Mathematical Treasure: American Journal of Mathematics

The American Journal of Mathematics: Pure and Applied was inaugurated in 1878 by J. J. Sylvester at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Sylvester (1814-1897) had assumed a professorship at the University in 1877 and worked to develop the young American mathematics community. The founding of this first research journal in the United States was part of his effort. Sylvester served as its first chief editor and was supported by a distinguished group of co-editors.

The Index of the Journal illustrates the scope of articles in the first issue.

The “Notice to Readers” serves as an introduction to the purpose and intent of the periodical.

The first article is Simon Newcomb’s “Note on a Class of Transformations Which Surfaces May Undergo in Space of More Than Three Dimensions.” Newcomb (1835-1909) was a Canadian-American astronomer and applied mathematician. He held the Professorship of Astronomy at Johns Hopkins at this time.

The images above were obtained through the courtesy of the Peabody Library, Johns Hopkins University.

Index to Mathematical Treasures