Stick Stock (Surveyors in Texas before Annexation to the U.S.), ca. 1845, oil on canvas, 14in. x 17 in. framed, Lent by Larry Sheerin, L.2012.2.3 MathHappens is sharing ways that a mathematical device, the survey Chain measurement system invented by Edmund Gunter in the 1600s impacted Texas history as we transitioned- only sort of — from the Mexican Vara
…
Do you have a carriage and a handkerchief? if so … YOU can work for the survey office. Got a mule? Smoke? Yes?? if so YOU can work for the survey office. At the 2019 TEKS Con Elizabeth Lay and Lauren Siegel of MathHappens had the opportunity to share some ideas for cross curricular programming in math and Texas history
…
We are very excited to have a real Vara Chain! To relive the suspenseful opening of the box, check out these 1, 2, 3 riveting videos. Or just zoom in on the letter and read it : )
I still need to track down “authorities” to verify, but this appears to be a real handwritten letter or speech written by a Robert Creuzbauer, a Texas surveyor about the VARA and Chain standards for measuring land. It gives a very clear description of the Vara standard and how it relates, or doesn’t relate to the Chains used elsewhere and
…