Joel E Hendricks' Analyst


The 1st part of the 1st volume of The Analyst appeared in January 1874. The journal had been founded and was edited by Joel E Hendricks. We give a version of Hendricks' Introductory Remarks from this first part below. The Analyst continued publication until Part 6 of Volume 10 which was published in November 1883. We give Hendricks' Announcement in both the September and the November parts of Volume 10. The "new publication" which Hendricks refers to in his final Announcement is the Annals of Mathematics. The 1st part of the 1st volume of the Annals of Mathematics was published in March 1884 ensuring the "permanent basis" about which Hendricks writes.

1. Joel E Hendricks, Introductory Remarks.
The Analyst 1 (1) (January 1874), 1-2.
The present is eminently a period of activity, both physical and mental. Science is daily developing new truths, and thereby increasing the sum of human knowledge. Guided by analysis, the mechanic is daily improving and perfecting labour-saving machinery, thereby augmenting the amount of human happiness; and the astronomer is re-examining his conclusions, and, with the help of new and improved instruments, correcting his data, thereby perfecting our knowledge of the extent and order of the material universe. As a knowledge of the laws of natural phenomena (and as a consequence the happiness and welfare of mankind) is promoted by community of mind, it is believed that by such an intercourse of thought as this journal is intended to induce, the sum of human happiness will be increased. The Editor is fully aware that no effort on his part alone can make such a publication as this is intended to be, generally interesting to its readers; he only hopes for success in that respect by enlisting as contributors a majority of its readers. He therefore invites all who may feel an interest in its success to contribute to its pages their best thoughts and most valuable conclusions, embodied in brief and concise notes or essays.

As the scientific character of The Analyst has not been fully explained by circular, we embrace this opportunity to state that, as its title imports, it is intended to afford a medium for the presentation and analysis of any and all questions of interest or importance in pure and applied Mathematics, embracing especially all new and interesting discoveries in theoretical and practical astronomy, mechanical philosophy, and engineering. We are fully aware of the difficulty of publishing such a periodical as we have above indicated, and of the apparent presumption of attempting it at this place, where we have no prominent institution of learning, nor the facilities for printing that might be obtained farther east.

Nevertheless, as there seems to be an obvious want of a suitable medium of communication between a large class of investigators and students in science, comprising the various grades from the students in our high schools and colleges to the college professor; and moreover, as we have been encouraged by kind words, and promises of assistance from various eminent teachers and professors, which, from the contributions received for this our first number, we have reason to believe will be fully realized, we have determined to venture the publication.

We invite, and expect to obtain, the following two classes of persons as readers of our Journal, viz: 1st, Those who are able and willing to communicate valuable information through the Journal; and, 2nd, Those who desire to increase their stock of knowledge and shall find that desire partly supplied by the Journal. All who feel an interest in the success of the Journal are respectfully solicited to co-operate with, and assist us in extending its circulation. We earnestly solicit contributions for publication from all who desire to promote the interest and usefulness of the Journal.

In selecting matter for publication each month, we will present such as we may think most interesting or of greatest utility. We will publish from three to five mathematical questions in each number, and will endeavour to select such as are believed to be new, or as seem to possess special interest, and will try to grade them so as to suit the different degrees of advancement of our readers. The solutions to mathematical questions will, in general, be published in the second No. succeeding the one in which the questions are published.
2. Joel E Hendricks, Announcement.
The Analyst 10 (5) (September 1883), 159-160.
We regret to have to inform our readers that we have concluded to discontinue the publication of The Analyst on the completion of Vol. X. This determination has not been induced by any lack of interest in the publication manifested by our subscribers and contributors, most of whom have generously stood by us and assisted us during the whole of the ten years life of our publication, but wholly on account of our declining health. In taking leave of our contributors and subscribers, we do not pro- pose to waste words in any attempt to apologize for the many defects in our production, but will only say that we are fully sensible of, and regret, their existence, but did the best we could, under the circumstances, to avoid them. We trust that, notwithstanding its defects, The Analyst will be found to contain many papers of much interest and permanent value, which have been contributed by some of America's ablest mathematicians and astronomers.
3. Joel E Hendricks, Announcement.
The Analyst 10 (6) (November 1883), 166.
As announced in the September Analyst, this No. will terminate the publication, under its present management. We had hoped to be able, in this issue, to answer the many inquiries that have been made as to its probable continuance, by a definite announcement of a publication to take its place, under favourable auspices and an able management, as several gentlemen of acknowledged ability, and well and favourably known by all mathematicians and astronomers, both in this country and in Europe, have expressed a willingness to assume the labour and responsibility of continuing the publication; but, as the arrangements for its continuance appear to be still incomplete, we have not been authorized to make a definite announcement. We feel confident, however, from the correspondence we have had on the subject, that the work will not be abandoned but will be placed on a permanent basis, under a management that will insure its usefulness and success. And we earnestly solicit, for the new publication, the active assistance and patronage of all our readers. In conclusion, we desire to tender our sincerest thanks to our patrons and contributors for their continued support during the ten years life of The Analyst, and especially for their kind words and manifestations of interest in our personal welfare.

Last Updated October 2015