Scope and Content Note
The papers of Oswald Veblen (1880-1960) span the years 1881-1960, with the bulk of the material concentrated in the period 1920-1960. The papers relate to the upsurge of pure mathematics and mathematical physics in America, the careers of many scientists who played roles in this development, and various key institutions in the scientific and academic community at the time. The collection is organized into seven series: Diaries, General Correspondence, Subject File, Writings File, Miscellany, 2023 Addition, and Oversize series.
From 1932 until his death in 1960 Veblen was a professor at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, New Jersey. The papers reflect in detail that long association and reveal much about the founding and early years of the institute. There is also some early correspondence covering his years of graduate study, his early years at Princeton University, and later many letters and other material concerning the American Mathematical Society and the founding of Mathematical Reviews, established to replace a German journal that reflected Nazi views.
His exchange of letters and ideas with mathematicians and other scientists in both the United States and Europe represents a prominent part of the collection. Among his correspondents are Nobel Prize recipients Niels Bohr, P. A. M. Dirac, Albert Einstein, Robert Andrews Millikan, Linus Pauling, Owen Willans Richardson, and Bertrand Russell. Other major correspondents include James W. Alexander, George David Birkoff, Abraham Flexner, O. Neugebauer, J. Robert Oppenheimer, Roland George Dwight Richardson, Marshall H. Stone, Lewis L. Strauss, Dirk Jan Struik, John Von Neumann, Herman Weyl, John Henry Constantine Whitehead, Norbert Wiener, and Eugene Paul Wigner.
There is considerable material in the papers on Veblen's efforts to aid displaced German scholars and other refugees, including many distinguished scientists. There is also material on his interest in raising the standards of the American scientific community and in stimulating support for research not wedded to specific applied ends. Of particular interest is correspondence detailing the efforts of Veblen and his fellow scientists to raise money between World War I and World War II. The letters include frank comments on the attitudes of business and government toward supporting pure research.
The collection also includes diaries, manuscripts of some of Veblen's speeches and publications, and miscellaneous financial and personal material.
The 2023 Addition largely concerns the daily life and household activities of Veblen and his wife Elizabeth.