The Gauss-Bonnet theorem, a cornerstone of differential geometry, served as a focal point for Carl Barnett Allendoerfer during his tenure at Haverford College. Born in 1911 in Kansas City, Allendoerfer developed a distinguished career as a mathematician, educator, and vocal advocate for reform in American school curricula through the mid-twentieth century.
Academic Formation
Allendoerfer graduated from Haverford College in 1932. He subsequently attended New College, Oxford, as a Rhodes Scholar from 1932 to 1934. His formal mathematical training concluded at Princeton University, where he earned a Ph.D. in 1937. His early research contributions included work on Einstein spaces and the imbedding of Riemann spaces.
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During the mid-1940s, Allendoerfer collaborated with André Weil to investigate the Gauss-Bonnet theorem for Riemannian polyhedra. Following his time at the Institute for Advanced Study in 1948 and 1949, he joined the faculty at the University of Washington in 1951, eventually chairing its Mathematics Department.
Educational Reform and New Math
Allendoerfer was a prominent figure in the New Math movement, aiming to modernize mathematics education by introducing abstract concepts like set theory at earlier stages. As a member of the Commission on Mathematics of the College Entrance Examination Board, he contributed to the 1959 report Program for College Preparatory Mathematics. He authored multiple textbooks with Cletus Oakley and produced a series of educational films for Ward's Natural Science, covering topics such as geometric transformations and cycloidal curves.
Legacy and Honors
Throughout his career, Allendoerfer received numerous recognitions, including a Paul R. Halmos - Lester R. Ford Award in 1966 and the Award for Distinguished Service to Mathematics from the MAA in 1972. Following his death in 1974 in Seattle, the MAA honored his legacy by establishing the Carl B. Allendoerfer Award, which recognizes excellence in expository writing published in Mathematics Magazine.
Fast facts
- Born: 1911, Kansas City
- Died: 1974, Seattle
- Education: Haverford College; New College, Oxford; Princeton University
- Employment: University of Washington
- Rhodes Scholar: 1932
- Notable Collaborator: André Weil
- Notable Co-author: Cletus Oakley
Questions readers ask
What was the New Math movement?
It was an educational shift in the 1950s and 60s that prioritized abstract concepts, such as set theory, within primary and secondary school mathematics curricula.
What is the Carl B. Allendoerfer Award?
It is an annual honor established by the Mathematical Association of America to recognize outstanding expository excellence in Mathematics Magazine.
Achievements
- Held posts at University of Washington
