Historical/Biographical Note
Irving Adler (1913- ), an educator, mathematician, science writer and progressive activist, was born in New York City, attended City College (B.S., 1931) and received graduate degrees in mathematics from Columbia University (M.A., 1938; Ph.D., 1961). From 1932-1952 he taught mathematics in the New York City secondary schools and was an activist in the progressive Teachers' Union, and in 1953 was the National Director of the National Council of the Arts, Sciences and Professions. In 1954 he was suspended for refusing to cooperate with government investigations into teachers' political beliefs and associations. Reinstated in 1976, he then retired. In the 1950s Adler began a long and successful career as the author (frequently with his first wife Ruth Adler) of numerous popular books on mathematics and science (many for children), and also wrote What We Want of Our Schools: Plain Talk on Education, from Theory to Budgets (1957). Adler also published several scholarly papers on mathematics, book reviews, and articles on the philosophy of science and on dialectical materialism. Adler was a founding board member of the American Institute for Marxist Studies (AIMS) and a regular contributor to Science & Society (a Marxist quarterly). Moving to Vermont in the early 1960s, he continued his progressive activism locally, and through his philanthropic efforts helped to establish the City College Volunteers in Spain Memorial Scholarship and, at Dartmouth College, the Joseph Dallet Jr. 1927 Memorial Prize, each in honor of alumni who fought in the Spanish Civil War.
Return to topScope and Content Note
The collection is arranged alphabetically. There are published and unpublished writings by Adler on mathematics, the philosophy of science, dialectical materialism, and on educational issues. There is correspondence related the publication and reception of these writings (notably Freeman Dyson), and a thick file of correspondence with AIMS Director Herbert Aptheker. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) documents and correspondence comprise one folder each re: Adler's CIA and FBI files. Two City College files contain Adler's student writings and activist ephemera. Several files related to Adler's teaching career contain typescripts on the teaching of mathematics, Teachers Union ephemera and publications, and testimony and other documents from the administrative proceedings leading to his suspension. Another file documents the similar case of Joyce Sparer, later Adler's second wife. Several files containing clippings and letters to newspaper editors on topical matters document Adler's activism following his move to Vermont. There are also files on the Spanish Civil War-related scholarships Adler established, files on several on miscellaneous events or topics, and a thick biographical file which includes an oral history transcript.
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Arrangement |
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| The files are grouped into 1 series. | ||
| Folders are arranged alphabetically. | ||
Related Material at the Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
Return to topSeparated Material
There is no information about materials that are associated by provenance to the described materials that have been physically separated or removed.
Return to topRestrictions
Access Restrictions
Open for research with restrictions.
Use Restrictions
There are restrictions on the use of the collection. For more information, contact
Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012
Phone: (212) 998-2630
Fax: (212) 995-4225
E-mail: gail.malmgreen@nyu.edu
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Administrative Information
Provenance
Gift of Irving Adler, April 2002
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date (if known); The Irving Adler Papers; Tamiment 273; box number; folder number;
Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
Elmer Holmes Bobst Library
70 Washington Square South
New York, NY 10012, New York University Libraries.
Container List
[The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.]
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