The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-09-14
Deaths
DR.. DAVID EUGENE SMITH

DR.. DAVID EUGENE SMITH
The death OF DR.. David Eugene
Smith. professor emeritus OF math.
ematics in Columbia University, at
his home in New York City. will
bring many memories OF brilliant
and highly esteemed teacher to
many Ypsilanti residents.
DR.. Smith was born In Cortland,
". Y, the son OF Judge and Mrs.
w. E. Smith. He was a graduate OF
the Cortland Normal School, study
ing there under DR.. ]. II. Hoose,
who was a college classmate OF the
late Prof. and Mrs. w. M. Osband
and an uncle of Miss Florence
Shultes. DR.. Smith was also grad
uate OF Syracuse University, hold.
ing the degrees OF Phi. NJ, Phi. D.,
and LII ID. honorary from that
college. He. also studied law and
practiced in Cortland from 1881 to
1884. He then began teaching math-
ematics in the Cortland Normal
and In 1891 became professor OF
mathematics in the Michigan State
Normal School. He was not only an
inspiring teacher but was active In
civic affairs and leader In the
work OF st. Luke's Episcopal
church, and he brought here as his
assistant, his pupil at Cortland,
Lambert l.. Jackson, an exceptional
teacher who later won fame in New
York City and New Jersey educa-
tional circles. From here DR.. Smith
became principal Of the Brockport,
n. Y. Normal Schol and on going
to Teachers College, Columbia Uni.
versfity in 1901, he placed Prof. c.
T. MacFarlane of the Michigan
State Normal School faculty as his
successor at Brockport. He retired
from active teaching in 1926. He re-
ceived the honorary degrees Of Mas
ter OF Education from the Michigan
Normal College, and OF Doctor OF
Science from Columbia and OF
Lid. from Yetshiva College.
He was mathematics editor OF
the New International Encyclo-
pedia, the Encyclopedias Britain
lea. Monroe,s Cyclopedia Of Educa-
ton and the New Practical Refer
ence Library. He was associate edi-
tor of the American Mathematical
Monthly and honorary president or
the International Commission on
the Teaching of Mathematics. He
was the author of 10 books, includ.
ing THE Poetry OF Mathematics
THE Wonderful Wonders OF One
Two.Three," and more than 40 ma
thematical textbooks, and was dec
Grated by the Shah of Iran for his
translation OF the "Rubiyat OF Omar
Khayyam." He was an authority on
the history OF mathematics, and
had large collection Of books, pic
lures, manuscripts, and instruments
even when here, and most OF his
priceless collection, added to
through many years, including the
Geometry" OF Omar Khayyam, he
presented to the David Eugene
Smith Library in the Seth Low
Memorial chapel OF Columbia Uni
versity. Its value Is estimated at
100000. DR.. Smith spent several
years abroad gathering this collec-
ton. He also wrote imaginative es-
says and plays under the name OF
David Durham. Several OF his math-
ematical textbooks we're written
while he was teaching here and are
used in many colleges. He also
wrote histories OF Japanese math-
ematics, What We Owe to Greece
and Rome in Mathematics" and
"Historical-M Mathematical Paris
DR.. Smith was genial and unas-
Stunning and made friends wherever
he went.
His first wife, Miss Fanny Tay-
lor OF Cortland. who died in 1928.
was also cordial and had many
friends here. His second wife, the
former Eva May Luse, former di-
rector OF teacher training In Iowa
State Teachers College, whom he
married in 1910, survives him.
The funeral service was at st.
Pauls chapel, Columbia University,
and burial was in Cortland rural
cemetery.