Worcester Polytechnic Institute - Peddler Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

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©ur professors.

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II Xevn Xeonarfc Conant. ©ur Ibost popular professor. Professor Conant began his work at the Institute in the fall of ’91. During the eight years that have marked his service here, the enthusiasm which he has put into his department, and the personal interest which he has shown in the students and their work, have won for him universal admiration. Prof. Conant was born in Littleton, Mass., March 3, 1857. He fitted for col¬ lege at Andover, and in 1879 was graduated from Dartmouth. Soon after graduation he was made principal of the high school in Mankato, Minn. Here he remained for two years, accepting a better position at Elkhart, Indiana, for the following year. At the end of that time he enlarged his line of work, accepting the superintendency of schools in Deadwood and afterwards in Rapid City, South Dakota. In 1887 he was offered and accepted the Professorship of Mathematics in the Dakota State School of Mines. The desire for advanced work in mathematics brought Prof. Conant to Clark University in the fall of ’90, and, in 1891, he accepted the Junior Professorship of Mathematics at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He has filled this position to the complete satisfaction of all. In the recitation room, Prof. Conant has the faculty of awakening interest in the most complex problems, and is sure to notice some historical incident, novel solution, or mathematical curiosity that never fails to entertain the class. But his good work does not end in the class room. He believes that physical exercise and manly sport have a place in the development of even an engineer. In spite of the poor athletic teams that have represented the Institute in the last few years, Prof. Conant has always supported and encouraged them. He is one of the few professors who attend the games. Every Freshman class gets an inspiration from him to go into athletics. “The Number Concept” is one of the books that Prof. Conant has written. He is also a contributor to mathematical publications. Prof. Conant received the degree of Ph. D. in ’93, at Syracuse University. He is a fellow of “The American Association for the Advancement of Science,” and is also a member of the “American Mathematical Society.