Wilder, Raymond Louis, 1896-1982

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Raymond Louis Wilder (1896-1982), a topologist and student of the history and foundations of mathematics, was R.L. Moore's first doctoral student at the University of Texas. Wilder was on the University of Michigan faculty from 1926 to his retirement in 1966, after which he moved to the University of California-Santa Barbara.

From the description of Wilder, Raymond Louis, papers, 1914-1982. (University of Texas Libraries). WorldCat record id: 19525496

Raymond Louis Wilder (1896-1982) was a leading figure in the development of topology in the United States and a pioneering student of the history of mathematics from an anthropological point of view. He was born in Palmer, Massachusetts, and received his undergraduate education and Master's degree in actuarial mathematics from Brown University. After moving to the University of Texas, his interests shifted to pure mathematics under the influence of Robert Lee Moore. Wilder became Moore's first Texas doctorate in 1923. After two years at Ohio State University, Wilder joined the faculty of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor where he remained until his retirement in 1967. He was associated with the University of California-Santa Barbara for the remaining years of his life. He was a member of the National Academy of Sciences and served as President of both the American Mathematical Society (1955-1956) and the Mathematical Association of America (1965-1966).

Although trained in set-theoretic topology, Wilder mastered algebraic topology, demonstrated the usefulness of a synthesis of the two schools, and, in 1932, called for their unification. Wilder extended his early work on the topology of the plane and continuous curves to higher dimensions and, with his students, developed the theory of generalized manifolds. This work was summarized in his Topology of Manifolds (1949).

Wilder's course on the foundations of mathematics, published in his Introduction to the Foundations of Mathematics (1952), led to an interest in the history of mathematics. The results of his historical studies using anthropological ideas appeared in Evolution of Mathematical Concepts (1968) and Mathematics as a Cultural System (1981).

From the guide to the Raymond Louis Wilder Papers, 1914-1982., (Archives of American Mathematics, The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Raymond Louis Wilder Papers, 1914-1982. Archives of American Mathematics, The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin
referencedIn Archives of American Mathematics. Archives of American Mathematics reprint collection, 1912-1993. University of Texas Libraries
creatorOf University of Michigan. Dept. of Mathematics. Dept. of Mathematics (University of Michigan) records, 1913-1981 (bulk 1935-1981). Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn University of Michigan Faculty and Staff Portraits, ca. 1860-ca. 1960 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Moore, R. L. (Robert Lee), 1882-. Moore, R.L., Papers, 1875, 1891-1975. University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn R. L. Moore Papers, 84-63, 86-20, 86-41, 87-3., 1875, 1891-1975 Archives of American Mathematics, Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin
creatorOf Wilder, Raymond Louis, 1896-1982. Wilder, Raymond Louis, papers, 1914-1982. University of Texas Libraries
creatorOf Raymond Louis Wilder Papers, 1914-1982. Archives of American Mathematics, The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin
referencedIn Florida State College for Women / Florida State University Phi Beta Kappa Alpha of Florida Chapter., 1935-1965, 1984, 1935-1965
referencedIn Archives of American Mathematics Reprint Collection 2006-213; 2010-123; 2010-136; 2010-173; 2010-195., 1912-1993 Archives of American Mathematics, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Archives of American Mathematics corporateBody
associatedWith Ayres, William Leake, 1905- person
associatedWith Begle, Edward G. (Edward Griffith), 1914-1978. person
associatedWith Čech, Eduard, 1893-1960. person
associatedWith Created by FSCW/FSU Phi Beta Kappa. person
associatedWith Griffiths, Hubert Brian. person
associatedWith Kline, John Robert. person
associatedWith Lefschetz, Solomon, 1884-1972. person
associatedWith Michigan Historical Collections corporateBody
associatedWith Moore, R. L. (Robert Lee), 1882- person
associatedWith Newsom, Carroll Vincent, 1904- person
associatedWith Raymond, Frank Albert, 1932- person
associatedWith Steenrod, Norman Earl person
associatedWith Swingle, Paul McCartney, 1899- person
associatedWith University of California-Santa Barbara corporateBody
associatedWith University of California, Santa Barbara. Dept. of Mathematics. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. Dept. of Mathematics. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Texas corporateBody
associatedWith Vandiver, Harry Shultz, 1882- person
associatedWith Veblen, Oswald, 1880-1960. person
associatedWith Whyburn, Gordon Thomas, 1904-1969. person
associatedWith Wilder, Raymond Louis, 1896- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
American Mathematical Society
Archives of American Mathematics
Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences
Foundations of mathematics
History of mathematics
Mathematical Association of America
Mathematicians
Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics and culture
Mathematics historians
National Academy of Sciences
Topology
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1896-11-03

Death 1982-07-07

Americans

English

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