American and Canadian Cyphering Book Collection, 1727-1864
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Not requestable
Scope and Content Note
The Phillips Library holds 215 cyphering books. This collection contains 197 items, arranged in three series: Mathematics, Navigation, and Textbooks. Mathematics includes Arithmetic, Geometry, Trigonometry, and other subjects. The books are arranged chronologically within each series, with undated books falling at the end of the series. Many books contain more than one subject. There are also three textbooks included. Most of the cyphering books were created in New England, but one is from Canada and three are from England. Not all volumes are true cyphering books; a few are exercise books containing mathematical calculations with headings similar to the cyphering books. The Navigation books usually start with Geometry or Trigonometry and then cover different types of sailing, compass calculations, and a real or imagined log of a voyage.
An addendum, entitled "Summary of Ciphering Books at Phillips Library, Salem, Massachusetts" compiled by Nerida Ellerton and McKenzie Clements of Illinois State University in 2009, is attached to this Finding Aid. On the PEM Finding Aid, the number in brackets after the name of the cyphering book refers to the number on the addendum, which gives greater detail about each book that was examined. Additional items were found after Ms Ellerton and Mr. Clements left the library, so this collection includes titles not examined by them.
Dates
- Creation: 1727-1864
Restrictions on Access
This collection is open for research use.
Historical Note
In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries in North America, students over the age of ten prepared cyphering books (also spelled ciphering) to use in their academic study. They were handwritten and were used to set out rules and cases associated with mathematical topics and included problems and exercises linked to the topics. The problems were in arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, or applications of mathematics in the fields of navigation, surveying, or military strategy. Some were beautifully illustrated in ink or watercolor.
Extent
8.5 linear feet (18 boxes; 1 volume)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This collection contains 197 items, most of which are cyphering books - handwritten books used to set out rules and cases associated with mathematical topics and which included problems and exercises linked to the topics. Students in the 18th and 19th centuries prepared them to use in their academic study.
Series List
SERIES I. Mathematics
- A. Salem, Massachusetts
- B. Other Locations
SERIES III. Textbooks
- A. Standard Christ's Hospital RMS Curriculum
- B. Other Textbooks
Physical Location
Phillips Library Stacks
Provenance
This material was found in the collection.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Tamara Gaydos and Barbara Kampas, August 2009. Updated 2010, 2015.
Subject
Geographic
Topical
- Title
- AMERICAN AND CANADIAN CYPHERING BOOK COLLECTION, 1727-1864
- Author
- Processed by: Tamara Gaydos, Barbara Kampas; machine-readable finding aid created by: Rajkumar Natarajan.
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Phillips Library Repository