Warren Weaver Sr.: Difference between revisions

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Warren Weaver (1898-1978) was an American mathematician.

Life

Warren Weaver was born on July 17, 1894 in Reedsburg, Wisconsin. At the University of Wisconsin–Madison he earned BS in 1916, a civil engineering degree in 1917, and a PhD in 1921. He became an assistant professor of mathematics at Throop College (now California Institute of Technology) in Pasadena, California, 1917-1920 and served as a second lieutenant in the Air Service during World War I. After the war, he returned to teach mathematics at the University of Wisconsin, Madison (1920–32).

In 1932 Weaver became director of the Division of Natural Sciences at the Rockefeller Foundation until 1955. H3 was also science consultant (1947–51), trustee (1954), and vice president (from 1958) at the Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research. He died on November 24, 1978 in New Milford, Connecticut.

Contributions

Weaver's chief researches were in the problems of communication in science and in the mathematical theory of probability and statistics. His influence was greatly extended by his role approving Rockefeller grants promoting experimental biology and agricultural science, emphasizing improving human nutrition.

Weaver's contribution to documentation is his popularization of Claude Shannon's communication theory and the implication that it could be extended to include meaning.

Publications

For a detailed bibliography see Rees, Mina.Warren Weaver (1894 - 1978) - A Biographical Memoir. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences, 1987, pp 524-529. [1]

The electromagnetic field. With Max Mason. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, [1929].
"Science and complexity." American scientist 36, no. 4 (1948): 536-544.
"Recent contributions to the mathematical theory of communication." Scientific American 181, no 1 (July, 1949): 11-15.
The mathematical theory of communication. Urbana, IL : University of Illinois Press, 1949. Includes "Recent contributions to the mathematical theory of communication," by Weaver and "The mathematical theory of communication," by Claude E. Shannon.
"Recent contributions to the mathematical theory of communication." ETC: a review of general semantics (1953): 261-281.
"Translation." In: Machine Translation of Languages, ed. William N. Locke and A. Donald Booth. New York: Wiley Technical Press, 15-23. New York: Wiley Technical Press.
Science and imagination : selected papers. New York: Basic Books, [1967]
Scene of change; a lifetime in American science. New York: Scribner, [1970]. Autobiography.
Lady Luck : the theory of probability. Garden City, NY: Anchor Books, 1963. Reprinted New York: Dover, 1982.
Science of Change: A Lifetime in American Science. Autobiography.

Awards

Weaver received numerous medals, honorary degrees, and other awards. The Rockefeller Foundation established a Warren Weaver Fellows Program in 1989.

Offices

Weaver served on numerous boards and chaired numerous committees, including:

National Academy of Sciences. President.
American Association for the Advancement of Science. Fellow.

Papers

Columbia University Libraries, New York. Search under; Weaver, Warren.
Rockefeller Foundation Archives, Sleepy Hollow, New York. Multiple collections contain material relating to Weaver.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+'''Warren Weaver''' (1898-1978) was an American mathematician.
 == Life ==
--1978
+'''Warren Weaver''' was born on July 17, 1894 in Reedsburg, Wisconsin. At the University of Wisconsin–Madison he earned BS in 1916, a civil engineering degree in 1917, and a PhD in 1921. He became an assistant professor of mathematics at Throop College (now California Institute of Technology) in Pasadena, California, 1917-1920 and served as a second lieutenant in the Air Service during World War I. After the war, he returned to teach mathematics at the University of Wisconsin, Madison (1920–32).
-== Relevant Employment ==
+In 1932 Weaver became director of the Division of Natural Sciences at the Rockefeller Foundation until 1955. H3 was also science consultant (1947–51), trustee (1954), and vice president (from 1958) at the Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research. He died on November 24, 1978 in New Milford, Connecticut.
-* University of Wisconsin
+== Contributions ==
-* Rockefeller Foundation
+Weaver's chief researches were in the problems of communication in science and in the mathematical theory of probability and statistics. His influence was greatly extended by his role approving Rockefeller grants promoting experimental biology and agricultural science, emphasizing improving human nutrition.
-== Contributions ==
+Weaver's contribution to documentation is his popularization of Claude Shannon's communication theory and the implication that it could be extended to include meaning.
-Weaver worked at: Assistant professor, Throop College, Pasadena, CA 1917-18; Assistant professor of mathematics, California Institute of Technology 1919-20; University of Wisconsin (Madison): Assistant professor 1920-25; Associate professor 1925-28; Professor of mathematics and chairman of department 1928-32; Rockefeller Foundation: director of natural sciences 1932-55; Vice-pres. for natural and medical sciences 1955-59; Alfred P. Sloan Foundation: Trustee and member of executive committee 1956-67; Vice-pres. 1959-64; Consultant on scientific affairs 1964-78; Served on numerous boards and chaired numerous committees.
-While at Rockefeller Foundation, Weaver promoted research in experimental biology and agricultural science, emphasizing improving human nutrition. He wrote autobiography entitled Science of Change: A Lifetime in American Science; See Contemporary Authors article (in Volume 89, p. 552) as well as Colin Burke's Information and Secrecy.
+== Publications ==
+*For a detailed bibliography see Rees, Mina.''Warren Weaver (1894 - 1978) - A Biographical Memoir''. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences, 1987, pp 524-529. [https://www.nasonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/weaver-warren.pdf]
-An excellent biographical memoir, by Mina Rees, and published by the National Academy of Sciences, is available at: <nowiki>http://www.nasonline.org/publications/biographical-memoirs/memoir-pdfs/weaver-warren.pdf</nowiki>, 1987.
+*''The electromagnetic field''. With Max Mason. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, [1929].
+*"Science and complexity." ''American scientist'' 36, no. 4 (1948): 536-544.
+*"Recent contributions to the mathematical theory of communication."  ''Scientific American'' 181, no 1 (July, 1949): 11-15.
+*''The mathematical theory of communication''. Urbana, IL : University of Illinois Press, 1949. Includes "Recent contributions to the mathematical theory of communication," by Weaver and "The mathematical theory of communication," by Claude E. Shannon.
+*"Recent contributions to the mathematical theory of communication." ''ETC: a review of general semantics'' (1953): 261-281.
+*"Translation." In: ''Machine Translation of Languages'', ed. William N. Locke and A. Donald Booth. New York: Wiley Technical Press, 15-23. New York: Wiley Technical Press.
+*''Science and imagination : selected papers''. New York: Basic Books, [1967]
+*''Scene of change; a lifetime in American science''. New York: Scribner, [1970]. Autobiography.
+*''Lady Luck : the theory of probability''. Garden City, NY: Anchor Books, 1963. Reprinted New York: Dover, 1982.
+*''Science of Change: A Lifetime in American Science''. Autobiography.
 == Awards ==
+Weaver received numerous medals, honorary degrees, and other awards.
-* 1948 Medal for Merit
+The Rockefeller Foundation established a Warren Weaver Fellows Program in 1989.
-* 1948 Medal for Service in the Cause of Freedom (Great Britain)
-* 1948 LL.D., University of Wisconsin
-* Sc.D.: 1949, University of Sao Paulo--Brazil
-* 1961 Drexel Institute of Technology
-* 1964 University of Pittsburgh
-* 1951 French Legion of Honor (officer)
-* 1957 Public Welfare Medal (NAS)
-* 1964 Kalinga Prize (UNESCO)
-* 1964 Arches Science Award (Pacific Science Center)
 == Offices ==
+Weaver served on numerous boards and chaired numerous committees, including:
+* National Academy of Sciences. President.
+* American Association for the Advancement of Science. Fellow.
-* AAAS Fellow
+== Further reading ==
-* NAS: Pres.
+*Rees, Mina.''Warren Weaver (1894 - 1978) - A Biographical Memoir''. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences, 1987. [https://www.nasonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/weaver-warren.pdf]
-* Chairman of the Board
+*''Contemporary Authors'' 89, p. 552.
-* American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow
+*Burke, Colin B. ''Information and Secrecy''. Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1994.*Hutchins, W. J. ''Early years in machine translation: Memoirs and biographies of pioneers''. Amsterdam: John Benjamins, 2000.
-* APS Councillor 1957-60
 == Papers ==
-'''LOCATION #1:''' Yale University Library; search under: ''Savage, Leonard Jimmie.''
+*Columbia University Libraries, New York. Search under; ''Weaver, Warren''.
+*Rockefeller Foundation Archives, Sleepy Hollow, New York. Multiple collections contain material relating to Weaver.
-* Papers dates: 1946-1971
+*
-* Size:
-* Includes:
-** Weaver is mentioned in Leonard Jimmie Savage's Papers
-** The collection includes correspondence between Weaver and Savage, a mathematican, statistician, and professor at Yale
-** Information on literary rights is also available at the repository
-* Finding aid: Unpublished register is located in the repository
-* Source: NUCMC, MS 76-1441, 1976
-'''LOCATION #2'''	University of Illinois, University Archives; search under: Ridenour, Louis Nicot.
-* Papers dates: 1946-1950
-* Size: Total collection: 2 feet
-* Includes: This collection contains correspondence between Weaver and Louis Nicot Ridenour, a professor of physics at University of Illinois, who was involved in a lot of scientific research including nuclear energy, atomic and hydrogen bombs, international understanding, consulting work, and various government and private organizations involved in scientific research.
-* Finding aid:
-* Source: NUCMC, MS67-471,1967
-'''LOCATION #3'''	Columbia University Libraries, New York, NY; search under; Weaver, Warren. Additional papers are available at the Rockefeller Foundation Archives.
-* PAPERS DATES:	1948-1968
-* SIZE:	ca. 540 items
-* INCLUDES:	Biographical oral history collection; Transcripts of tape-recorded autobiographical interviews; Persons interviewed are described in the Biographical Section of the Oral History Collection of Columbia University (1964) and Supplements 1966 and 1968; Partially restricted; New material added regularly.
-* FINDING AID:
-* SOURCE:	NUCMC, MS 70-484, 1970.