Vigo County Historical Society

Historical Treasure Article

Historic Treasure of the Week - February 3, 1985
By Ruth Lewis
Vigo County Historical Society

Ciphering book, for boy only, taught basic mathematic skills

This week's treasure from the Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley is a ciphering book.

Ciphering books were used by children, primarily boys, to learn basic mathematic principles. In the early 1800s, girls were not expected to be educated in mathematics as boys were. It was felt that a future homemaker would have little need for any education more complex than reading and writing.

Usually a girl would progress no farther in school than Dame School -- the 19th century equivalent of a third-grade education. Boys, however, were supposed to master fundamental mathematics.

Parents who could afford to have their sons progress beyond these levels might send them to a minister to learn elements of 'higher' education. These subjects might include reading, writing, grammar, geography, "cyphering," navigation, surveying and similar subjects. Occasionally the wealthier families provided tutors for their sons.

This ciphering book was made by my grandfather (Henry Smith) in 1801, in Hampshire County, Va. The tutor went from house to house and taught the boys arithmetic. As text books were not available, the tutor dictated the rules and the examples, and all were written in longhand. My grandfather came to Illinois and homesteaded near Farmer City, Ill., just before the Civil War. The deed for the land was signed by [President] Zachary Taylor.

The book has leather covers and it was written in a fine Spencerian script by Smith. This ciphering book, used by the tutor, William Dixon, was a tool to educate boys of the families he visited.

Problems, contained within the book's leather covers range from simple arithmetic to fellowship (partnership gains and losses). Cube root exercises are even included. The boys who learned from this book received a very thorough grounding in many phases of mathematics.

The mathematical terms used in this unique book would not be familiar to modern boys. Many of the concepts taught by tutors in 1801 are not taught to the average boy of today.