author
Louis Charles Karpinski
1878–1956
A University of Michigan mathematician who became a noted historian of mathematics and cartography, he brought rare books, old maps, and a collector’s curiosity to his scholarly work. His writings helped introduce English-speaking readers to the history of arithmetic, algebra, and early scientific texts.
1 Audiobook
The Hindu-Arabic Numerals
by David Eugene Smith, Louis Charles Karpinski
About the author
Born in Rochester, New York, on August 5, 1878, Louis Charles Karpinski studied at Cornell University and then earned his doctorate at the University of Strasbourg in 1903. After teaching at several institutions, he joined the University of Michigan, where he became a professor of mathematics and remained for much of his career.
Although trained as a mathematician, he became especially known for his work in the history of mathematics. He wrote and edited studies on arithmetic, algebra, and mathematical manuscripts, and he also developed a strong reputation as a historian of cartography. His research was closely tied to his enthusiasm for collecting rare books, maps, and historical documents.
Karpinski died on January 25, 1956, in Winter Haven, Florida. Today he is remembered not only as a teacher and scholar, but also as a lively intellectual figure whose interests ranged well beyond the classroom, including chess and the history of science.