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 descendants 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 Student notes and teaching guides provide resources for the teacher of the Moore Method, including published and unpublished books, and class notes taken by students attending R. L. Moore's classes.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.
A portion of these papers is stored remotely. Advance notice required for retrieval. Contact repository for retrieval.
R. L. Moore Legacy Collection, 1890-1900, 1920-2009, Archives of American Mathematics, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, 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 (k.sorensen@mail.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, descendants, and colleagues, including photographs, letters, articles and papers, and mathematics books. Material is arranged alphabetically by the person’s last name.
This series consists of articles about Moore or the use of the Moore Method, as well as reports, articles about and by Moore's mathematical descendants, and articles covering recent topics and issues in the study of mathematics.
Included in this series are originals and copies of notes taken in Moore's and his descendants’ classes. Teaching guides include books and manuscripts that provide guidelines for improving classroom instruction and teaching subjects more effectively.
Genealogical materials and correspondence about Moore and his ancestors, as well as materials donated by the relatives of Moore.
The dedication ceremony for the RLM Building on The University of Texas at Austin campus is the subject for most of the material in this series. Also included is information about the Moore-Wall Memorial Medal for Creative Excellence in Mathematics.
Includes materials from Moore's personnel file held by The University of Texas at Austin Math Department and his faculty file held by The University of Texas at Austin.
Administrative files, correspondence and collection guides documenting the R. L. Moore Papers before they were transferred by the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center to the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History in 1984.
The Administrative files were created in the early days of the Legacy of R. L. Moore Project and include materials pertaining to conference planning, building the Legacy Collection, and hiring someone to write a biography about R. L. Moore.
This series includes photocopies of theses and dissertations written by graduate students advised by R. L. Moore and his descendants.
Photocopies of materials used in creating exhibits related to R. L. Moore.
Photographs of R. L. Moore, his colleagues, students, and mathematical descendants.
Copies of