Florence Annie Yeldham (30 October 1877 – 10 January 1945) was a British school teacher and historian of arithmetic. She supported the idea of following the history of mathematics as a motive to teach arithmetic.

Early life and education

Florence Yeldham was born at School House, Brightling, Battle, East Sussex, on 30 October 1877, the daughter of school teacher Thomas Yeldham, who later became a school inspector, and his wife, Elizabeth Ann Chesterfield. She was the second daughter and second of at least seven children. She was not originally from London but moved there from

Sussex Sussex (), from the Old English (), is a historic county in South East England that was formerly an independent medieval Anglo-Saxon kingdom. It is bounded to the west by Hampshire, north by Surrey, northeast by Kent, south by the English ...

and studied in James Allen's Girls' School, Dulwich. James Allen's Girls' School awarded her an exhibition to go to Bedford College, University of London, from where she matriculated in 1895. Yeldham graduated with a BSc (division two) in 1900, having chosen papers in

pure mathematics Pure mathematics is the study of mathematical concepts independently of any application outside mathematics. These concepts may originate in real-world concerns, and the results obtained may later turn out to be useful for practical applications, ...

, experimental physics, and zoology. Whilst she is listed as having gained honours, which one would have expected, no details have been found.

Career

Although she did not enjoy a remarkable teaching career, Yeldham wrote books herself. She produced her first printed work in 1913. Her works include ''The Story of Reckoning in the Middle Ages'', ''The Teaching of Arithmetic Through 400 Years, 1535–1935'', ''A Study of Mathematical Methods in England to the Thirteenth Century'' and ''Percentage Tables''. Her books were well regarded and included reference material which was not easily available. Yeldham fell victim to chronic

arthritis Arthritis is a term often used to mean any disorder that affects joints. Symptoms generally include joint pain and stiffness. Other symptoms may include redness, warmth, swelling, and decreased range of motion of the affected joints. In som ...

, which made her final years uncomfortable. She died while staying at Metropolitan Convalescent Home, Walton-on-Thames,

Surrey Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...

, where she spent the last six months of her life.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yeldham, Florence 1877 births 1945 deaths 19th-century British mathematicians 20th-century British mathematicians British non-fiction writers People from Brightling British women mathematicians People educated at James Allen's Girls' School Alumni of Bedford College, London 20th-century English women writers 20th-century English writers 19th-century English women writers 19th-century British writers 20th-century British women scientists Schoolteachers from Sussex 20th-century women mathematicians