Warren Weaver Sr.

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.

Publications

• Science of Change: A Lifetime in American Science. Autobiography.

Awards

Weaver received numerous medals, honorary degrees, and other awards.

Offices

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

• National Academy of Sciences. President. .
• Chairman of the Board
• American Association for the Advancement of Science. Fellow
• APS Councillor 1957-60.

Further reading

• An excellent biographical memoir, by Mina Rees, and published by the National Academy of Sciences, 1987. [1]
• Contemporary Authors 89, p. 552.
• Burke, Colin B. Information and Secrecy.

Papers

LOCATION #1 Yale University Library; search under: Savage, Leonard Jimmie.

• 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• Finding aid: Unpublished register is located in the repository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