‘Encounters of a mathematician’… TAGS: Berlin | Centre for Research Collections | Edinburgh University Library | Edinburgh University Library Special Collections | Holocaust | mathematics | music | Professor Sir Godfrey Thomson | University of Berlin | University of Edinburgh | University of Manchester | University of St Andrews | University of Sussex | Walter Ledermann For the last few weeks, I have been cataloguing the papers of mathematician, Walter Ledermann (1911-2009).  The collection largely composes of highly mathematical letters from Thomson to Ledermann.  Having the …Continue reading →

‘Who is that chap with the terrific head?!’ TAGS: CRC | Edinburgh University Special Collections | Hugh MacDiarmid | Professor Sir Godfrey Thomson | R H Westwater | Robert Heriot Westwater Robert Heriot Westwater’s most famous portrait is probably that of Christopher Murray Grieve (more widely known by his nom de plume,  Hugh McDiarmid!).  But Westwater also painted two very different …Continue reading →

A few of my favourite things…III TAGS: Burschenschaften | CRC | duelling | Edinburgh University Library Special Collections | Godfrey Thomson | Mensur | Professor Sir Godfrey Thomson | Student clubs | University of Strasbourg | University of Strasburg In his mid 20s, Thomson found himself studying for a PhD under the formidable talents of Nobel Prize winining physicist, Karl Ferdinand Braun, at the University of Strasburg.  Today’s object …Continue reading →