About this Item
Joseph Ray (1807-1855) was a medical doctor, teacher and a self-taught mathematician. His mathematics texts were among the most popular and widely used American mathematics textbooks of the nineteenth century. Dr. Ray taught mathematics for Woodward High School (later College) in Cincinnati, Ohio from its inception in 1831. The success of his "eclectic" math texts would be exceeded by his fellow teacher at Woodward, William Holmes McGuffey, with his McGuffey Readers. More than fifty titles (including revised editions) appeared in Ray's Mathematical Series over the years, but the core of the series consisted of six books: Primary Arithmetic, Intellectual Arithmetic, Practical Arithmetic, Higher Arithmetic, Elementary Algebra, and Higher Algebra. The earliest titles were originally published by the firm of Truman & Smith. Cincinnati, Ohio. Publication dates were as early as 1834. New and revised editions were issued under his name beyond his lifetime, as part of the Ray Mathematics Series, even as late as 1913. The popularity of the textbooks may be attributed to their moral emphasis. Story problems in his textbooks portray honest, hard-working men and women on the frontier, plowing fields, planting and harvesting crops, building walls, or buying and selling goods. Problems about boys and girls characterize them as industrious and generous, sharing food and possessions with each other. In one problem a boy receives a reward for returning a purse to its rightful owner. This copy has been used as a textbook for several students and traveled back & forth many times between school & home. Lettering and designs are worn off of front cover, leather spine loosely attached to light blue paper covers. Prior owner names, threats if this copy stolen, and doodles cover rear end-papers. Front end-papers, including title page & preface, have become detached and lost. Text starts with Table of Contents and appears complete thereafter. Pages are stained and fragile, although still loosely bound in order. No copyright nor publication data available for this copy. Cannot establish this copy's publisher, so original publisher is optimistically listed. From the 80 year range of print dates, I would suggest this copy printed after Dr. Ray's death, I est. 1870, to account for "New" in title. Of course, no ISBN, LCCN nor MSR.
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