Certificate in Mathematics, Cooper Union

This certificate from Cooper Union certifies that William McFaul completed the course of instruction in Mathematics during the fall term of 1860 and spring of 1861. Founded in 1859 by industrialist Peter Cooper, the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offered free education to New York's working classes. The institution's mission—democratizing access to technical and artistic training—made it a landmark in American educational history. Certificates like this one documented the completion of rigorous curricula that prepared students for careers in engineering, design, and trades during the Civil War era.