The 1993 paper provides a historical survey of the singular value decomposition (SVD), examining the evolution of the concept across several centuries. The author emphasizes that the foundational ideas of SVD were developed long before the advent of modern computer-based matrix algebra.

Much of the work focuses on the 19th century, highlighting the contributions of mathematicians who established the theoretical groundwork for the method. The text serves as an archival record, identifying key figures and forgotten predecessors who shaped the field of linear algebra prior to the digital era.