Description of the Collection
American Institute of Physics. Center for History of Physics.
College Park, MD 20740
Herman Minkowski Notebooks, 1882-1906
German.
5 linear feet (10 boxes)
AR 175
Minkowski, H. (Herman), 1864-1909.
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.
See below for information on access and restrictions.
Selected Search Terms
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.
Algebra.
Forms, Quadratic.
Geometry.
Hydrodynamics.
Mathematics.
Mechanics.
Mechanics, Fluid.
Probability theory.
Number theory.
Notebooks.
Mathematicians.
Biography of Herbert Minkowski
Mathematician (geometry of numbers, quadratic forms). On mathematics faculty of Universität Bonn, 1885-1894; Universität Zürich, 1896-1902; and Universität Göttingen, 1902-1909.
Scope and Contents of Collection
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.
Arrangement/Organization of Collection
Notebooks are arranged chronologically.
Alternate Formats of this Collection
The original collection is in the Jewish National and University Library, Department of Manuscripts and Archives, POB 503 Jerusalem 91 004, Israel.
Restrictions on Use of Collection
Use of primary source material in the Niels Bohr Library requires prior approval through an Application for Access, which includes a statement of research purpose and the names and addresses of two scholars as references. Access applications can be obtained by contacting the Library (telephone 301-209-3177; or e-mail nbl@aip.org). The application can also be printed from our website.
Provenance and Acquisition Information
Gift of Mrs. Naomi S. Motzkin in 1973.
Preferred Citation of Collection
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.
Container List
Box 1
Folder 1
Exercises (quadratic forms). 1882, November 10
Box 1
Folder 2
Computations (quadratic forms). 1883, September 4
Box 1
Folder 3
I. Computations (number theory). 1886, October 4
Box 1
Folder 4
IV. Computations (quadratic forms). 1886, November 28
Box 1
Folder 5
I. Computations (geometry of numbers). 1887, October 15
Box 1
Folder 6
II. Computations (quadratic forms geometry of numbers). 1887, November 1
Box 1
Folder 7
XIV. Computations (elliptic functions). 1887, November 10
Box 1
Folder 8
III. Computations. 1887, November 18
Box 1
Folder 9
IIIa. Computations (geometry of numbers). 1887, November 24
Box 1
Folder 10
IV. Computations (geometry of numbers). 1887, December 3
Box 1
Folder 11
V. Computations (geometry of numbers). Bonn. 1887, December 6
Box 1
Folder 12
VI. Computations (geometry of numbers). Bonn. 1887, December 22
Box 1
Folder 13
VII. Computations (geometry of numbers). 1887, December 31
Box 1
Folder 14
VIII. Computations (geometry of numbers). 1888, January 5
Box 1
Folder 15
VIII. Computations (geometry of numbers). 1888, January 10
Box 1
Folder 16
X. Computations (geometry of numbers). 1888, January 17
Box 1
Folder 17
XI. Computations (geometry of numbers). 1888, January 24
Box 1
Folder 18
Computations (geometry of numbers). 1888, February 22
Box 1
Folder 19
Computations (geometry of numbers). 1888, March 15
Box 2
Folder 1
Computations (geometry of numbers). 1888, July 22-November 22
Box 2
Folder 2
Computations (geometry of numbers). 1888, September 19
Box 2
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
Box 2
Folder 4
Computations (geometry of numbers). 1888, November 15
Box 2
Folder 5
A. Computations (quadratic forms). 1889, January 11
Box 2
Folder 6
B. Computations (number theory). Bonn. 1889, January 24
Box 2
Folder 7
Computations (quadratic forms). 1889, February 1
Box 2
Folder 8
Computations in connection with referenced papers. 1889, April 30
Box 2
Folder 9
Computations (fluid mechanics geometry of numbers). Bonn. 1889, September 13-October 18
Box 2
Folder 10
Computations (quadratic forms). 1889, October 22; 1900, October 30
Box 2
Folder 11
Computations (number theory). Bonn. 1889, October 30
Box 2
Folder 12
Computations (quadratic forms). Bonn. 1889, November 10
Box 2
Folder 13
Königsberg. PFI. Computations (quadratic forms). 1889, December 22
Box 2
Folder 14
Bonn. PFII. Computations (quadratic forms). 1890, January 10
Box 2
Folder 15
Bonn. PFIII. Computations (quadratic forms). 1890, January 18
Box 2
Folder 16
Bonn. PFIV. Geometric computations for applications to geometry of numbers. 1890, February 2
Box 2
Folder 17
Bonn. PFV. Computations (quadratic forms). 1890, February 12
Box 2
Folder 18
Bonn. PFVI. Computations (quadratic forms). 1890, February 18
Box 2
Folder 19
Königsberg. PFVII. Computations (quadratic forms). 1890, March 15
Box 2
Folder 20
Königsberg. PFVIII. Computations (quadratic forms). 1890, March 27
Box 2
Folder 21
Königsberg. Draft of paper on geometry of numbers. 1890, September 25
Box 2
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
Box 3
Folder 2
Königsberg. Computations (quadratic forms). 1891, March 12
Box 3
Folder 3
Bonn. Computations (number theory). 1891, May 6
Box 3
Folder 4
Bonn. Notes (algebraic numbers). 1891, May 13
Box 3
Folder 5
Bonn. Computations (quadratic forms). 1891, June 21-26
Box 3
Folder 6
Geneva ? Computations. 1891, August 19; 1892, February 29
Box 3
Folder 7
Literatur sur Zahlentheorie (References for Number Theory). 1892
Box 3
Folder 8
Bonn; 1894, March 17, Königsberg. Computations (linear inequalities, continued fractions, etc). 1892, February 14; 1894, February 14
Box 3
Folder 9
Königsberg. Computations (quadradic forms). 1892, March 21-27
Box 3
Folder 10
Bonn. Computations (quadratic forms). 1892, June 1-11
Box 3
Folder 11
Bonn. Computations (quadratic forms). 1892, June 29
Box 3
Folder 12
Draft book of paper on geometry of numbers. 1892, July 17
Box 3
Folder 13
Continuation of Bonn, July 14-August 11, 1892
Box 3
Folder 14
Continuation of Bonn, July 17-August 11, 1892
Box 4
Folder 1
Bonn. Computations (geometry of numbers). 1893, January 30
Box 4
Folder 2
Bonn. Computations (continued fractions). 1893, May 11-15
Box 4
Folder 3
Berlin. Draft of paper on the theory of reduction of positive quadratic forms. II, III - Collected works. 1893
Box 4
Folder 4
Computations (geometry of numbers). 1893 September 24-October 14
Box 4
Folder 5
Bonn. Draft of paper on the geometry of numbers. 1893, November 1
Box 4
Folder 6
Computations (number theory). 1893, November 15
Box 4
Folder 7
Königsberg. Computations (quadratic forms). 1894, March 21
Box 4
Folder 8
Königsberg. Computations. 1894, March 24
Box 4
Folder 9
Königsberg. Computations (modular forms). 1894, April 15
Box 4
Folder 10
Königsberg. Computations involving integers in Gaussian and Kummer fields. 1894, May 4
Box 4
Folder 11
Königsberg. Computations (modular functions). 1894, June 20
Box 4
Folder 12
Königsberg. Computations (modular functions). 1894, August 4
Box 4
Folder 13
Königsberg. Computations (quadratic forms). 1894, September 1 through 1895, November 30
Box 4
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
Box 5
Folder 2
Königsberg; 1896, February 7 through November 30, Zürich. Computations, miscellaneous. 1896, May 3
Box 5
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
Box 5
Folder 4
Zürich. Computations (geometry of numbers). 1896, November 24
Box 5
Folder 5
Computations (quadratic forms); announcement; table of contents of book - Geometrie de Zahlen, von Dr. Hermann Minkowski. 1896
Box 5
Folder 6
Lecture notes (algebraic functions). 1897, January 6
Box 5
Folder 7
Miscellaneous. 1897/1898
Box 5
Folder 8
Zürich. Hydrodynamics lecture notes. 1897, April 27
Box 5
Folder 9
Lecture notes (partial differential equations). 1897, April 27
Box 5
Folder 10
Zürich. Partial differential equations (pages not in order). 1897, May 22
Box 5
Folder 11
Lecture notes (mechanics). 1897, October 27.
Box 5
Folder 12
Zürich. Notes for paper on the reduction of positive quadratic forms. 1897, November 27-December 1
Box 5
Folder 13
Winter. Lecture notes (geometry of numbers). 1897/1898
Box 5
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
Box 6
Folder 2
Zürich. Computations (quadratic forms). VII. 1898, February 20
Box 6
Folder 3
Zürich. Computations (number theory, geometry of numbers). VIII. 1898, February 27
Box 6
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
Box 6
Folder 5
Lecture notes (potential theory). 1898, Summer
Box 6
Folder 6
Zürich. Notes for paper on Diophantine approximation. XVI. Collected works. 1898, December 15; 1899, December 1
Box 6
Folder 7
Zürich. A. Notes for paper on Diophantine approximation. XVI. 1899, April 11
Box 6
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.
Box 7
Folder 2
Computations (number theory). Undated.
Box 7
Folder 3
Lectures (elasticity). Undated.
Box 7
Folder 4
Loose papers found between Box 7, Folder 3 and 5. Undated.
Box 7
Folder 5
Computations (geometry of numbers ). Undated.
Box 7
Folder 6
Zürich. Lecture notes (analytic functions of a complex variable). Function theory, Summer 1898; elliptical functions, Winter 1898-9. Undated.
Box 7
Folder 7
Numerical exercises (probably in reduction of quadratic forms). Undated.
Box 7
Folder 8
Notes (mathematical physics). Undated.
Box 7
Folder 9
Notes and computations of papers by Weirstrass, Dirichlet, Hermite, Frobenius, Luroth. Undated.
Box 7
Folder 10
Göttingen. Notes (minimal surfaces). Undated.
Box 7
Folder 11
Notes and references (analytic functions). Undated.
Box 7
Folder 12
Work on quadratic forms (probably very early). Undated.
Box 7
Folder 13
Göttingen. Notes, references and computations for course in elementary number theory. Undated.
Box 7
Folder 14
No title. Undated.
Box 7
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
Box 8
Folder 2
Lecture notes (mechanics). 1898/99, Winter
Box 8
Folder 3
Zürich. IX. Computations (geometry of numbers). 1899, January 15-October 17
Box 8
Folder 4
Bonn. Computations. 1899, May 21-December 7
Box 8
Folder 5
Zürich. Computations (algebraic numbers). 1899, October 19
Box 8
Folder 6
Zürich. Capillarity: references, brief notes, and computations on the mathematical theory of liquids. Collected works XXIX. 1899, December 3
Box 8
Folder 7
References, computations, notes (mathematical physics, geometry of numbers). After 1899
Box 8
Folder 8
Zürich. Geometry of numbers. B. 1900, January 15
Box 8
Folder 9
Analytic Mechanics. Chapter I: Foundations for Liquid Motion; Equatios of Continuity; Euler's Equations of Motion. 1900, April 23
Box 8
Folder 10
Zürich. Geometry of numbers. C. 1900, May 27
Box 8
Folder 11
Lecture notes (geometry of numbers). 1900, July 30
Box 8
Folder 12
Zürich. Lecture notes (potential theory). 1900, October
Box 8
Folder 13
Notes (mechanics). 1901
Box 8
Folder 14
Lecture notes and computations for elliptic functions. 1901/02
Box 8
Folder 15
Algebra course outline and computations. 1901/02, Winter
Box 8
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
Box 9
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
Box 9
Folder 3
Lecture notes (geometry of numbers). 1903/04, Winter
Box 9
Folder 4
Göttingen. Lecture notes (mechanics). 1903/04, Winter
Box 9
Folder 5
Göttingen. Draft of paper, Duesest sphere package. Collected works XIX. 1904, June
Box 9
Folder 6
Göttingen. Differential calculus (lecture notes). 1904, Summer
Box 9
Folder 7
Lectures in affine geometry. 1904, Summer
Box 9
Folder 8
Göttingen. Exercises, notes, bibliographies (mathematical physics). After 1904
Box 9
Folder 9
Göttingen. Lecture notes (analysis situs topology). 1904/05, Winter
Box 9
Folder 10
Göttingen. Notes and computations (automorphic functions). 1905, June 11-July 5
Box 9
Folder 11
Göttingen. Lecture notes (differential equations). 1905, Summer
Box 9
Folder 12
Göttingen. References on mathematical physics. 1906, April 24
Box 9
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.
Box 10
Folder 2
Computations (quadratic forms). Undated.
Box 10
Folder 3
Computations (quadratic forms). Undated.
Box 10
Folder 4
Computations and drawings. Undated.
Box 10
Folder 5
Computations (number theory). Undated.
Box 10
Folder 6
Computations (quadratic forms). Undated.
Box 10
Folder 7
Computations (quadratic forms). Undated.
Box 10
Folder 8
Number theoretic computations. Undated.
Box 10
Folder 9
Computations. Undated.
Box 10
Folder 10
Computations. Undated.
Box 10
Folder 11
Bonn. Computations (mathematical physics). Undated.
Box 10
Folder 12
Göttingen. Adhesion capillarity. Draft of encyclopedia article number 29 of collected works. Undated.
Box 10
Folder 13
Draft of (apparently unpublished) essay on History of the Theory of Probability. Undated.
Box 10
Folder 14
Lectures (analytical mechanics). Undated.
Box 10
Folder 15
Bonn. Draft of paper of some applications of arithmetic in analyses. Undated.
Box 10
Folder 16
Göttingen. Lecture notes (complex variables). Undated.
Box 10
Folder 17
Notes and computations (quadratic forms, mechanics). Undated.
Box 10
Folder 18
Quadratic forms. Undated.
Box 10
Folder 19
Notes and computations (Calois theory) II. Undated.
Box 10
Folder 20
Göttingen. Lecture notes (mechanics). Undated.
Box 10
Folder 21
Professor Hadamard to Mme. H. Minkowski. Xerox. Paris. ALS. French. 12 July 1938