Herman Minkowski Notebooks, 1882-1906
Repository
American Institute of Physics. Center for History of Physics.
College Park, MD 20740
Papers created by
Minkowski, H. (Herman), 1864-1909.
Size of collection
5 linear feet (10 boxes)
Short description of collection
Mathematician (geometry of numbers, quadratic forms). Photocopies of Minkowski's notebooks containing notes and computations on quadratic forms, geometry of numbers, fluid mechanics, number theory, and algegraic functions, and notes for lectures he delivered while a mathematics professor, covering these topics as well as partial differential equations, hydrodynamics, mechanics, and potential theory.
Language(s) of collection
German
Unit ID
AR 175
Mathematician (geometry of numbers, quadratic forms). On mathematics faculty of Universität Bonn, 1885-1894; Universität Zürich, 1896-1902; and Universität Göttingen, 1902-1909.
These photocopies of Minkowski's notebooks primarily contain notes and computations on quadratic forms, geometry of numbers, fluid mechanics, number theory, and algegraic functions. In addition, there are notes for lectures delivered by Minkowski while a mathematics professor which cover these topics as well as partial differential equations, hydrodynamics, mechanics, and potential theory. Also included in the notebooks are drafts of articles on the theory of algebraic numbers, the geometry of numbers, and an essay on the history of the theory of probability.
Researchers must have an approved access application on file in order to access archival materials. https://www.aip.org/history-programs/niels-bohr-library/item-request.
These papers have been indexed in the International Catalog of Sources for History of Physics and Allied Sciences (ICOS) using the following terms. Those seeking related materials should search under these terms.
Subject terms
Algebra.
Forms, Quadratic.
Geometry.
Hydrodynamics.
Mathematics.
Mechanics, Fluid.
Mechanics.
Number theory.
Probability theory.
Occupation terms
Mathematicians.
Genre terms
Notebooks.
Notebooks are arranged chronologically.
The original collection is in the Jewish National and University Library, Department of Manuscripts and Archives, POB 503 Jerusalem 91 004, Israel.
Gift of Mrs. Naomi S. Motzkin in 1973.
Cite as: [Folder title, date; Folder number, Box number], Hermann Minkowski Notebooks, 1882-1906. American Institute of Physics, Niels Bohr Library, College Park, MD, 20740 USA.
Title
Finding Aid to the Herman Minkowski Notebooks, 1882-1906
Publisher
American Institute of Physics. Center for History of Physics.
One Physics Ellipse
College Park, MD 20740
nbl@aip.org
January 31, 2005
Encoding Information
Machine-readable finding aid encoded in EAD 2002 by Katherine A. Hayes on 31 January 2005. Any revisions made to this finding aid occurred as part of the editing and encoding process.
| Box 1 |
Folder 1 |
Exercises (quadratic forms). 1882, November 10 |
|
Folder 2 |
Computations (quadratic forms). 1883, September 4 |
|
Folder 3 |
I. Computations (number theory). 1886, October 4 |
|
Folder 4 |
IV. Computations (quadratic forms). 1886, November 28 |
|
Folder 5 |
I. Computations (geometry of numbers). 1887, October 15 |
|
Folder 6 |
II. Computations (quadratic forms geometry of numbers). 1887, November 1 |
|
Folder 7 |
XIV. Computations (elliptic functions). 1887, November 10 |
|
Folder 8 |
III. Computations. 1887, November 18 |
|
Folder 9 |
IIIa. Computations (geometry of numbers). 1887, November 24 |
|
Folder 10 |
IV. Computations (geometry of numbers). 1887, December 3 |
|
Folder 11 |
V. Computations (geometry of numbers). Bonn. 1887, December 6 |
|
Folder 12 |
VI. Computations (geometry of numbers). Bonn. 1887, December 22 |
|
Folder 13 |
VII. Computations (geometry of numbers). 1887, December 31 |
|
Folder 14 |
VIII. Computations (geometry of numbers). 1888, January 5 |
|
Folder 15 |
VIII. Computations (geometry of numbers). 1888, January 10 |
|
Folder 16 |
X. Computations (geometry of numbers). 1888, January 17 |
|
Folder 17 |
XI. Computations (geometry of numbers). 1888, January 24 |
|
Folder 18 |
Computations (geometry of numbers). 1888, February 22 |
|
Folder 19 |
Computations (geometry of numbers). 1888, March 15 |
| Box 2 |
Folder 1 |
Computations (geometry of numbers). 1888, July 22-November 22 |
|
Folder 2 |
Computations (geometry of numbers). 1888, September 19 |
|
Folder 3 |
Bonn. Computations 1. Geometry of numbers. 2. Cerch zeta form (?). 3. Analytic number theory (A'). 1888, October 21, 1889; January 24, 1891; May 27; 1891, June 10 |
|
Folder 4 |
Computations (geometry of numbers). 1888, November 15 |
|
Folder 5 |
A. Computations (quadratic forms). 1889, January 11 |
|
Folder 6 |
B. Computations (number theory). Bonn. 1889, January 24 |
|
Folder 7 |
Computations (quadratic forms). 1889, February 1 |
|
Folder 8 |
Computations in connection with referenced papers. 1889, April 30 |
|
Folder 9 |
Computations (fluid mechanics geometry of numbers). Bonn. 1889, September 13-October 18 |
|
Folder 10 |
Computations (quadratic forms). 1889, October 22; 1900, October 30 |
|
Folder 11 |
Computations (number theory). Bonn. 1889, October 30 |
|
Folder 12 |
Computations (quadratic forms). Bonn. 1889, November 10 |
|
Folder 13 |
Königsberg. PFI. Computations (quadratic forms). 1889, December 22 |
|
Folder 14 |
Bonn. PFII. Computations (quadratic forms). 1890, January 10 |
|
Folder 15 |
Bonn. PFIII. Computations (quadratic forms). 1890, January 18 |
|
Folder 16 |
Bonn. PFIV. Geometric computations for applications to geometry of numbers. 1890, February 2 |
|
Folder 17 |
Bonn. PFV. Computations (quadratic forms). 1890, February 12 |
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Folder 18 |
Bonn. PFVI. Computations (quadratic forms). 1890, February 18 |
|
Folder 19 |
Königsberg. PFVII. Computations (quadratic forms). 1890, March 15 |
|
Folder 20 |
Königsberg. PFVIII. Computations (quadratic forms). 1890, March 27 |
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Folder 21 |
Königsberg. Draft of paper on geometry of numbers. 1890, September 25 |
|
Folder 22 |
Bonn. Computations and beginning of draft for paper on the theory of algebraic numbers. Unpublished continuation of paper VIII-collected works. 1890, November 6-December 23 |
| Box 3 |
Folder 1 |
Bonn. Exercises in differential equations and other problems (e.g. construction of Peano space falling curve). 1890, November 6; 1891, January 6 |
|
Folder 2 |
Königsberg. Computations (quadratic forms). 1891, March 12 |
|
Folder 3 |
Bonn. Computations (number theory). 1891, May 6 |
|
Folder 4 |
Bonn. Notes (algebraic numbers). 1891, May 13 |
|
Folder 5 |
Bonn. Computations (quadratic forms). 1891, June 21-26 |
|
Folder 6 |
Geneva ? Computations. 1891, August 19; 1892, February 29 |
|
Folder 7 |
Literatur sur Zahlentheorie (References for Number Theory). 1892 |
|
Folder 8 |
Bonn; 1894, March 17, Königsberg. Computations (linear inequalities, continued fractions, etc). 1892, February 14; 1894, February 14 |
|
Folder 9 |
Königsberg. Computations (quadradic forms). 1892, March 21-27 |
|
Folder 10 |
Bonn. Computations (quadratic forms). 1892, June 1-11 |
|
Folder 11 |
Bonn. Computations (quadratic forms). 1892, June 29 |
|
Folder 12 |
Draft book of paper on geometry of numbers. 1892, July 17 |
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Folder 13 |
Continuation of Bonn, July 14-August 11, 1892 |
|
Folder 14 |
Continuation of Bonn, July 17-August 11, 1892 |
| Box 4 |
Folder 1 |
Bonn. Computations (geometry of numbers). 1893, January 30 |
|
Folder 2 |
Bonn. Computations (continued fractions). 1893, May 11-15 |
|
Folder 3 |
Berlin. Draft of paper on the theory of reduction of positive quadratic forms. II, III - Collected works. 1893 |
|
Folder 4 |
Computations (geometry of numbers). 1893 September 24-October 14 |
|
Folder 5 |
Bonn. Draft of paper on the geometry of numbers. 1893, November 1 |
|
Folder 6 |
Computations (number theory). 1893, November 15 |
|
Folder 7 |
Königsberg. Computations (quadratic forms). 1894, March 21 |
|
Folder 8 |
Königsberg. Computations. 1894, March 24 |
|
Folder 9 |
Königsberg. Computations (modular forms). 1894, April 15 |
|
Folder 10 |
Königsberg. Computations involving integers in Gaussian and Kummer fields. 1894, May 4 |
|
Folder 11 |
Königsberg. Computations (modular functions). 1894, June 20 |
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Folder 12 |
Königsberg. Computations (modular functions). 1894, August 4 |
|
Folder 13 |
Königsberg. Computations (quadratic forms). 1894, September 1 through 1895, November 30 |
|
Folder 14 |
Königsberg. Draft of paper on the generalization of continued fractions. XIII - Collected works. 1894, December 2 |
| Box 5 |
Folder 1 |
Königsberg. Computations (quadratic forms). 1895, December 28 |
|
Folder 2 |
Königsberg; 1896, February 7 through November 30, Zürich. Computations, miscellaneous. 1896, May 3 |
|
Folder 3 |
Königsberg; 1897, February 5, March 8, April 15, Zürich. Computations and exercises for course in analytic functions of a complex variable. 1896, May 9 |
|
Folder 4 |
Zürich. Computations (geometry of numbers). 1896, November 24 |
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Folder 5 |
Computations (quadratic forms); announcement; table of contents of book - Geometrie de Zahlen, von Dr. Hermann Minkowski. 1896 |
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Folder 6 |
Lecture notes (algebraic functions). 1897, January 6 |
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Folder 7 |
Miscellaneous. 1897/1898 |
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Folder 8 |
Zürich. Hydrodynamics lecture notes. 1897, April 27 |
|
Folder 9 |
Lecture notes (partial differential equations). 1897, April 27 |
|
Folder 10 |
Zürich. Partial differential equations (pages not in order). 1897, May 22 |
|
Folder 11 |
Lecture notes (mechanics). 1897, October 27. |
|
Folder 12 |
Zürich. Notes for paper on the reduction of positive quadratic forms. 1897, November 27-December 1 |
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Folder 13 |
Winter. Lecture notes (geometry of numbers). 1897/1898 |
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Folder 14 |
Winter. Lecture notes (calculus of variations). 1897/1898 |
| Box 6 |
Folder 1 |
Zürich X. Draft of paper "A Criteria for Algebraic Numbers." XIV. 1898, January 10 |
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Folder 2 |
Zürich. Computations (quadratic forms). VII. 1898, February 20 |
|
Folder 3 |
Zürich. Computations (number theory, geometry of numbers). VIII. 1898, February 27 |
|
Folder 4 |
Loose papers include: 1) Introduction lecture course on number theory; 2) Wedding announcement for Volterra's wedding; 3) Exam in analytic geometry. 1898, October |
|
Folder 5 |
Lecture notes (potential theory). 1898, Summer |
|
Folder 6 |
Zürich. Notes for paper on Diophantine approximation. XVI. Collected works. 1898, December 15; 1899, December 1 |
|
Folder 7 |
Zürich. A. Notes for paper on Diophantine approximation. XVI. 1899, April 11 |
|
Folder 8 |
Zürich. Draft of research paper on continued fractions. XVI - Collected works. 1899, November 17 |
| Box 7 |
Folder 1 |
Königsberg. Computations (quadratic forms). Undated. |
|
Folder 2 |
Computations (number theory). Undated. |
|
Folder 3 |
Lectures (elasticity). Undated. |
|
Folder 4 |
Loose papers found between Box 7, Folder 3 and 5. Undated. |
|
Folder 5 |
Computations (geometry of numbers ). Undated. |
|
Folder 6 |
Zürich. Lecture notes (analytic functions of a complex variable). Function theory, Summer 1898; elliptical functions, Winter 1898-9. Undated. |
|
Folder 7 |
Numerical exercises (probably in reduction of quadratic forms). Undated. |
|
Folder 8 |
Notes (mathematical physics). Undated. |
|
Folder 9 |
Notes and computations of papers by Weirstrass, Dirichlet, Hermite, Frobenius, Luroth. Undated. |
|
Folder 10 |
Göttingen. Notes (minimal surfaces). Undated. |
|
Folder 11 |
Notes and references (analytic functions). Undated. |
|
Folder 12 |
Work on quadratic forms (probably very early). Undated. |
|
Folder 13 |
Göttingen. Notes, references and computations for course in elementary number theory. Undated. |
|
Folder 14 |
No title. Undated. |
|
Folder 15 |
No title. Undated. |
| Box 8 |
Folder 1 |
Zürich. A criterion for algebraic numbers (draft of research paper). Collected works XIV. 1898, November 10 |
|
Folder 2 |
Lecture notes (mechanics). 1898/99, Winter |
|
Folder 3 |
Zürich. IX. Computations (geometry of numbers). 1899, January 15-October 17 |
|
Folder 4 |
Bonn. Computations. 1899, May 21-December 7 |
|
Folder 5 |
Zürich. Computations (algebraic numbers). 1899, October 19 |
|
Folder 6 |
Zürich. Capillarity: references, brief notes, and computations on the mathematical theory of liquids. Collected works XXIX. 1899, December 3 |
|
Folder 7 |
References, computations, notes (mathematical physics, geometry of numbers). After 1899 |
|
Folder 8 |
Zürich. Geometry of numbers. B. 1900, January 15 |
|
Folder 9 |
Analytic Mechanics. Chapter I: Foundations for Liquid Motion; Equatios of Continuity; Euler's Equations of Motion. 1900, April 23 |
|
Folder 10 |
Zürich. Geometry of numbers. C. 1900, May 27 |
|
Folder 11 |
Lecture notes (geometry of numbers). 1900, July 30 |
|
Folder 12 |
Zürich. Lecture notes (potential theory). 1900, October |
|
Folder 13 |
Notes (mechanics). 1901 |
|
Folder 14 |
Lecture notes and computations for elliptic functions. 1901/02 |
|
Folder 15 |
Algebra course outline and computations. 1901/02, Winter |
|
Folder 16 |
Zürich. References to papers by: Delaunay, Hademard, Lord Kelvin, Poincaré. 1902, September 11 |
| Box 9 |
Folder 1 |
Göttingen. Lecture notes (analytic functions). 1902/03, Winter |
|
Folder 2 |
Göttingen. Lectures on the theory of algebraic functions and differential equations. Chapter I. Strum Series. Chapter II. Kronecker characteristic of functions of two variables. Chapter III. Algebraic topology of surfaces. 1902/03, Winter |
|
Folder 3 |
Lecture notes (geometry of numbers). 1903/04, Winter |
|
Folder 4 |
Göttingen. Lecture notes (mechanics). 1903/04, Winter |
|
Folder 5 |
Göttingen. Draft of paper, Duesest sphere package. Collected works XIX. 1904, June |
|
Folder 6 |
Göttingen. Differential calculus (lecture notes). 1904, Summer |
|
Folder 7 |
Lectures in affine geometry. 1904, Summer |
|
Folder 8 |
Göttingen. Exercises, notes, bibliographies (mathematical physics). After 1904 |
|
Folder 9 |
Göttingen. Lecture notes (analysis situs topology). 1904/05, Winter |
|
Folder 10 |
Göttingen. Notes and computations (automorphic functions). 1905, June 11-July 5 |
|
Folder 11 |
Göttingen. Lecture notes (differential equations). 1905, Summer |
|
Folder 12 |
Göttingen. References on mathematical physics. 1906, April 24 |
|
Folder 13 |
Göttingen. Computations and notes (mathematical physics). 1906, June 17 |
| Box 10 |
Folder 1 |
Computations and notes (1. Deferential equations; 2. Quadratic forms). Undated. |
|
Folder 2 |
Computations (quadratic forms). Undated. |
|
Folder 3 |
Computations (quadratic forms). Undated. |
|
Folder 4 |
Computations and drawings. Undated. |
|
Folder 5 |
Computations (number theory). Undated. |
|
Folder 6 |
Computations (quadratic forms). Undated. |
|
Folder 7 |
Computations (quadratic forms). Undated. |
|
Folder 8 |
Number theoretic computations. Undated. |
|
Folder 9 |
Computations. Undated. |
|
Folder 10 |
Computations. Undated. |
|
Folder 11 |
Bonn. Computations (mathematical physics). Undated. |
|
Folder 12 |
Göttingen. Adhesion capillarity. Draft of encyclopedia article number 29 of collected works. Undated. |
|
Folder 13 |
Draft of (apparently unpublished) essay on History of the Theory of Probability. Undated. |
|
Folder 14 |
Lectures (analytical mechanics). Undated. |
|
Folder 15 |
Bonn. Draft of paper of some applications of arithmetic in analyses. Undated. |
|
Folder 16 |
Göttingen. Lecture notes (complex variables). Undated. |
|
Folder 17 |
Notes and computations (quadratic forms, mechanics). Undated. |
|
Folder 18 |
Quadratic forms. Undated. |
|
Folder 19 |
Notes and computations (Calois theory) II. Undated. |
|
Folder 20 |
Göttingen. Lecture notes (mechanics). Undated. |
|
Folder 21 |
Professor Hadamard to Mme. H. Minkowski. Xerox. Paris. ALS. French. 12 July 1938 |
