Mathematics from 1906 to 1932


The Yates Years


Robert E. Lee Yates became the first head of the Mathematics Department at North Carolina A & M in 1906. The department consisted of Yates and three instructors---Carroll L. Mann, John A. Park and Michael R. Richardson.

Robert E. L. Yates
( Photo from 1909 Agromeck Yearbook)

R. E. L. Yates was born on his father's farm on December 19, 1866. He attended the Raleigh Male Academy where he obtained an excellent preparation for college from the founder of the academy, Capt. T. J. Fray, and Professor Hugh Morson.

Football fans may get a kick out of this: On March 12, 1892, the North Carolina A & M Aggies (now NC State) played their first and only football game that year at the Raleigh Athletic Park (now Pullen Park). Their opponent was the aforementioned Raleigh Male Academy. The Aggies won 12-6. ( See the website "NC State's Athletics Traditions")

Yates went to Wake Forest University in 1888, received his Masters Degree in four years, and was salutatorian of his class. He spent several years on his father's farm before accepting an appointment as adjunct Professor of Mathematics at NC A & M in 1891. The next year he married Miss Minnie Elizabeth Johns of Auburn (Wake County, North Carolina). Yates served on the faculty at State College until 1905 when he left for graduate study at the University of Chicago. In 1906 he returned as Professor and Head of the Mathematics Department.

Following is an excerpt from the 1906 Catalog indicating the general philosophy of the mathematics department and the courses taught:
MATHEMATICS

While the subject of Mathematics is presented in such a manner that the student obtains a thorough working knowledge of those principles which he needs in his Engineering Courses, yet, at the same time, it is not the purpose to subordinate the general theory of Mathematics to the practical side. The work consists of recitations, written exercises and lectures, the scope being quite sufficient for the needs of the institution.

261. Arithmetic.---Milne's Standard Arithmetic. Begin with decimal fractions and complete the subject. Five periods, first term. Required of first year students in Mechanic Arts. Mr. Holmes and Mr. Mann.

262. Algebra.---Well's Higher Algebra. Up to quadratic equations. Five periods, second and third terms. Required of first year students in Mechanic Arts. Mr. Holmes and Mr. Mann.

263. Algebra.---Well's Higher Algebra. Begin at quadratic equations and complete logarithms, embracing ratio and proportion, variation, the progressions, the binomial theorem, series and partial fractions. Five periods, first term; two periods, second term. Required of all Freshmen and of second year students in Mechanic Arts. Mr. Richardson and Mr. J. A. Park.

264. Geometry.---Plane and Solid. Wentworth's Plane geometry. Three periods second term; five periods, third term. Required of all Freshmen and of second year students in Mechanic Arts. Four periods, third term. Required of all Freshmen and second year students in Mechanic Arts.

265. Solid Geometry. Required of Sophomores, Five periods, first term. Professor Yates, Mr. J. A. Park and Mr. Richardson.

266. Advanced Algebra.---Well's Higher Algebra. Compound interest and annuities, permutations, combinations, continued fractions, general theory of equations and the solution of higher equations, etc. Required of Sophomores, Three periods, second term. Professor Yates and Mr. J. A. Park.

267. Trigonometry.---Phillips & Strong's Plane and Spherical Trigonometry. Plane Trigonometry. Solution of plane triangles, triangulation, etc. Spherical Trigonometry. Solution of spherical triangles. Required of Sophomores. Two periods, second term; five periods, third term. Professor Yates and Mr. J. A. Park.

268. Analytic Geometry.---Nichols's Analytic Geometry. Conic Sections, higher plane curves, Geometry of three dimensions. Four periods, first and second terms. Required of Juniors. Professor Yates.

269. Differential and Integral Calculus.---Osborne's Elements of Calculus. A thorough treatment of the fundamental principles and derivation of formulae; application to various problems, such as expansion into series, evaluation of indeterminate forms, maxima and minima, radius of curvature, lengths of curves, areas, volumes, etc, Four periods, third term. Required of Seniors. Professor Yates.
In the catalogs around 1920, two courses were offered which seem strange to us today, namely, Agricultural Mathematics and Farm Mathematics.
Agricultural Mathematics.---Kenyon and Lovitt's Mathematics for Agriculture and General Science. This course consists of elementary Geometry, Trigonometry, and Conic Sections, with their practical applications to Agricultural Science.

Farm Mathematics. In teaching this course, problems for solution will be of the nature of those coming up daily on the average farm, such as calculating the plant food contained in and removed by different crops when fed and when sold directly from the farm; fertilizer formulas for different crops using different classes of materials; rations with different kinds of feed and for different kinds of animals, engaged in different kinds of work; capacity of different classes of farm buildings; speed of pulleys; draft of farm implements of different kinds; size of drainage tile for different conditions; capacity of cisterns and silos; quantity of different materials needed for preserving different kinds and amounts of meats; measure of hay in the barn or stack; amounts of concrete, sand and gravel needed to construct walls or floors of different kinds; number of feet of lumber woodlands of different kinds will yield; and thousands of other practical farm problems the thoughtful farmer has to work out.
In 1917 the growing importance of engineering precipitated a change in the name of the College from the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts to the North Carolina State College of Agriculture and Engineering. This also brought the College more in line with other land-grant colleges.*

The mathematics department in 1921 is depicted below. Besides Yates, several of those shown played significant roles in the development of the mathematics department. John Harrelson was head of the mathematics department in 1933--1934 and then became Dean of Administration of the College. Hilbert Fisher was head of the mathematics department from 1934 to 1957. Page Williams and Harry Mock served on the faculty for many years.



In 1923 the College was reorganized into three schools: Agriculture, Engineering, and Business and Science. The department of mathematics was placed in the School of Business and Science under Dean B. F. Browne. At that time there were 6 faculty in the mathematics department: Professors Yates (Head) and J. Harrelson; Assistant Professors H. Fisher, H. L. Mock and P. Williams; and Instructor F. A. Lee. The courses offered were: Algebra, Solid Geometry, Trigonometry, Analytic Geometry, Differential Calculus, Integral Calculus, Advanced Calculus, Theory of Equations, Differential Equations and Advanced Analytic Geometry.

There were few changes in the course offerings until 1929 when three new courses were introduced: Vector Analysis, History of Mathematics and Theory of Equations. These were offered as courses for advanced undergraduate and graduate students. Of course there were no undergraduate or graduate math majors at this time. The courses were taken by graduate students in other disciplines or as preparation for graduate degrees in mathematics at other colleges.

In 1928 the Mathematics Department moved to the Engineering School because of difficulties between Dean Browne and Mathematics faculty.** The department remained in the School of Engineering until 1960 when the School of Physical Sciences and Applied Mathematics (PSAM) (now College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (PAMS)) was founded. Professor Yates served as Head of the Mathematics Department until 1932. The department increased from four in 1906 to nine in 1932. The department in 1932 consisted of Professors H. A. Fisher, R. E. L. Yates; Assistant Professors H. L. Mock, H. P. Williams, F. A. Lee, Jr., C. G. Mumford and J. Fontaine; Instructor W. H. Jurney and Teaching Fellow D. B. Thomas (a graduate student in Physics). There were no Ph.D.'s on the mathematics faculty. The student body had increased from just under 500 in 1906 to 1697 in 1932.

* Alice E. Reagan ,North Carolina State University: A Narrative History, p. 58
** ibid, p. 75

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