Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1826-1829 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
2 leaves
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Niels Henrik Abel was born in Norway in 1802. His father was Soren Georg Abel, a political activist for Norwegian independence. In 1815 Niels Abel was sent to the Cathedral School at Christiania, where he studied mathematics under Bernt Holmboe, who encouraged him to go to Christiania University. He graduated in 1822, having undertaken work on the solution of quintic equations by radicals. In 1823 he published papers on functional equations and integrals, and a work proving the impossibility of solving the general equation of the fifth degree in radicals. For the next four years Abel travelled in Europe, visiting France, Italy and Germany to meet other mathematicians. He returned to Norway in 1827, where he earned a living through teaching until his death in May 1829. In 1830 he was awarded the Grand Prix of the Paris Academy.
Repository
Archival history
The manuscript was originally inserted, after the title-page, in a copy of vol.I of the Oeuvres complètes de N.H.Abel...redigées...par B.Holmboe (1839) held by the University of London Library. The work had previously belonged to Augustus De Morgan, but it is not known when or where he acquired it.
GB 0096 MS 768 1826-1829 Collection (fonds) 2 leaves Abel , Niels Henrik , 1802-1829 , Norwegian mathematician
Niels Henrik Abel was born in Norway in 1802. His father was Soren Georg Abel, a political activist for Norwegian independence. In 1815 Niels Abel was sent to the Cathedral School at Christiania, where he studied mathematics under Bernt Holmboe, who encouraged him to go to Christiania University. He graduated in 1822, having undertaken work on the solution of quintic equations by radicals. In 1823 he published papers on functional equations and integrals, and a work proving the impossibility of solving the general equation of the fifth degree in radicals. For the next four years Abel travelled in Europe, visiting France, Italy and Germany to meet other mathematicians. He returned to Norway in 1827, where he earned a living through teaching until his death in May 1829. In 1830 he was awarded the Grand Prix of the Paris Academy.
The manuscript was originally inserted, after the title-page, in a copy of vol.I of the Oeuvres complètes de N.H.Abel...redigées...par B.Holmboe (1839) held by the University of London Library. The work had previously belonged to Augustus De Morgan, but it is not known when or where he acquired it.
Transferred from the General Library in 1970.
Draft of a paper entitled 'Sur une propriété générale d'une certaine classe de fonctions transcendantes (par Mr.N.H.Abel de Christiana)', apparently in the hand of Niels Henrik Abels hand, later printed as 'Remarques sur quelques propriétés generales d'une certaine sorte de fonctions transcendantes' in Oeuvres complètes de N.H.Abel...redigées...par B.Holmboe (1859), vol.I (section XV), pp.288-98.
Single item.
Access to the items in the collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the controlled environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Access to archive collections may be restricted under the Freedom of Information Act. Please contact the University Archivist for details.
Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests
French
10" x 8½"
Collection level description.
Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project. Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. Jan 2002 Abel , Niels Henrik , 1802-1829 , Norwegian mathematician Mathematics
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Transferred from the General Library in 1970.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Draft of a paper entitled 'Sur une propriété générale d'une certaine classe de fonctions transcendantes (par Mr.N.H.Abel de Christiana)', apparently in the hand of Niels Henrik Abels hand, later printed as 'Remarques sur quelques propriétés generales d'une certaine sorte de fonctions transcendantes' in Oeuvres complètes de N.H.Abel...redigées...par B.Holmboe (1859), vol.I (section XV), pp.288-98.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Single item.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Access to the items in the collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the controlled environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Access to archive collections may be restricted under the Freedom of Information Act. Please contact the University Archivist for details.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
French
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Collection level description.
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English