Leslie Leland Locke
Open-knowledge reference entry
Leslie Leland Locke (1875–1943) was an American mathematician, historian, and educator, best known for his work towards deciphering ancient Andean knot records called quipus.
Locke's most prominent work, The Ancient Quipu or Peruvian Knot Record (1923), demonstrated how the Inca tied knots on quipu cords using a base-10 positional number system. In addition to his work on quipus, Locke is also recognized for his research on the history of mathematics and mathematical instruments, particularly his research and collection of calculating machines.
Education
Locke earned both his B.A. (1896) and M.A. (1900) from Grove City College. He went on to study mathematics at Pennsylvania State University; Cornell University; and eventually at Teachers College at Columbia University, where he studied under Professor David Eugene Smith. As a graduate student studying the history of mathematics, Locke assisted Smith and Yoshio Mikami with their 1914 book, The History of Japanese Mathematics, by taking the many photographs used throughout the book.
Career
Early in his career, Locke held several short-term teaching positions, including at West Sunbury Academy in West Sunbury, Pennsylvania; a high school in Fredonia, Pennsylvania; and at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. In 1902, he moved to Brooklyn, New York, where he began teaching at Adelphi College, a position he held for six years. In 1906, he transitioned to the Maxwell Training School for Teachers, also in Brooklyn.
In 1933, Locke joined Brooklyn Technical High School as a mechanical drawing instructor, a role he held until his retirement in 1942.
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