Beman, Wooster Woodruff, 1850-1922

Instructor at Kalamazoo College, later professor of mathematics at the University of Michigan.

From the description of Wooster Woodruff Beman papers, 1865-1938. (University of Michigan). WorldCat record id: 34421914

Wooster Woodruff Beman was born May 28, 1850, in Southington, Conn. He attended school in Valparaiso, Ind., and entered the University of Michigan in 1866, receiving his B.A. degree in 1870. After teaching for a year at Kalamazoo College as instructor in Greek and mathematics, he returned to the University of Michigan as an instructor while also working for his master's degree, which he received in 1873. In 1874, he became assistant professor, in 1882 associate professor, and in 1887 full professor.

In addition to his teaching, Beman wrote books and articles on the history and teaching of elementary mathematics. Among his works are "Nature and Meaning of Numbers" (from the German), and "Continuity and Irrational Numbers." He was the joint author, with D. E. Smith, of "Plane and Solid Geometry," "Higher Arithmetic," "New Plane and Solid Geometry," "Elements of Algebra," "Academic Algebra," translations of "Famous Problems of Elementary Geometry," and "A Brief History of Mathematics."

Beman died on January 1, 1922.

From the guide to the Wooster Woodruff Beman papers, 1865-1938, 1878-1922, (Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan)