Black (Arthur) Notebooks

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0103 MS ADD 257
Held at	: University College London   Click here to find out how to view this collection at http://www.ucl.ac.uk/Library/special-coll ›
Full title	: Black (Arthur) Notebooks
Date(s)	: c1890
Level of description	: Collection (fonds)
Extent	: 23 volumes
Name of creator(s)	: Black | Arthur | 1851-1893 | mathematician
Detailed catalogue	: Click here to view repository detailed catalogue

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

Arthur Black was born in Brighton, the eldest of 8 children. His sister Constance, later Constance Garnett, was to become famous for her translations of the novels of Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky. Arthur Black studied mathematics under William Kingdon Clifford, Professor of Applied Mathematics at University College London. He was a favourite pupil of Clifford, who was impressed by Black's brilliance. He took his degree by private study and achieved his BSc in 1877. After this he worked as an army coach and tutor in Brighton, while pursuing his mathematical and philosophical interests. His marriage was allegedly unhappy. He took his own life in January 1893, having not published any of his mathematical work. The main focus of Black's work seems to have been an attempt to use his mathematical skills to develop a quantitative theory of evolution.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Twenty-three manuscript notebooks on mathematical statistics which include 'The theory of deviation from an average', the introduction to 'An algebra of evolution', and 'Problems relating to the mathematical treatment of statistics: periodicity and deviation'.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

Conditions governing access:

Open.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Normal copyright restrictions apply.

Finding aids:

A summary list is available. Please contact Special Collections for further information.

Archival Information

Archival history:

Immediate source of acquisition:

Presented to University College London in December 1976 by Mr David Garnett via Mr D A MacKenzie.

Allied Materials

Related material:

National Register of Archives: Click here to view NRA record

Publication note:

Description Notes

Archivist's note:

Rules or conventions:

Date(s) of descriptions:
1999