This article is devoted to the teaching of descriptive
geometry at the Brno German Technical University during 1849-1945.
The Department of Descriptive Geometry and Theoretical Mechanics was
one of the first established departments at Brno Technical College in 1849.
The competitive examinations for ocuppation of the department took placed
in autumn 1849, but no convenient competitor was appointed. We must remember
that knowledge of the Czech language was necessary.
From January 1850 to January 1851, descriptive geometry was taught by Emanuel Ringhoffer, professor of architecture, and Anton Mayssl, professor of the secondary technical school in Brno. They taught 5 hours of descriptive geometry and 6 hours of perspective in "technical faculty". They taught 10 hours of drawing in the one-year preliminary course, too. In the department, there was also a position for an assistant, which was held by Anton Mayssl, the first assistant in the history of Brno German Technical University.
Eight men stood up for the professorship of descriptive geometry in the summer of 1850. Early in 1851, Georg Beskiba (1819-1882) was appointed the first professor of descriptive geometry at Brno Technical College. Beskiba was born in Vienna where he studied at Technical Institute and Academy of Fine Arts. From 1843 he taught civil engineering and drawing at Lemberg Technical Academy (in 1846 he was appointed professor). Beskiba taught descriptive geometry in Brno from 1851 to 1867. That year, Beskiba was appointed the first professor of civil engineering and worked in Brno until 1877 when he retired.
In 1867 Gustav Adolf Peschka (1830-1903) was appointed professor of descriptive geometry. He was born in Jachymov, studied at Prague Technical University and was assistent of mechanics there for 5 years. In 1857 he was appointed professor of mechanics, theory of machines (Maschinenlehre), and technical drawing at Lemberg Technical Academy. In 1863 he came to Brno as professor of these subjects. He taught descriptive geometry in Brno from 1867 to 1891 when he went to Vienna Technical University. He worked there until 1901.
After departure of professor Peschka to Vienna descriptive geometry was taught by Otto Rupp (1854-1908). In 1892 he was appointed professor of this subject. Rupp studied at Brno Technical University, and from 1874 he was an assistant of descriptive geometry. In 1881 he habilitated for "new geometry" (Geometrie der Lage). Rupp worked at Brno Technical University for the rest of his life.
In 1909, there was a difficult situation at the German Technical University in Brno. It was necessary to find two professors who would fill the two free positions in the professors' staff. Not only the position of professor of descriptive geometry, but also the position of professor of mathematics was vacant after the death of professor Otto Biermann. Soon it became evident that it would be much easier to find a suitable candidate for the professor of mathematics' chair, and so in 1910, the position was taken by Emil Waelsch (1863-1927) who until then held the position of professor of mathematics. Two new professors of mathematics were appointed. Waelsch attended the German Technical University and the German University in Prague. From 1884 to 1885 he studied in Leipzig under Felix Klein, and from 1885 to 1886 under Paul Gordan and Max Noether in Erlangen where he received his doctorate in 1888. In the years 1892-1893 Waelsch studied in Leipzig under Sophus Lie. From 1886 to 1892 he was an assistant of descriptive geometry at the Prague German Technical University. He habilitated there in 1890. In the school years 1893-1894 he became assistant to Professor Fiedler at Zurich Technical University. In 1895 Waelsch became associated professor of mathematics at the Technical University of Brno. In 1898 he was appointed full professor. In 1910 he was appointed professor of geometry and he remained in this position for the rest of his life.
From 1927 to 1929, descriptive geometry was taught by professor of mathematics Rudolf Weyrich. In 1929 Josef Krames (1897-1986) was appointed professor of descriptive geometry. Krames studied at Vienna University and Vienna Technical University, then he worked as an assistant and assistant professor of descriptive geometry at Vienna Technical University. Before his arrival to Brno he substituted in the Technical University. In 1932 he decided to leave Brno and go to Graz Technical University. Later he taught at Vienna Technical University (he was rector of the school in school year 1961-1962).
The last professor of descriptive geometry at the Brno German Technical University was Rudolf Kreutzinger (1886-1960). He was born in Brno and studied for the first two years at Brno Technical University and then at University and Technical University in Vienna. In 1908 he returned to Brno and became assistant of desriptive geometry to professor Rupp. During the World War I he was in Russian captivity and returned to Brno in 1920. In 1931 he habilitated for descriptive geometry. In 1935 he was appointed professor of descriptive geometry and remained in this position until 1945.
Finally we can mention three assistant profesors, who habilitated at the Department of Descriptive Geometry. The first of them was Emil Koutný (1840-1880). He was born in Brno and studied at the Brno German Technical University. From 1862 to 1870 he worked as an assistant of descriptive geometry. In 1867 he habilitated for descriptive geometry. In 1864 he applied for the professorship of mechanics and descriptive geometry at Technical Academy in Lemberg, but he did not succeed. In 1870 Koutný was appointed professor of descriptive geometry at Graz Technical University where he remained for the rest of his life.
An interesting person was Ferdinand Josef Obenrauch
(1853-1906). He was born in Slavkov u Brna (Austerlitz). Obenrauch studied
at the Brno German Technical University, and from 1876 to 1881 he was an
assistant of mathematics there.
Later he taught mathematics and descriptive geometry at secondary schools
in Moravia (from 1892 at the Brno Landes Oberrealschule). In 1897 Obenrauch
habilitated at the Brno German Technical University for history of descriptive
and projective geometry. He taught this subject for 8 years. In 1897 he
published his book Geschichte der darstellenden und projectiven Geometrie.
The
book maps 100 years of development of descriptive geometry. (Electronic
copy of this book can be found at the Cornell
University Math Collection.)
Wilhelm Schmid (1888-1963) was the last assistant
professor of descriptive geometry at the Brno German Technical University.
He studied mathematics and descriptive geometry at the Brno German Technical
University, Vienna University and Vienna Technical University. In 1910
he was appointed assistant of descriptive geometry to Professor Waelsch.
During World War I he was in Russian captivity, and returned to Brno in
1921. Schmid was an assistant at the Brno German Technical University until
1945. In 1938 he habilitated for descriptive geometry. In 1940 Schmid
was appointed professor at Dresden Technical University. He worked there
until 1950. Then he was appointed professor at Freiberg University of Mining
and Technology. In 1958 he retired.