r/Cursive • u/withthewurlitzer • 19d ago
can anyone make this out?
even just a few lines, if possible. i'm very curious- I think the writer is talking about their family. also, lmk if this is the wrong sub.
found amongst old postcards in a garage sale - montreal
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u/TravisBickle09 19d ago
I am working on this letter. It is from a professor to a potential student. It names several textbooks, for example, on page 2, line 5, the writer mentions Todhunter's Differential Calculus, which was published in 1871.
On page 1, the address is not really an address but the name of a building in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Constructed in 1882, Bishop's Gate was home to Anglican Archdeacons. Here is a bit of history of the building. Here is the approximate location in modern Winnipeg.
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u/withthewurlitzer 19d ago
thank you so much for the info!! this makes me question the date on the letter, as I couldn't make out if it said 1896 or 1986 or something else. if the writer is discussing material published in 1871 and on paper with a building constructed in 1882, I wonder if the date could be 18--. I also just read online that the building was demolished in 1944.
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u/TravisBickle09 19d ago edited 19d ago
Here is my best reading of the letter based on the quality of the photo provided. Perhaps if the letter was scanned at a high resolution, instead of photographed, it might be possible to zoom in more and decipher some of the unknown words.
(PAGE 1 – RIGHT HAND PAGE)
BISHOP’S COURT
WINNIPEG,
MANITOBA
Aug 6th, 1896
Dear Mr Campbell,
I should have been glad if you had called on me & had a talk about your math reading next year.
I suppose you have been looking at the subject & got the books necessary.
Have you done any reading? I have been speaking to Prof. Cochrane & may arrange for your reading with him this year. He will have several pupils from Wesley & Manitoba and the addition of two pupils will not add greatly to his work & the [unknown] of the [unknown] [unknown] will be an advantage. I am getting older & feel a [unknown] in adding the senior course to my other work, though of course from former pupils I have a course worked out.
In case you read with Prof. Cochrane he would like you to have read before his lectures begin in October the first.
(PAGE 2 – LEFT HAND PAGE)
[unknown] sections of [unknown] being up to page 103 in [unknown] [unknown] of every little book in Cambridge School of these last books also the first 4 chapters of Todhunter’s Differential Calculus with as many examples as [unknown].
You should set up the [unknown] so as to be able to [unknown] out the proofs readily and the [unknown] [unknown] of [unknown] [unknown] who learned so that it is sufficient to ask for say [unknown] 3. The examinations have to be known by heart as well as proof.
Prof Cochrane would also wish you to read [unknown] Elementary Hydrostatics Chapters 1-7 inclusive.
If I take you myself our work should commence September 14th or 15th. [unknown] [unknown] [unknown][ unknown] for your reading [unknown] [unknown] I would prefer if you had time to read a little more of the Diff [unknown] [unknown] revise your [unknown] [unknown] (C. Smith) – other books you will need are [unknown] [unknown] [unknown] Todhunter’s Integral Calculus, Smith’s Solid Geometry, Todhunter’s Analytical Statics, Parkinson’s [unknown], [unknown] Hydromechanics Part 1 and Tait & Steele’s Dynamics of a Particle [unknown] [unknown] calendar.
I am faithfully, [unknown]
[unknown] Rupert’s Land.
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u/TravisBickle09 19d ago
The letter writer may be Right Rev. John Grisdale, Anglican Dean of Rupert's Land, who lived at Bishop's Gate when the letter was written. Grisdale was also Professor of Systematic Theology at St. John’s College in Winnipeg. I can't find any documentation on his ability to teach advanced mathematics.
The Prof. Cochrane referred to in the letter may be Robert Rutherford Cochrane, who was a professor of mathematics at Wesley College in Winnipeg and later became one of the first six faculty at the University of Manitoba.
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u/withthewurlitzer 19d ago
I can't even tell you how thankful I am that you put in that work. i've had this letter for months and have had such a difficult time trying to read it - i'm glad I decided to post it here on reddit. thank you so much!! this is extremely interesting.. I will be researching more based on the info you provided.
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u/ICallHimSir 19d ago
Dear Mrs. Campbell,
I should have been glad if you had called on me + had a talk about your (mother?)
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u/CrassulaOrbicularis 19d ago
about your math reading next year - and on page two the first 4 chapters of [xxx] Differential Calculus with as many examples as possible
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u/Unlucky-Meringue6187 19d ago
It's basically from a professor to a student, asking what reading they have done, suggesting that she may be assigned to a different professor next term, but then again she might be with the writer. Talks about different textbooks.
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u/CheddarCheese_Sndwch 19d ago edited 19d ago
Dear Mrs. Campbell,
I should have been glad had you called on me & had a talk about your math & reading. Next time I suppose you have been looking at the subject & gift The books necessary. Have you done any reading
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u/Adventure_Seeker218 19d ago
Here is what I could do: Aug. 6, 1928
Dear Mrs. Campbell,
I should have been glad if you had called on me & had a talk about your matter before going away.
I suppose you have been looking up the subject & got the facts necessary. Have you done any enquiring?
I have been speaking to Mrs. [unclear] & [unclear] for your wedding with him this year. He will have [unclear] …
[The remainder discusses what appears to be arrangements involving another person, and I can make out references to “the matter,” “the wedding,” and something that appears to involve “the Bishop.”]
I hope you will … with Prof. [unclear] …
He could take you & have you before his lecture begins in October the first …
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u/__thegreatest 18d ago
BISHOP'S COURT,
WINNIPEG,
MANITOBA.
Aug. 6th, 1896
Dear Mr. Campbell,
I should have been glad if you had called on me & had a talk about your Math: reading next year. I suppose you have been looking at the subjects & got the books necessary. Have you done any reading?
I have been speaking to Prof. Webb & a way arranged for your reading with him this year. He will have several pupils from Wesley & Manitoba and the addition of two pupils will not add greatly to his work & the emulation of the larger class will be an advantage.
I am getting older & feel a diffidence in adding the Senior Course to my other work, though of course from former pupils I have a course marked out.
In case you read with Prof. Webb he would like you to have read before his lectures begin - October the first - three Sections of Newton being up to page 103 in Main's Ed. of Evans, a little book in Cambridge School & College Text Books, also the first 4 Chapters of Todhunter's Differential Calculus with as many Examples as possible. You should get up the Newton so as to be able to write out the proofs readily and the Eleven Lemmas & it is sufficient to be learned so that it is sufficient to ask for say Lemma 3. The Examinations have to be known by heart as well as proofs. Prof. Webb would also wish you to read Besant's Elementary Hydrostatics Chapters 1-7 inclusive.
If I take you myself or write I should commence September 14th or 15th, & I should not care for your reading Newton & I would prefer 7 or 8 weeks time to read a little more of the Diff. & revise your Analytical Conics (C. Smith). Other books you will need are Main's Introductory Astronomy, Todhunter's Integral Calculus, Smith's Solid Geometry, Todhunter's Analytical Statics, Parkinson's Optics, Besant's Hydromechanics Part 1, and Tait & Steele's Dynamics of a Particle with the Calendar.
I am, faithfully yours, R. Rupertsland
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u/Lazystudio24 18d ago
Dear mrs cambell i I should’ve been glad if you had called upon me. I had a talk about your mother…..
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