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TABLE OF CONTENTS


Descriptive Summary

Biographical Note

Scope and Contents

Restrictions

Index Terms

Administrative Information

Description of Series

Faculty reports, 1977-1984 and undated

, mostly book review material, [also includes some 1977-1982

Mathematial Association of America:

Publications and lectures:

University of Texas, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History

A Guide to the P. R. Halmos Papers, 1947-1988



Descriptive Summary

Creator: Halmos, Paul R. (Paul Richard), 1916-
Title: P. R. Halmos Papers,
Dates: 1947-1988
Abstract: Paul Richard Halmos is known for his work in operator theory, ergodic theory, and functional analysis, as well as his mathematical exposition and his teaching style. The bulk of this collection documents Halmos' work as editor of the Mathematical Association of America publication American Mathematical Monthly.
Accession No.: 89-315
Extent: 6 feet, 6 inches
Laguage: Materials are written in English.
Repository: Archives of American Mathematics, Center for American History,The University of Texas at Austin

Biographical Note

Paul Richard Halmos (1916-2006) is known for his work in operator theory, ergodic theory, and functional analysis, as well as his mathematical exposition and his teaching style. His major teaching positions were at the University of Chicago, Indiana University, and Santa Clara University.

Halmos was born March 3, 1916, in Budapest, Hungary. He came to the United States in 1929 and attended high school in Chicago. At the age of 15 he entered the University of Illinois and graduated in 1934 with a degree in mathematics and philosophy. He then went into graduate school at the University of Illinois, earning a doctorate in mathematics under Joseph Doob in 1938. Halmos served as John Von Neumann's assistant at the Institute of Advanced Study, a post which led to the publication of his first book, Finite Dimensional Vector Spaces, in 1942. After working at the IAS, Halmos taught soldiers in the Army's Specialized Training Program at Syracuse University before moving to the University of Chicago (1946-1960), and the University of Michigan (1961-1967). After one year as the mathematics department chair at the University of Hawaii, he began a professorship at Indiana University (1968-1985). In 1985 he moved to Santa Clara University where he worked until his retirement in 1996. Halmos served as editor of several publications, including the American Mathematical Monthly (1982-1986). He received the Steele Prize for exposition from the American Mathematical Society in 1983 and the Distinguished Teacher Award from the Mathematical Association of America in 1993. Halmos was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh as well as a Guggenheim Fellow.

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Scope and Contents

The bulk of this collection documents Halmos' work as editor of the Mathematical Association of America publication American Mathematical Monthly. His editorial papers include correspondence, articles, printed material, and other documentation related to the editing of a national mathematics journal. In addition to the editorial files, some of Halmos' publication files are included in this collection. These files consist of correspondence, drafts, and other material related to the writing, editing, and publication of some of Halmos' articles, books, and lectures.

Forms part of the Archives of American Mathematics

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Restricted access to any American Mathematical Monthly materials that reveal the name of a referee for thirty years after the date of creation. In some cases, material may be accessed in a redacted form. Contact archivist for details. All other material is unrestricted.

Use Restrictions

These papers are stored remotely. Contact reference staff for retrieval from offsite storage.

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Index Terms

Halmos, Paul R. (Paul Richard), 1916-
Mathematical Association of America. American Mathematical Monthly
Mathematical Intelligencer
Mathematics -- Study and teaching -- United States

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

P. R. Halmos Papers, 1947-1988, Archives of American Mathematics, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin

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Detailed Description of the Papers

 
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1.7/89-315/1 Faculty reports, 1977-1984 and undated

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1.7/89-315/1 Mathematical Intelligencer, mostly book review material, [also includes some Monthly items], 1977-1982

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Mathematial Association of America:

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1.7/89-315/2 American Mathematical Monthly, [PRH was editor from 1982-1986]:
[Manuscripts, some with editorial annotations. Roughly alphabetical by author's last name]
Articles:
Aaronson-Bellcastro, 1985
Balinsky-Harkin, 1985-1986
Harkin-Lankford, 1985-1986 and undated
Kauffman, 84-616, 1984
Lewinter-Nag, 1985-1986 and undated
London-Rogosinsky, 1987-1988
Obi-Snider, 1985-1986 and undated
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1.7/89-315/3 Small, 83-413, 1983-1985
Sommese, January 22, 1986 and undated
Subramanian-Teugels, 1985 and undated
Tolosa, January 1986
Tsai-Vasantha, 1985-1986 and undated
Weinberg, February 1985
West-Zuricker, 1985-1986
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1.7/89-315/4 Restricted:
[These entries contain referee names, and are restricted for 30 years from date of creation. Redacted copies can be used by researchers, see archivist for details]
Alexander, 84-555, 1984
Bender, 85-762, 1985-1987
Bentz, 85-733, 1985
Blaum, 84-641, 1984-1985
Henrich, 84-644, 1984-1985
Howland, 85-711, 1985
Roginsky, 1988
Wang, 83-486, semi-reject, 1983-1984
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1.7/89-315/5 Best young mathematician, 1981
Budget, 1980-1985
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1.7/89-315/6 Correspondence:
Leonard Gillman, Treasurer, 1984-1986
Ivan Niven, President, 1983-1985
Warren Page, College Mathematics Journal, 1983-1987
Ken Ross, Secretary, 1984-1987
Lynn Arthur Steen, President, 1984-1986
A. B. Willcox, Executive director, 1979-1987
Editors/Associate Editors:
General, [includes notes], 1981-1985
Final issue letter, September 3, 1986
R. P. Boas, 1979-1986
Wistar Comfort, 1982-1986
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1.7/89-315/7 Richard K. Guy, 1981-1986
Raoul Hailpern, 1981-1986
Seymour Schuster, 1980-1986
Herbert S. Wilf, 1980-1985
Book Reviews:
Extended reviews:
Allen L. Edmonds, 1981-1985
John H. Ewing, 1980-1986
Telegraphic reviews, Lynn Steen, 1980-1986
Mathematical Education, R. F. And M. R. Wardrop, 1982-1987
Notes:
Sabra S. Anderson, 1982-1986
Sheldon Axler, 1983-1986
J. Arthur Seebach, about, 1984-1985
J. Arthur Seeback, to/from, 1983-1986
Problems:
G. L. Alexanderson, 1982-1985
Dale H. Mugler, 1982-1983
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1.7/89-315/3 Advanced, David Borwein and Kenneth Stolarsky, 1980-1985
Elementary, Hugh M. W. Edgar, 1982-1985
Progress reports:
Thomas Banchoff, 1981-1984
Richard S. Millman, 1982-1984
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1.7/89-315/8 General, 1977-1987:
[Filed roughly in alphabetical order by the name of the correspondent and/or the subject of the correspondence. File numbers in brackets reflect the original file numbering system. Note: single subject files were generally not numbered.]
General MAA Correspondence and printed material, 1977-1986
Aaronson-Alder, [file 1]
Andree-Ascher, [file 2]
Assmus-Ayoub, [file 3]
Backlog-Bateman, [file 4]
Bear-Beyl, [file 5]
Bhuiyan-Blyth, [file 6]
Boas-Boyarsky, [file 7]
Book award
Braden-Byrnes, [file 8]
Cable-Cater, [file 9]
Chakerian-Chung, [file 10]
[file 11 is missing]
Cohen-Cox, [file 12]
Cover
Cronin-Czech problems, [file 13]
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1.7/89-315/9 Criticism
Das-Dawson, [file 14]
DeBranges-Dhage, [file 15]
Dilworth-Dorsett, [file 16]
Distinguished service, MAA
Dress-Duncan, [file 17]
Eagon-El-Sabaa, [file 18]
Engel-Ewell, [file 19]
Fettis-Feuer, [file 20]
Fischer-Flanders, [file 21]
Ford awards-Fusard, [file 22]
Gallian-Gersting, [file 23]
Ghandehari-Gottschalk, [file 24]
Grabiner-Gzyl, [file 25]
Hackett-Hartzler, [file 26]
Hammer-Hayes, [file 27]
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1.7/89-315/10 He-Hewitt, [file 28]
Hicks-Hill, [file 29]
Hoffman-Hsiung, [file 30]
Hubbard-Hyllengren, [file 31]
ICM-Izenman, [file 32}
Jacobson-Jech, [file 33]
Johnson-Jongsma, [file 34]
Kalam-Ken Schaft, [file 35]
Khajeh-Khalili-Knollenberg, [file 36]
Kocherlakota-Kurshan, [file 37]
Labuda-Lax, [file 38]
Lee-Liu, [file 39]
Logos-Lozano, [file 40]
Mack-Mandelbrot, [file 41]
Marcus-Mavrigian, [file 42]
McConnell-McGuigan, [file 43]
[file 44 missing]
Meetings-Meyerson, [file 45]
Mihalou-Mneimne, [file 46]
Moeckel-Mosteller, [file 47]
Mukherjee-Mycielski, [file 48]
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1.7/89-315/11 Nabutovskii-Neumann, [file 49]
Nachbin
Negotiations
New projects
Nielson-Nummela, [file 50]
Obi-Owings, [file 51]
Packard-Phillips, [file 52]
Perlman
Pi-Putnam, [file 53]
Pictures
Photos, lists of names
Pseudonyms
Quandt-Qvant, [file 54]
Rajasekhar-Rautenberg, [file 55]
Reany-Reznick, [file 56]
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1.7/89-315/12 Rebus
Richards-Rivlin, [file 57]
Roan-Royden, [file 58]
Rosenberg via Boas
Rubel-Rungaldier, [file 59]
Saban-Saxena, [file 60]
Schaffer-Scriba, [file 61]
Schattschneider
Sarkaria
Segal-Shub, [file 62]
Sibley-Smyth, [file 63]
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1.7/89-315/13 Snell-Srivastava, [file 64]
Stacy-Struve, [file 65]
Style
Subrahmanyam-Szemeréde, [file 66]
Tanik-Thyagarajan, [file 67]
Tiruneh-Tyler, [file 68]
Ungar-Von Randow, [file 69]
Vyborny
Wagon-Waterhouse, [file 70]
Weaver-Wetzel, [file 71]
Whitaker-Whitt, [file 72]
Wieschenberg-Winkel, [file 73]
Wolinsky-Wyler, [file 74]
Xing-Zwicker, [file 75]
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1.7/89-315/4 Restricted
[Correspondence revealing referee names is restricted for 30 years. It may be viewed after being redacted. Please contact the archivist for more information]:
Fekete, [from file 20]
Marlow, [from file 42]
Martin, [from file 42]
Norwood, [from file 50]
Nyikos, [from file 50]
Powell, [from file 53]
Priestly, [from file 53]
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1.7/89-315/5 Early problem receivers:
General, 1985-1986 and undated
Correspondence, 1981-1982
Copies sent out, 1981-1986
Editorial assistant, salary requests, 1985-1987
Editor's reports to the MAA, August 1982, January 1986
Forms:
Form letters, undated
Form letters, help form letters for refereeing suggestions, undated
Letters, invitation number one, undated
Master of blank used by PRH to record work done on each submitted manuscript, undated
Transmittal, cover page, undated
Letters to the editor, proposal, 1982-1983
Master log of submitted papers, 1981-1984
Permissions, 1982-1985
Procedures, referee acknowledgement, 1980-1986
Progress reports, 1978-1980
Solicited articles:
Authors, 1981-1985
Subjects, 1980-1981
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1.7/89-315/3 Statement of policy, 1982
Supplies, 1980-1984
Subscriptions, Kay Lamont, 1982-1987
Table of contents:
General, 1983-1985
Mailing list, 1985-1986 and undated
Writing manual, [research, correspondence and drafts], 1962-1984
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1.7/89-315/1 Minutes of the Northern California Section, May 30, 1987
Publications committee, 1988

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Publications and lectures:

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1.7/89-315/1 Correspondence, 1977
Various, [folder labeled 'Talks 1968'], 1970
Algebraic operators, lecture notes, 1970-1971 and undated
Algebraic and Quasi-algebraic operators, undated
"American Mathematics from 1940 to the Day Before Yesterday," with J. H. Ewing, W. H. Gustafson, S. H. Moolgavkar, W. H. Wheeler, and W. P. Ziemer:
Unused history, [notes, drafts, etc.], 1973-1977
Published copies, 1976 and undated
"Applied Mathematics is Bad Mathematics":
Drafts, 1980
Typed drafts, [1980]
"Asymptotic Toeplitz Operators," with José Barría, 1981
"Béla Szökefalvi-Nagy," [ca. 1984]
"Big Matrices and Little Kernels: The Examples that Come Before the Theorems," [notes, manuscripts, and lecture version], undated
"Bounded Matrices," undated
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1.7/89-315/14 Bourbaki, "The Mathematician who Doesn't Exist," 1960-1963
"A Decade of Progress in Operator Theory," 1979 and undated
"Finite-dimensional Points of Continuity of Lat," with J. B. Conwey, 1979-1980
"The Heart of Mathematics," 1979-1981
"How to Talk Mathematics":
Correspondence and notes, 1973-1976 and undated
Drafts, publication, and translations, 1973-1977
"How to Write Mathematics":
Correspondence, fan mail and translations, 1970-1975
Translations, correspondence, and related publications, 1976-1981
Integral operators, old lectures, undated
Integral Operators, correspondence, 1977-1979
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1.7/89-315/15 "Limsups of Lats," 1974-1980
"The Monthly and Me," FOCUS, 1981-1982
Power Boundedness, S. R. Foguel, 1962-1963
"Quadratic Interpolation," 1981-1982 and undated
Review of Creative Teaching: Heritage of R. L. Moore, 1973-1974
Review of The William Lowell Putnam Competition, Problems and Solutions, 1938-1964, 1980-1981
Shifts:
"The Algebra and Topology of Shifts," and "Limits of Shifts," undated
"Products of Shifts," [notes], 1972
"Some Unsolved Problems of Unknown Depth about Operators on Hilbert Space":
Correspondence, drafts, and proofs, 1976
Royal Society of Edinburgh, 1976-1977
"Spectral Approximants of Normal Operators":
Colloquium talk, 1968
Draft, proofs, 1973 and undated
"The Teaching of Problem Solving":
Lecture from panel discussion, "The Problem of Learning to Teach," with Moise and Piranian, 1973-1975
[How to Teach], drafts, notes, correspondence, 1973-1978 and undated
"Ten Solutions in Hilbert Space":
Texas Christian University Regional Conference on Hilbert Space, 1978-1979
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1.7/89-315/16 From survey talk, 1979-1980
Lecture, 1979
Unsolved problems, notes, 1976-1977 and undated
Von Neumann:
Correspondence, 1972-1974
Documents, [research], 1947-1964
Movie, 1966-1968 and undated
Useless, 1954-1970 and undated
"John Von Neumann," for Encyclopedia Britannica, Draft 0-4, and final draft [draft 6], 1972 and undated
"The Legend of John Von Neumann," 1972-1973
Von Neumann talk/"The Legend of John Von Neumann," 1973 and undated
"Weakly Transitive Matrices," with José Barria, 1981
"What to Publish," panel discussion and paper, 1974-1976
"The Work of F. Riesz," [ca. 1980]

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