Guide to the Eric Temple Bell Papers

Processed by UCSC OAC Unit

The University Library

Special Collections and Archives

University Library

University of California, Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California, 95064

Email: specoll@library.ucsc.edu

URL: http://library.ucsc.edu/speccoll/

Creator: Bell, Eric Temple

Title: Eric Temple Bell papers,

Date (inclusive): 1918-1991

Extent: 10 document boxes, 1 flat, 1 carton

Abstract: This archive contains manuscripts, and typescripts for many of Bell's works both mathematical and science fiction. The archive also contains books authored by Bell and published in many languages (Turkish, German, Italian, Spanish, Italian, French, Yugoslavian, and Finnish); books from Bell's personal reference library; and books authored by contemporary science fiction authors and inscribed to Bell.

Physical location: Stored offsite at NRLF: Advance notice is required for access to these papers.

Repository: University of California, Santa Cruz. University Library. Special Collections and Archives

Santa Cruz, California 95064

Collection number: MS 58

Language: English

Biography

Born: Feb.7,1883 in Aberdeen, Scotland

Died: Dec.21,1960 in Watsonville, California, USA

The cowboys have a way of trussing up a steer or a pugnacious bronco which fixes the brute so that it can neither move nor think. This is the hog-tie, and it is what Euclid did to geometry. E.T. Bell, The Search For Truth

Eric Temple Bell although born and brought up in Scotland, lived from 1903 in the United States. He was educated at Stanford University and at the University of Washington. He received his doctorate from Columbia University in 1912 for the dissertation The Cyclotomic Quinary Quintic. His doctoral work was supervised by Frank Nelson Cole. Bell taught mathematics at the University of Washington from 1912 until 1926, when he was appointed professor of mathematics at the California Institute of Technology. Bell wrote several popular books on the history of mathematics. He also made contributions to analytic number theory, Diophantine analysis and numerical functions. The American Mathematical Society awarded him the Bocher Prize in 1924 for his memoir, Arithmetical Paraphrases, which appeared in the Transactions of the American Mathematical Society in 1921. Although he wrote 250 research papers, including the one which received the Bocher Prize, Bell is best remembered for his books, and therefore as an historian of mathematics. His books Algebraic Arithmetic (1927) and The Development of Mathematics, (1940) became classics. At a lower level he wrote books which included Men of Mathematics (1937) and Mathematics, Queen and Servant of Science (1951). Bell did not confine his writing to mathematics and he also wrote science fiction. Under his best-known pseudonym, John Taine, he authored the following science fiction titles:

The Cosmic Geoids [Fantasy Publishing Co. Inc., 1949] novel + story
The Crystal Horde [Fantasy, 1952]
a.k.a. White Lilly [Dover, 1966]
The Forbidden Garden [Fantasy, 1947]
G.O.G. 666 [Fantasy, 1954]
The Gold Tooth [Dutton, 1927; Burr, 1929]
The Greatest Adventure [Dutton, 1929; Ace; Dover]
Green Fire [Dutton, 1928; Fantasy Publishing Co. Inc., 19521
The Iron Star [Dutton, 1930; Fantasy Publishing Co. Inc., 1952; Hyperion]
Seeds of Life [Fantasy, 1951; Galaxy Novel #13; Dover]
The Time Stream [Buffalo, 1946; Dover; Garland, 1976]
Quayle's Invention [Dutton, 1927]
The Purple Sapphire [Dutton, 1924; Dover]

A. Broadbent described Bell and his writing in the following way:

"His style is clear and exuberant, his opinions, whether we agree with them or not, are expressed forcefully, often with humor and a little gentle malice. He was no uncritical hero-worshipper being as quick to mark the opportunity lost as the ground gained, so that from his books we get a vision of mathematics as a high activity of the questing human mind, often fallible, but always pressing on the never-ending search for mathematical truth".

References:

Gillispie, Charles Coulston. Dictionary of Scientific Biography.New York:Scribner,1970-1980.

Encyclopaedia Britannica Online. "Bell, Eric Temple".[Accessed 22 October 1999].

Broadbent, A. "Eric Temple Bell". Nature 4763,1961.

Reid, Constance. The Search for E.T. Bell : also known as John Taine Washington D.C.:Mathematical Association of America,1993.

Scope and Content

This archive contains manuscripts, and typescripts for many of Bell's works both mathematical and science fiction. The archive also contains books authored by Bell and published in many languages (Turkish, German, Italian, Spanish, Italian, French, Yugoslavian, and Finnish); books from Bell's personal reference library; and books authored by contemporary science fiction authors and inscribed to Bell.

Arrangement

The archive is arranged in three series: Manuscripts, Published Materials, and Hodgepodge.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Bell, Eric Temple, 1883-1960--Archives.

Taine, John

Mathematicians.

Mathematics--History.

Mathematics--Philosophy.

Number theory.

Science--Philosophy.

Science fiction.

Access

Collection is open for research.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Drs. Janet and Taine Bell in May 1969.

Preferred Citation

Eric Temple Bell Papers, MS 58, Special Collections and Archives, University Library, University of California, Santa Cruz.

Publication Rights

Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to publish or to reproduce the material, please contact the Head of Special Collections and Archives.

Material Cataloged Separately

Die grossen Mathematiker. Dusseldorf: Econ-Verlag, 1967. [ QA28.B415, Spec. Coll.]
I Grandi Matematici.Traduzione di Dina Aduni. Firenze: Sansoni, 1966. [QA28.B416, Spec. Col.]
The Handmaiden of the Sciences. Baltimore, Williams & Wilkins company, 1937. [QA7.B38, Spec. Col.]
La Magie des Nombres. Traduction de Simone Fabre et Pierre Goyard. Paris: Payot, 1952. [QA9.B39314, Spec. Col.]
La Mathematique, Reine et Servante des Sciences. Paris: Payot, 1953. [QA21.B4214, Spec. Col.]
Matematiikan miehiä. Helka & Klaus Vala. Porvoo: W. Söderström Osakeyhtiö, 1963. [QA28.B4135, Spec. Col.]
The Last Problem. London, Gollancz, 1962, c1961. [QA241.B42, Spec. Col.
Numerology, the Magic of Numbers. New York, United Book Guild, 1945. [BF1623.P9B4 1945, Spec. Col.]
Jeffers, Robinson. Descent to the Dead, Poems Written in Ireland and Great Britain. New York, Random House (1931) [PS3519.E27D43, Spec. Col.]

Collection Contents

Series 1 Manuscripts, 1918-1961

Physical Description: 8 boxes

Scope and Content Note

This series contains fragments, manuscripts and typescripts of many of Bell's science fiction writings, published under his pen name, John Taine.

Arrangement

The material is arranged by title.

Box-folder 1:1

A California Valley by John Taine, corrected typescript, [1920]

Box-folder 1:2

Called back: a novel by John Taine, corrected typescript, Mar. 1928

Box-folder 1:3

The Devil's funeral : an elegy John Taine, holograph (i-29 pp.), [1920]

Box-folder 1:4

Diophantus, notes from Diophantus of Alexandria by Sir Thomas L. Heath, 2nd ed.

Box 1:5-10

The Enlightened Doctor, [also Gold], Spring 1948

Scope and Content Note

Author's note: "The story was written in February 1916 at Seattle. It was suggested by a medieval account, which I chanced to read, of the action in the Cathedral in which 14 phoesus participated. That begot my interest in Ramon. In spite of its historical basis, the story is not intended in any sense to be a history. It is merely a story." E.T. Bell, Pasadena, California, January 15, 1948.

Box-folder 1:5

typescript draft

Box-folder 1:6

revision, holographs and typescripts

Box-folder 1:7

p.i-134, corrected typescript, Jan. 1948

Box-folder 1:8

p.135-237, Jan. 1948

Box-folder 1:9

additional short pieces, not included

Box-folder 1:10

final typescript, Spring 1948

Box-folder 2:1-28, 3:1-15

The Last Problem

Box-folder 2:1-28, 3:1-15

Chapter 1

Box-folder 2:1

holograph, Jun. 1950

Box-folder 2:2

corrected typescript, (draft 1), Mar. 1956

Box-folder 2:3

uncorrected typescript, (draft 2)

Box-folder 2:4

corrected typescript, (draft 3)

Box-folder 2:5

final typescript

Box-folder 2:6-10

Chapter 2

Box-folder 2:6

holograph, Jun. 1949

Box-folder 2:7

"The Bablylon & Egypt", corrected typescript

Box-folder 2:8

"I Babylon", final typescript, Oct. 1955

Box-folder 2:9-10

"II Egypt", holograph and typescript

Box-folder 2:11-15

Chapter 3

Box-folder 2:11

holograph

Box-folder 2:12-14

corrected typescript, (draft 1-3)

Box-folder 2:15

typescript

Box-folder 2:16-19

Chapter 4

Box-folder 2:16

holograph

Box-folder 2:17-18

corrected typescript, (draft 1-2)

Box-folder 2:19

typescript

Box-folder 2:20-23

Chapter 5

Box-folder 2:20

holograph

Box-folder 2:21-22

corrected typescripts

Box-folder 2:23

final typescripts

Chapter 6

Box-folder 2:24

holograph, Aug. 1950

Box-folder 2:25-26

corrected typescripts

Box-folder 2:27

uncorrected typescript (draft)

Box-folder 2:28

typescript

Chapter 8

Box-folder 3:1

"Bachet", holograph, Apr. 1950

Box-folder 3:2

"The Last Euclidia", holograph, Sep. 1950

Box-folder 3:3

corrected typescripts

Chapter 10

Box-folder 3:4

corrected typescript

Box-folder 3:5

typescript

Box-folder 3:6

Chapter 11, typescript

Box-folder 3:7

Chapter 12, typescript

Chapter 13

Box-folder 3:8

corrected typescript

Box-folder 3:9

typescript

Chapter 14

Box-folder 3:10

holograph, Jul. 1952

Box-folder 3:11

corrected typescript, (drafts 1-3), Jun. 1954

Box-folder 3:12

corrected typescript

Box-folder 3:13

typescript

Chapter 15: Aftermath [not included in final manuscript]

Box-folder 3:14

holograph

Box-folder 3:15

typescript

Box-folder 4:1

Full typescript, 1961

Box-folder 3:16

Nothing but the truth : an account of what philosophers and others have believed about mathematics, typescript, 1941

Postcripts, 1947

Note

Note: Addenda to the 1947 ed. of The Search for Truth.

Box-folder 3:17

"Not for you nor I", typescript

Box-folder 3:17

"Bouquets, brickbats and boomerangs", typescript

Box-folder 3:17

"What can be proved?", typescript

The Prince

Scope and Content Note

Author's note: "The time of this story is the 15th century. It was written at Seattle in May 1915. This superseded The Singer and lacks certain passages in that poem. The other manuscript was mislaid in Hollywood." E.T. Bell

Box-folder 4:2

original typescript, Aug. 1957

Box-folder 4:3

corrected typescript, Aug. 1957

Box 4:4

Red and yellow, original typescript, [1920]

Box 4:5

Remembered worlds, typescript, [1920]

Box 5:1

Satans Daughter, typescript, [1920]

Box 5-6, 10

Scarlet Night

1st movement

Box-folder 5:2

p. 1-93, corrected typescript, Jan. 1948

Box-folder 10:1

p. i-iv, p. 1-108, typescript copy - includes titlepage, preface, table of contents, 1st movement Jan. 1948

Box-folder 5:3

Insert for p. 24, holograph, May 1945

2nd movement

Box-folder 5:4

p. 89-132, corrected typescript, Jun. 1946

Box-folder 5:5

p.1-24,typescript

Box-folder 10:2

p.109-151, typescript

3rd movement

Box-folder 5:6

p. 1-97, holograph, Jun. 1946

Box-folder 5:7

p. 133-212, corrected typescript, Jan. 1948

Box-folder 5:8

p. 1-74, 78-96, typescript

Box-folder 10:3

p. 152-220, typescript copy

4th movement

Box-folder 5:9

p. 307-338, holograph

Box-folder 5:10

p. 213-288, corrected typescript, Jun. 1946

Box-folder 5:11

"Dawn", p. 290-306, corrected typescript, Jul. 1946

Box-folder 5:12

p. 307-341, corrected typescript, Aug. 1946

Box-folder 5:13

p. 1-61, typescript

Box-folder 10:4

p. 221-288, typescript copy

5th movement

Box-folder 5:14

p. 339-428, holograph, Jun. 1946

Box-folder 10:5

p. 289-393 typescript copy

Box-folder 5:15

"These Dark Things", holograph

6th movement

Box-folder 10:6

p. 394-478, typescript copy

7th movement

Box-folder 5:16

p. 166-225, and inserts I-II, holograph, Jun. 1946

Box-folder 5:17

inserts I-II, typescript

Box-folder 10:7

p. 479-518, typescript copy

Box-folder 6:1, 10:8

8th movement

Box-folder 6:1

8th movement, p. 1-165, holograph

Box-folder 10:8

p. 519-733, typescript copy

Box-folder 6:2, 10:9

9th movement

Box-folder 6:2

p. 768-781, corrected typescript

Box-folder 10:9

p. 734-756, typescript copy

Box-folder 6:3-4

"To the Reader", holograph and typescript

Box-folder 6:5-14

Full typescript

Box-folder 10:1-9

Full typescript, photocopied version

Box-folder 6:15-16

Discards, revisions and notes, Sep. 1948

Box-folder 6:17

Lady B's revision suggestions

A weekend in Hell : in the year of hope

Box-folder 7:1

title page and contents, holograph, Spring 1919

Box-folder 7:2

full holographic script, Aug. 1918

Box-folder 7:3

p. 1-20, holograph, Mar. 1920

Box-folder 7:4

typescript

Box 7:5

Misc. poetry, holographs and typescripts, , Mar.-Nov. 1920

Series 2: Published Materials, 1937-1991

Physical Description: 2 cartons,

Scope and Content Note

This series contains books authored by Bell and published in various languages (French, Finnish, German, Italian, Spanish, Turkish, and Yugoslavian); books from Bell's personal reference library; and books authored by contemporary science fiction writers and inscribed to Bell. See also materials Cataloged Separately for additional publications or editions.

Arrangement

Books authored by E.T. Bell, or John Taine are arranged by title, other material is arranged by author.

Authored by Eric T. Bell:

Box 9

Matematika - Kraljica I ropkinja Nauke. Beograd: Vuk Karadzic, 1967.

Box 8

Büyük Matematikçiler. Instanbul: Milli Egitim Basimevi, 1937.

Box 8

The Development of Mathematics. New York: Dover Publications, 1992.

Box 8

Die grossen Mathematiker.Dusseldorf: Econ-Verlag,1967.

Series title: Das moderne Sachbuch, 59.

Box 8-9

I Grandi Matematici. Traduzione di Dina Aduni. Firenze: Sansoni, 1950, 1966 & 1990.

Box 8

Historia de las Matematicas. Mexico: D.F., Fondo de Cultura Economica, 1949.

Box 9

La Magia dei Numeri. Milano: Longanesi & C., 1949.

Box 8

La Magie des Nombres. Traduction de Simone Fabre et Pierre Goyard. Paris:Payot,1952. Series title: Bibliotheque scientifique.

Box Spec Col.

The Last Problem. London: Gollancz, 1961.

Box 8

Matematikens Män. Helsingborg, Sweden: Bokforlaget Natur och Kultur, 1940.

Box 8

La Mathematique, Reine et Servante des Sciences. Paris:Payot,1953. Series title: Bibliotheque scientifique

Box Lost

La Reina de las Ciencias. Buenos Aires: Editorial Losada, 1944.

Note

NOTE: Listed on the original finding-aid. Not found at last scrutiny, 2002.

Box 8-9

Les Grands Mathematiciens. Paris: Payot, 1939 & 1961.

Box 8

Los Grandes Matematicos (desde Zenon a Poincare)su vida y sus obras. Buenos Aires: Losada, 1948.

Box 9

L'Uomo Che Visse nel Futuro.Verona:Amoldo Mondadori Editore,1954. Biblioteca economica mondadori; 6.

Box 9

The Magic of Numbers. New York: Dover Publications, 1991.

Box 8

Matematiikan miehiä. Helkaja Klaus Vala. Porvoo: W. Söderström Osakeyhtiö, 1963.

Box 8

Matematikens Maend. Axel Sandal C.A. Reitzels Forlag, 1944.

Box 8

Mathematics - Queen & Servant of Science. Washington, D.C.: Mathematical Association of America, 1987.

Box 9

Racconti di Fantascienza Scritti dagli Scienziati. Milano:Rizzoli,1965. p.49-86

Note

NOTE: Featured E.T. Bell on pp. 49-86, "L'ultimo catalizzatore".

Box 8

Veliki Matematicari. Zagreb: Nakladni Zavod Znanje, 1972.

Authored under pseudonym John Taine:

Box 9

Germes de Vie. France: Gallimard, 1953.

Box 9

L'uomo che Visse nel Futuro. Verona: 1954.

Research material:

Box 9

Jaffe, Bernard. Outpost of Science. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1935.

Note

NOTE: Inscribed by a publisher to E.T. Bell.

Box 9

Enfield, William. History of Philosophy. London.1819. (vol. 1-2)

Box 9

Gilson, Etienne. La Philosophie au Moyen Age. Paris: Payot, 1930.

Box 9

Poquelin, Jean Baptiste. De Moliere. Paris: Chez Gennequin, 1857.

Box 9

Powell, Baden. Natural Philosophy: an historical view of the progress of the physical & mathematical sciences. London 1834.

Science fictitons and other works signed by author to E.T. Bell:

Box 9

Blake, William. The World is Mine. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1938.

Box 9

Dunham, David. The Two Orphans of Marrakech and other Dramatic Spots. New York: The Morrill Press, 1935.

Note

NOTE: Inscribed to E.T. Bell, and autographed by the author (David Dunham, pseudonym for David Eugene Smith) on the free endpaper; also, autographed (as David Eugene Smith) by the author on the title page.

Box 9

Kahn, Gordon. Hollywood on Trial. New York: Boni & Baer, 1948.

Box 9

Repp, Ed Earl. The Radium Pool. Los Angeles: Fantasy Publications, 1949.

Box 9

Smith, Edward E. Spacehounds of IPC: a tale of the inter-planetary corporation. Penn.: Fantasy Press, 1947.

Box 9

Williamson, Jack. The Legion of Space. Penn.: Fantasy Press, 1947.

Box 9

Russell, Eric Frank. Sinister Barrier. Penn.: Fantasy Press, 1948.

Box 9

Camp, L. Sprague de. The Wheels of IF: and other Science-Fictions. Chicago: Shasta Publishers, 1948.

Series 3: Hodgepodge, 1925-1960

Physical Description: 1 flat box,

Scope and Content Note

This series contains an original manuscript given to E.T. Bell by J. Ouspenski, a group of annotated envelopes and containers that the manuscripts were donated in, and a set of metal cuts of mathematic formulae.

Box 8

Annotated envelopes, a cardboard box, and a manuscript cover

Box 8

Metal illustration cuts for Mathematics, Queen and Servant of Science, 1951

Box 8

Class Number Forumlas, by J. Ouspenski, an original unpublished manuscript, 1925

Note

Note: Inscribed by author, to E.T. Bell, "Chicago, July 1925", on the free endpaper.

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