Apr., 1891): 183–191.

Deals with his early life to the beginning of his scientific career.

6. G. B. GOODE, editor. The Smithsonian Institution, 1846-1896. The history of its first half century.

Washington, Gov't. print. off., 1897.

S. Newcomb, pp. 580, 581, 593.

7. Anonymous. National Cyclopaedia of American Biography.

New York, J. T. White & Co., vol. 7 (1897): 17-18.

8. W. VALENTINER, editor. Handwörterbuch der Astronomie. 4 vols.

Breslau and Leipzig, Barth, 1897-1902.

Various references.

9. W. ALVORD. Address of the retiring president of the Society in awarding the Bruce Medal to Professor Simon Newcomb.

Publ. Astr. Soc. of the Pacific, vol. 10 (Apr 2, 1898); 49-58.

10. S. NEWCOMB. Reminiscences of an astronomer.

Atlantic Mo., vol. 82 (Aug., 1898): 242-253; (Sept.): 384-393; (Oct.): 519-526.

These articles are reproduced with slight changes in chapters X and XI, pages 271-333 of no. 14 (below).
Reviewed in Nature, vol. 58 (Aug. 18, 1898): 376; (Oct. 13, 1898): 583-584; (Oct. 20, 1898): 606.

11. C. E. L. WINGATE, etc., editors.

Boston, R. Herndon Co., vol. 3 (1899):

Universities and their sons.
12-13 (Portrait).

12. M. LOEWY. Scientific worthies. No. XXXII: Simon Newcomb.

Nature, vol. 60 (May 4, 1899): 1-3 (separate portrait plate supplement).

Reprinted in Johns Hopkins University Circulars, no. 140, vol. 18 (June, 1899): 70-71

13. CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON, Year Books, Nos. 1-8 for the years 1902-1909; published 1903-1910: No. 1, p. xxxi; No. 2, p. xxi; No. 3, pp. 90-92; No. 4, pp. 19,

26, 47, 83-84; No. 5, p. 19; No. 6, p. 173-174; No. 7, pp. 50, 180; No. 8, pp. 24, 52,

206.

Record of grants to S. Newcomb and reports of his researches.

« PreviousContinue »