A prosopographical analysis of the early American mathematics publication community (Q1765385)

Before the founding of Johns Hopkins University in 1876, there was little systematic research in pure mathematics conducted in the United States of America. The so-called first period of mathematical activity in America, from 1776 to 1876, saw contributions from such relatively well known individuals as Robert Adrain, Nathaniel Bowditch and Benjamin Peirce but, of course, there were other less familiar people also publishing mathematical work. The paper under review provides biographical information about mathematicians and mathematical practitioners who published in three American journals dedicated to general science, during the years 1771 to 1834. These journals were: \textit{Transactions of the American Philosophical Society}, \textit{Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences} and \textit{American Journal of Science and Arts}. The paper also discusses the nature and content of the mathematical papers published during this period of time. A substantial list of 50 references is included. Reviewer's note: a prosopography is a biographical sketch.