CLASS OF 1879

Levi Leonard Conant, professor of mathematics in Worcester Polytechnic Institute, was run over by an electric truck opposite his home in Worcester, Mass., October 11, and received injuries of which he died in a short time.

He was the son of Levi and Annie W. (Mead) Conant, and was born in Littleton, Mass., March 3, 1857. He was a member of Alpha Delta Phi and Phi Beta Kappa.

After graduation he taught for some years in the public schools, as follows: at Vineyard Grove, Mass., 1879-80; Mankato, Minn., 1880-2; Elkhart, Ind., two months in 1882; Arlington, Mass., 1882-3. He was then superintendent of schools at Deadwood, S. D., in 1883-5, and at Rapid City, S. D., in 1885-7. For the next three years he remained in Rapid City as professor of mathematics in the South Dakota School of Mines.

He then studied mathematics for a year in Clark University, and in 1891 was appointed assistant professor of mathematics in Worcester Polytechnic Institute. In 1899 he was promoted to the full professorship on the retirement of the late John E. Sinclair '58. From 1911 to 1913 he was acting president of the Institute. As a mathematician and a teacher he had won a high place.

In 1893 he obtained on examination the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from Syracuse University, at which institution he had become a Master of Arts in 1887.

From 1900 to 1909 he was a member of the school board of Worcester, being its chairman the last year. From 1909 to 1914 he was a member of the Massachusetts State Board of Education.

From 1897 to 1905 Dr. Conant edited the Journal of Worcester Polytechnic, and for many years had been a constant and valued contributor to professional journals. The following books from his pen have been published: "Primitive Number System;" "The Number Concept," 1894; "Original Exercises in Plane and Solid Geometry," 1905; "Plane and Spherical Trigonometry," 1909; "Logarithmic and Trigonometric Tables," 1909.

July 24, 1884, Professor Conant was married to Laura M. Chamberlain of Southboro, Mass., who died February 5, 1911. He was again married, June 19, 1912, to Emma 8., daughter of Clellan Waldo Fisher of Worcester, who survives him. There have been no children.

The class was represented at the funeral service by Davis, Kittredge, and Wheatley.

Professor Conant's will provides that after the death of his wife, Dartmouth College becomes the residuary legatee of his estate after the payment of certain specific bequests.