Under-represented Then Over-represented: A Memoir of Jews in American Mathematics

"Over-representation" of Jews in the world of mathematics is a common observation, but rarely discussed in print. In response to a new book on the subject by Ioan James, this paper recounts the author's own interaction with Jewish over-representation at universities in the U.S., and a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	The College mathematics journal Vol. 41; no. 1; pp. 2 - 9
Main Author:	Hersh, Reuben
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Washington Taylor & Francis 01-01-2010 Mathematical Association of America Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects:	Algebra Children College mathematics Colleges & universities Graduate students Jewish people Jewish peoples Jewish refugees Mathematics Mathematics education Nazism Social interaction World wars United States > US
Online Access:	Get full text
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Summary:	"Over-representation" of Jews in the world of mathematics is a common observation, but rarely discussed in print. In response to a new book on the subject by Ioan James, this paper recounts the author's own interaction with Jewish over-representation at universities in the U.S., and also gives information about Hungary and Italy. The contrast with the drastic under-representation of Jews in U.S. mathematics in the 1920′s and 30′s is discussed and an explanation is given of how under-representation became over-representation and how presently this over-representation is fading away.
ISSN:	0746-8342 1931-1346
DOI:	10.4169/074683410X475065