Finding aid for the Oral History Project files and recordings
ORALHIS

Summary Information
Background on the Project
Scope and Contents note
Arrangement note
Administrative Information
Collection Inventory: Betsy Devine files; Patricia Labalme files; Elliott Shore files; Rachel Gray files; Sheldon Hochheiser files; Linda Arntzenius files

Summary Information

Repository: Shelby White and Leon Levy Archives Center
Creator: Institute for Advanced Study (Princeton, N.J.).
Title: Oral History Project files and recordings
ID: ORALHIS
Date [bulk]: Bulk, 1988-2016
Date [inclusive]: 1950-2016
Extent: 12.0 linear feet 15 document boxes, 4 boxes of recordings, and digital files
Language: English

Preferred Citation note

The suggested citation for the material is "[item], Oral History Project files and recordings, Box [box number], From the Shelby White and Leon Levy Archives Center, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, NJ, USA."

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Background on the Project

The Institute for Advanced Study's Oral History Project was established in 1988 in order to, in the words of interviewer Patricia H. Labalme's, "obtain as full an oral record as possible of memories of the early years of the Institute and its most significant participants." Labalme served as Associate Director of the Institute from 1982 to 1988, Secretary of the Corporation from 1982 to 1992, and Assistant to Institute Director Phillip Griffiths from 1992 to 1997. She began the project in 1988 in response to a suggestion by then-Director Marvin Goldberger that she write a history of the Institute. She thought it best to begin by interviewing various people associated with the early history of the Institute, especially since at the time many of the early Faculty had either died or were quite elderly. Labalme conducted interviews with 14 Faculty members, Faculty spouses, past Director Harry Woolf, and others associated with the history of the Institute, with a particular focus on the School of Historical Studies.

Betsy Devine, the wife of Frank Wilczek, who was a Professor in the School of Natural Sciences at the time, was also interested in compiling a record of the early history of the Institute in the late 1980s. She focused her attention on the early history of the School of Mathematics, and interviewed 10 Faculty members and others associated with the School's history.

Elliott Shore, then Librarian of the Historical Studies-Social Science Library, conducted interviews with Faculty, former Members, and past Director Carl Kaysen, between 1993 and 1996 for a history of the School of Social Science to be written in conjunction with the School's 25th Anniversary.

Institute Associate Director for Development and Public Affairs Rachel Gray conducted an interview with Armand Borel in 2001.

Sheldon Hochheiser, an outside oral historian, conducted interviews with Freeman Dyson and Robert Langlands in 2007 and 2008.

The Institute received an endowment for its Archives from the Leon Levy Foundation in 2009. This funding included support for expanding the Oral History Project. Linda Arntzenius, an independent scholar and former Publications Officer of the Institute, began in 2009 to conduct interviews with Faculty, Faculty spouses, Trustees, former staff, and others associated with the history of the Institute.

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Scope and Contents note

The Oral History Project files and recordings consist of administrative files, background research, transcripts, and audio recordings related to interviews conducted for the project. While the majority of the interviews conducted for the project follow the established procedure for creating documentation and obtaining releases, some, particularly those conducted in the early years of the project, lack approved transcripts, releases, or, in one case, a recording. Some early recordings are of poor audio quality or feature incomplete interviews. When possible, the Archives Center has attempted to rectify gaps in documentation.

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Arrangement note

The records are grouped chronologically by interviewer; interviews are arranged alphabetically by subject thereunder. The interviewers for the Oral History Project were Betsy Devine (1986-1990), Patricia Labalme (1988-1997), Elliott Shore (1991-1996), Rachel Gray (2001), Sheldon Hochheiser (2007-2008), and Linda Arntzenius (2009-2016, ongoing). Betsy Devine's records include research files for a proposed history of the School of Mathematics. Also included with the Oral History Project files are the recordings of two 1978 interviews between Director Harry Woolf and former Member Gaines Post.

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Administrative Information

Publication Information

Shelby White and Leon Levy Archives Center

Historical Studies-Social Science Library
Einstein Drive
Princeton
NJ, 08540
609-734-8375
archives@ias.edu

Conditions Governing Access

The majority of the collection is open for research without restriction. Some interviews have been closed to researchers for a period of time at the request of the interview subjects. Please contact archives@ias.edu for information on the conditions of access for specific interviews.

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Collection Inventory

Betsy Devine files 1986-1990
Biographical information
				Box
Birkhoff, George David				1
Borel, Armand				1
Gödel, Kurt				1
Griffiths, Phillip A. (information including an interview used in an article about his appointment as IAS Director)				1
Harish-Chandra				1
Lefschetz, Solomon				1
Morse, Marston				1
Veblen, Oswald				1
Weyl, Hermann				1
				Box
Card file of "notations used in referring to papers, IAS Oral History Project 1989"				1
Correspondence 1988-1990 Scope and Contents note Includes original signed release and transcript for Donald Spencer.				1
IAS grant proposal for Math history 1988				1
Interviews
Atiyah, Michael October 1, 1989 General note no transcript or release
				Box
Biographical information				2
Audio Recording 2.0 audiocassette				17
Chern, Shiing-Shen April 28, 1989 General note includes partial transcript, no release
				Box
Interview information				2
Audio Recording 1.0 audiocassette				16
				Box
Bott, Raoul May 4, 1989 General note no audio or release				2
Larsen, Michael May 28, 1990 General note no transcript or release
				Box
Audio Recording 1.0 audiocassette 1 audiocassette downstairs				17
Mac Lane, Saunders November 13 and 14, 1990 General note no transcript or release
				Box
Biographical information				2
Audio Recording 2.0 audiocassette				17
Montgomery, Deane January 2-3, 1989 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Interview information				2
Transcripts				9
Audio Recording 6.0 audiocassette				16
Selberg, Atle June 11, 1989 and June 15, 1989 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcripts 1990 Scope and Contents note Includes signed release and transcripts of interviews conducted on June 11, 1989, and June 15, 1989.				2
Audio Recording June 11, 1989 2.0 audiocassette				18
Audio Recording June 15, 1989 2.0 audiocassette				18
Smith, John Maynard November 17, 1988 General note no transcript or release
				Box
Audio Recording 1.0 audiocassette 1 audiocassette downstairs				16
Spencer, Donald Clayton October 20 and 21, 1989 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Interview information (includes multiple transcripts)				2
Audio Recording 3.0 audiocassette				17
Tucker, Albert October 1988-June 1989 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Biographical information (includes some original correspondence sent to Tucker)				2
Charles Babbage Institute interview 1986				2
Transcripts (includes releases for three interviews)				2
Audio Recording 12.0 audiocassette				16
Weil, André October 6, 1988 and October 24, 1988 Conditions Governing Access Transcripts open without restriction. Audio closed until October 2018.
				Box
Biographical information				3
Transcripts				3
Audio Recording 3.0 audiocassette				16
Audio Recording 2.0 CD				19
Whitney, Hassler September 20, 1988 and September 23, 1988
				Box
Interview information (includes transcript but no release)				3
Audio Recording 2.0 audiocassette				16
IAS Math History
				Box
Bibliography and catalogs of papers				3
Princeton Math				3
Refugees				3
Refugees				3
Box contents/note				4
IAS 1930s - General				4
History and Philosophy of Math				4
Oppenheimer - IAS, 1947-1966				4
IAS Recent History - post-1976				4
Wetzel, Charles John - Thesis				4
Wiener, Norbert				4
Der Frosch-Maeusekrieg (Kaysen IAS, 1966-1976)				4
Elizabeth Wilczek's Research (requests for Veblen Papers)				4
Elizabeth Wilczek's Research (requests for Veblen Papers)				4
Betsy Devine papers on Birkhoff, von Neumann, etc.				5
von Neumann, Birkhoff biographies				5
Ergodic Theorem				5
Veblen, Oswald, 1920-1929				5
Veblen, Oswald, 1930s				5
Veblen, Oswald, pre-1920s (Birkhoff letters)				5
Veblen, Oswald, 1923-1925 (Birkhoff and Gromwall)				5
1931				5
1932				5
1932				5
1933				6
1933				6
1934-1935				6
IAS Bulletins, 1930-1946 - Member Lists				6
1936-1937				6
1938-1939				6
1940-1949				6
1950-				6
IAS History pre-1950 - Beatrice Stern's notes				6
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Patricia Labalme files 1988-1997
				Box
Summary of Oral History interviews, September 1, 1988 to September 1, 1989				7
Oral History status report May 1997				7
"Gleanings from the Archives" - Olden Manor 1990-1991				7
Interviews
Clagett, Marshall March 4 and 14, 1996 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction. General note Interview conducted by Patsy Labalme and Elliott Shore.
				Box
Transcript				7
Audio Recording 1.0 audiocassette				18
Dilworth, J. Richardson March 9, 1990 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				7
Audio Recording 1.0 audiocassette				17
Elliott, John H. May 15, 1990 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				7
Audio Recording 1.0 audiocassette				17
Giesey, Ralph E. June 12, 1990 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				7
Audio Recording 2.0 audiocassette				17
Kennan, George Frost 1989
Interview August 30, 1989 Conditions Governing Access note Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript (both transcripts in same folder)				7
Audio Recording 1.0 audiocassette				17
Meiss, Margaret L. March 21, 1991 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				7
Audio Recording 1.0 audiocassette				17
Meritt, Benjamin Dean November 10-12, 1988 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				7
Audio Recording 4.0 audiocassette				17
Meritt, Lucy Shoe November 12, 1988 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Preliminary transcript and correspondence				7
Transcript				7
Audio Recording 2.0 audiocassette				17
Sanger, Grant April 6, 1989 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				7
Audio Recording 1.0 audiocassette				17
Thomas, Dorothy Morgenstern June 1, 1990 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				7
Audio Recording 1.0 audiocassette				17
Thompson, Dorothy Burr October 19, 1988 and December 5, 1988 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				7
Audio Recording 2.0 audiocassette				17
Weitzmann, Kurt March 21, 1989 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript (both transcripts in same folder)				7
Audio Recording 1.0 audiocassette				17
Weitzmann, Kurt and Weitzmann-Fiedler, Josefa May 3, 1989 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript (both transcripts in same folder)				8
Audio Recording				17
Woolf, Harry December 8, 1993 and December 20, 1993 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				8
Audio Recording 3.0 audiocassette				18
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Elliott Shore files 1991-1996
				Box
Oral history report and release forms 1991				8
Letters to various professors re: oral interviews 1996				8
Emails re: oral history interviews 1996				8
Elliott Shore's notes 1994-1996				8
Interviews
Clagett, Marshall March 4 and 14, 1996 General note Interview conducted by Elliott Shore and Patricia Labalme.
				Box
Interview information				8
Kaysen, Carl July 6, 1994 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
General information				9
General information				9
Interview information 1968, 1994				9
Interview information (including transcript and release information) 1994-1995				9
Audio Recording 3.0 audiocassette				18
Patterson, Orlando November 6, 1996 General note no transcript or release
				Box
Audio Recording 1.0 audiocassette				18
Sewell, William May 23, 1995 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Interview information				10
Interview				10
Audio Recording 2.0 audiocassette				18
Skinner, Quentin February 17, 1995 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Interview information				10
Transcript				10
Audio Recording 1.0 audiocassette				18
Woolf, Harry General note A planned third interview of Harry Woolf by Elliott Shore was never conducted. See two interviews conducted by Patsy Labalme.
				Box
Interview information				10
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Rachel Gray files 2001
Interviews
Borel, Armand November 2, 2001 General note interviewed by Rachel Gray; no release
				Box
Transcript				10
Audio Recording 2.0 audiocassette 2 audiocassettes downstairs				18
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Sheldon Hochheiser files 2007-2008
Interviews
Dyson, Freeman June 19, 2007 and June 20, 2007 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				10
Audio Recording 6.0 audiocassette				18
Audio Recording 7.0 CD				19
Langlands, Robert April 21, 2008 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				10
Audio Recording 3.0 audiocassette				18
Audio Recording 3.0 CD				19
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Linda Arntzenius files 2009-2016
Interviews
Agar, Lily (Nan) July 9, 2009 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				11
Audio Recording
Ayoub, Christine May 10, 2014 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript (final version as of Jan. 2016)				11
Audio Recording
Bahcall, Neta November 16, 2011 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript (includes supplemental materials)				11
Audio Recording
Borel, Gaby March 17, 2010 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				11
Audio Recording
Bowersock, Glen April 22, 2009 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				11
Audio Recording
Bowman, Olga (Dottie) November 8, 2016 Conditions Governing Access note Closed until November 8, 2021.
Transcript
Audio recording
Bynum, Caroline Walker February 26, 2014 Conditions Governing Access Closed until February 26, 2029.
				Box
Transcript				11
Audio Recording
Calabi, Eugenio January 21, 2016 Conditions Governing Access This collection is open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				11
Audio recording
Constable, Giles March 22, 2010 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				11
Audio Recording
Deligne, Pierre February 24, 2012 Conditions Governing Access Two pages of this interview are closed until April 17, 2022. The remainder is open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				11
Audio Recording
Dyson, Freeman November 9, 2009 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				11
Audio Recording
Dyson, Freeman June 2, 2016 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				11
Audio recording
Dyson, George November 11, 2010 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				11
Audio Recording
Dyson, Imme February 12, 2014 Conditions Governing Access Closed until February 12, 2064.
				Box
Transcript				11
Audio Recording
Emmanouilides, Akrevoe November 12, 2010 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript (includes supplemental material)				11
Audio Recording
Geddes, Robert December 17, 2009 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				11
Audio Recording
Goddard, Helen February 2, 2016 Conditions Governing Access This collection is open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				12
Audio recording
Goddard, Peter November 12 and 19, 2014; December 3 and 11, 2014 Conditions Governing Access An edited transcript of the interviews is open without restriction; this transcript includes the entirety of the Nomber 12, 2014 interview and portions of the later interviews. Audio of the November 12, 2014 interview is available without restriction. Portions of the November 19, December 3, and December 11, 2014 interviews are sealed for periods of 15, 30, and 40 years after the date of recording. The remainder of the transcripts will be available to researchers after December 11 of the years 2029, 2044, and 2054.
Interview - open to researchers All of November 12, 2014, and partial text from: November 19, 2014 / December 3 and 11, 2014
				Box
Transcript				12
Audio Recording
Interviews - closed to researchers until November 19, 2029 Additions to first [2015] set of open transcripts from these interview dates: November 19, 2014 / December 3 and 11, 2014.
				Box
Transcript				12
Audio Recording
Interviews - closed to researchers until November 19, 2044 Additions to 15-year [2029] transcripts from these interview dates: November 19, 2014 / December 3 and 11, 2014.
				Box
Transcript				12
Audio Recording
Interviews - closed to researchers until November 19, 2054 Final additions completing transcripts from these interview dates: November 19, 2014 / December 3 and 11, 2014.
				Box
Transcript				12
Audio Recording
Goldreich, Peter March 3, 2011 Conditions Governing Access Closed until March 3, 2021.
				Box
Transcript				12
Audio Recording
Grabar, Oleg December 1, 2009 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				12
Audio Recording
Gregorian, Vartan February 10, 2016 Conditions Governing Access note Closed until February 10, 2021.
Transcript
Audio Recording
Griffiths, Marian (Taffy) September 19, 2016 Conditions Governing Access Closed until September 19, 2026.
				Box
Transcript				12
Audio recording
Griffiths, Phillip A. June 16, 2009 and July 7, 2009 Conditions Governing Access Closed until July 7, 2019, with the exception of select pages, which are closed until July 7, 2029.
				Box
Transcript				12
Audio Recording
Habicht, Christian April 29, 2009 Conditions Governing Access Closed until April 29, 2019.
				Box
Transcript				12
Audio Recording
Hansmann, Ralph May 6, 2010 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				12
Audio Recording
Harish-Chandra, Lily April 9, 2009 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				12
Audio Recording 1.0 CD				19
Audio Recording (digital file)
Hirschman, Sarah November 5, 2009 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				12
Audio Recording
Hut, Piet March 31, 2011 Conditions Governing Access Closed until 3/31/2041, with access permitted before then by written authorization from Professor Hut only.
				Box
Transcript (includes supplemental material)				13
Audio Recording
Jaffin, Rosanna Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
Interview February 25, 2011
				Box
Transcript				13
Audio Recording
Interview March 21, 2011
				Box
Transcript				13
Audio Recording
Kaplan, Helene February 27, 2012 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				13
Audio Recording
Kohn, Ike May 2, 2011 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				13
Audio Recording
Langlands, Charlotte April 12, 2016 Conditions Governing Access Closed to researchers until April 12, 2026.
				Box
Transcript				13
Audio recording
Langlands, Robert October 21, 2009 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				13
Audio Recording
Levine, Arnold J. December 3, 2014 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				13
Audio Recording
Luce, Duncan December 2, 2011 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript (includes supplemental materials)				13
Audio Recording
Matlock, Jack April 7, 2011 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				13
Audio Recording
Morse, Louise Conditions Governing Access Closed until February 2, 2019.
Interview January 9, 2009
				Box
Transcript				13
Audio Recording 1.0 CD				19
Audio Recording (digital file)
Interview February 2, 2009
				Box
Transcript				13
Audio Recording 1.0 CD				19
Audio Recording (digital file)
Nash, John May 2, 2012 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				13
Audio Recording
Nathanson, Melvyn February 1, 2016 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				13
Audio recording
Panofsky, Gerda April 9, 2010 Conditions Governing Access Transcript closed until April 9, 2020.
				Box
Transcript				13
Paret, Peter Conditions Governing Access Closed during the life of the interviewee.
Interview June 23, 2010 Conditions Governing Access note Closed until Peter Paret's death.
				Box
Transcript				13
Audio Recording
Interview July 13, 2010 Conditions Governing Access note Closed until Peter Paret's death.
				Box
Transcript				13
Audio Recording
				Box
Notes on the Cassirer and Paret Families: A personal and private overview / by Peter Paret 1986-2010				13
Rowe, Allen Conditions Governing Access Closed until January 19, 2020.
Interview January 13, 2010
				Box
Transcript				13
Audio Recording
Interview January 19, 2010
				Box
Transcript				13
Audio Recording
Scott, Joan May 14, 2015 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				14
Audio Recording
Underwood, Caroline May 27, 2010 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				14
Audio Recording
Walzer, Michael April 12, 2010 Conditions Governing Access Closed until April 12, 2020.
				Box
Transcript				14
Audio Recording
White, Morton June 29, 2009 Conditions Governing Access Closed until May 27, 2031.
				Box
Transcript				14
Audio Recording
Whitman, Marina May 7, 2011 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript				14
Audio Recording
Wisnovsky, Mary April 30, 2009 Conditions Governing Access Closed until April 30, 2019.
				Box
Transcript				14
Audio Recording
Wolfensohn, James D. June 2, 2015 Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
				Box
Transcript (includes supplemental materials)				14
Audio Recording
Woolf, Pat Conditions Governing Access Open without restriction.
Interview March 10, 2011
				Box
Transcript				14
Audio Recording
Interview May 17, 2011
				Box
Transcript				14
Audio Recording
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Shelby White and Leon Levy Archives Center

Finding aid for the Oral History Project files and recordings ORALHIS

Table of Contents

Summary Information

Preferred Citation note

Background on the Project

Scope and Contents note

Arrangement note

Administrative Information

Publication Information

Conditions Governing Access

Collection Inventory

Betsy Devine files 1986-1990

Scope and Contents note

General note

General note

General note

General note

General note

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Scope and Contents note

General note

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

IAS Math History

Patricia Labalme files 1988-1997

Conditions Governing Access

General note

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access note

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Elliott Shore files 1991-1996

General note

Conditions Governing Access

General note

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

General note

Rachel Gray files 2001

General note

Sheldon Hochheiser files 2007-2008

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Linda Arntzenius files 2009-2016

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access note

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access note

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Conditions Governing Access

Finding aid for the Oral History Project files and recordings
ORALHIS