The Legacy of R.L. Moore Project, established by the Educational
Advancement Foundation, helps support research relating to the mathematician
Robert Lee Moore (1882-1974). Variations of his teaching method, called the
Moore or Discovery Method, continue today through the work of his students and
mathematical descendants. The Discovery Method "promotes the development and
use of discovery or inquiry-based methods of teaching and learning." This
collection reflects the work of this community of students and colleagues to
continue studying and using the Moore Method of teaching. For more information
about the life and work of R. L. Moore consult the finding aid for the R. L.
Moore Papers (
(Sources:
The R. L. Moore Legacy Collection consists of oral histories, conference materials, student notes, reminiscences, photographic materials, theses, dissertations, administrative files, and articles. Formats include paper (originals and copies), video (VHS, Beta, 8mm), film, audio (audiocassettes, microcassettes, and reel-to-reel audiorecordings), photographs, and slides.
Oral histories recounting the life and work of R. L. Moore through interviews with his colleagues, students, and mathematical descendant comprise the largest portion of the collection. These materials were separated by format. Interviewees are listed separately by format. A guide to the oral history materials, indexed by name, is available as a separate document, found at the end of this finding aid. The conference materials reflect the work of the Educational Advancement Foundation to bring together mathematicians and teachers in a forum that highlights current practice and modifications of the Moore Method. Reminiscences, articles and other printed materials, and the university files and correspondence provide insight into students', colleagues', and administrative views of Moore. Other series include the family series (which contains genealogical material) and photographs of R. L. Moore and his colleagues and students. Student notes and teaching guides provide resources for the teacher of the Moore Method, including published and unpublished books, and class notes taken by students attending R. L. Moore's classes. The theses and dissertations portion of the collection include the work of students for whom Moore was the primary advisor of their graduate-level study.
Forms part of the Archives of American Mathematics
Some portions of the collection are restricted, including 3.5" floppy disks, several transcripts, negatives, reel-to-reel audio and film.
Equipment not available for viewing reel-to-reel film or listening to reel-to-reel audio.
R. L. Moore Legacy Collection, 1890-1900, 1920-2006, Archives of American Mathematics, Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin
The collection is arranged in the following series:
These oral histories recount individual experiences with R. L. Moore and the Moore Method of teaching. Included are interviews with students, mathematical descendants, and colleagues. Materials include transcripts (when available), audio (audiocassettes, microcassettes and reel-to-reel audiorecordings) and video (VHS, Beta and 8mm). Not all audio and video formats are available for immediate viewing.
A guide to the oral histories is available for patron use. The guide provides location information for all of the materials associated with a particular oral history. A copy of the guide is located at the end of this finding aid, and can also be obtained by contacting the Archivist for the Archives of American Mathematics (carolmead@austin.utexas.edu).
The conference materials include documentation of the Legacy of R. L. Moore Annual Conferences and the Joint Mathematics Conferences of the Mathematics Association of America and the American Mathematical Society. Materials include conference packets and announcements, and audio- and video- tapes of conference proceedings.
The reminiscences by former students and colleagues of Moore provide insight into his work, his personality, and the controversies and issues surrounding his work at the University of Texas.
This series contains materials donated by Moore’s students and colleagues, including photographs, letters, and mathematics books. Material is arranged alphabetically by the person’s last name.
This series is largely comprised of articles about Moore or the use of the Moore Method. Also included are reports, articles about and by Moore's mathematical descendants, and articles covering recent topics and issues in the study of mathematics.