The College holds in its Permanent Collection the largest single group of Théodore Olivier’s string models used for demonstrating the relationships and intersections of geometric shapes in space. The models were made in Paris in the 1830s for French mathematician Théodore Olivier (1793-1853), who devised them to represent the intersections of 3D objects in his teaching of descriptive geometry. They are the first models of this type that are adjustable. Professor William M. Gillespie, who taught civil engineering at the College from 1845 to 1868, purchased Union’s collection of over forty models from Olivier’s widow, which were Olivier’s original set. The College acquired the models after Professor Gillespie’s death in 1868. Used as teaching aids at the College from 1855 until the end of the 19th century, the models were rediscovered and restored by Professor William C. Stone (Class of 1942), professor of mathematics at the College from 1942 to 1944 and 1951 to 1991. Professor Stone was assisted with the restoration by William Fleming in the machine lab, and students Norman Thompson (Class of 1974), David Strom, (Class of 1976), and Gregory Mateja (Class of 1982). Stewardship of the models transferred to the Permanent Collection in 1995.
There are two exhibition spaces on campus which currently display a number of the models: the Castrucci Gallery on the ground floor of the Peter Irving Wold building, and the Math department hallway on the 2nd floor of Bailey Hall. Please visit the Castrucci Gallery page by clicking here for more information on that display.
Ellipsoid Brass Cylinder
Théodore Olivier, Ellipsoid Brass Cylinder, ca. 1830-1845, fruitwood, brass, thread, Union College Permanent Collection, 1868.1 UCPC.
An ellipsoid brass cylinder on fruitwood case (black); UCPC label that was on display in Bailey Hall titles this model as: Geodesics on an Elliptical Cylinder.
Learn more about Ellipsoid Brass Cylinder in our digital repository
Plane tangent to "C" shape (purple and orange)
Théodore Olivier, Plane Tangent to “C” Shape (purple and orange), ca. 1830-1845, fruitwood, brass, thread, lead weights, Union College Permanent Collection, 1868.4 UCPC.
Intersection of an Oblique Cylinder and an Oblique Conoid (yellow and blue)
Théodore Olivier, Intersection of an Oblique Cylinder and an Oblique Conoid (yellow and blue), c. 1830-1845, fruitwood, brass, thread, lead weights, Union College Permanent Collection, 1868.28 UCPC.
Two Half Conoids, One Pivoting
Théodore Olivier, Two Half Conoids, One Pivoting, ca. 1830-1845, fruitwood, brass, thread, lead weights, Union College Permanent Collection, 1868.5 UCPC.
Vertical Cylinder in String with Tangent Plane (blue and red)
Théodore Olivier, Vertical Cylinder in String with Tangent Plane (blue and red), ca. 1830-1845, fruitwood, brass, thread, lead weights, Union College Permanent Collection, 1868.6 UCPC.
Archimedean Brass Spirals, Counterpoised
Théodore Olivier, Archimedean Brass Spirals, Counterpoised, ca. 1830-1845, fruitwood, brass, thread, lead weights, Union College Permanent Collection, 1868.2 UCPC.