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The dream of a Swedish mathematician: The Mittag-Leffler Institute. (English) Zbl 0935.01030

The paper is written on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the Mittag-Leffler Institute in Djursholm, near Stockholm. First a biography of Gösta Mittag-Leffler is given. He founded Acta Mathematica in 1882. His villa in Djursholm was rebuilt in 1907, and in 1916, on his seventieth birthday, he and his wife made public their intention to donate their entire estate to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (they never had children). The purpose of the donation was to create a mathematics institute. He built up his library and invited mathematicians to visit. In March 1927, a few months before Mittag-Leffler’s death, André Weil spent a month in Djursholm; his memories are here republished. The fortune left was enough to pay part of the salary of a director (Torsten Carleman, then Fritz Carlson and Otto Frostman), to maintain the library, and to continue the publication of Acta. The plan of Academy to eliminate the Mittag-Leffler Institute was abolished by Lennart Carleson, who moved to Djursholm in 1967 and launched in earnest the institute in 1969. The first scientific program, on harmonic analysis, was held during 1969-70. Now the Mittag-Leffler Institute is one of seven institutes of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, supported by some Swedish philanthropic foundations; there are also contributions from the other Scandinavian countries. A description of the well-being of Acta, published by Institute, and a list of yearly programs of Institute in 1969-2001 are added. In conclusion the Mittag-Leffler Estate is depicted.

MSC:

01A74 History of mathematics at institutions and academies (non-university)

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