Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1967 – 2022 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
2.07m of textual records
1 photograph
Context area
Name of creator
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Series consists of records documenting Davis’ sustained advocacy work and includes his interests in pacifism, professional ethics, gender equality, academic freedom, political persecution and imprisonment, anti-Semitism in the Soviet Union, employment equity, support for Palestine, anti-war campaigns, racial justice, and social responsibility in science. Material includes correspondence, much of which is with Davis’ peers, and offers insight into his personal views as he is at times unflinching from confrontation. Many of the files throughout the five sub-series focus on campaigns to support individual mathematicians imprisoned or facing other forms of repression. A common tactic in this work was to add these individuals to mailing lists for mathematical journals and newsletters helping them to keep informed for their work, but also to make clear to the authorities that the person was known to the international mathematical community.
The activism documented in this series includes both Davis’ personal efforts as well as his work on committees of various organizations such as the American Mathematical Society (AMS), the Canadian Mathematical Society (CMS), and Science for Peace. These are represented in the first four sub-series. Other organizations that Davis was involved with include the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) in addition to local groups, such as the Toronto Universities Middle East Group (TUMEG). Please see sub-series descriptions for additional detail on file content.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
All files are open with the exception of the following files. These are restricted for a period of 40 years following the last date of file activity based on the third-party private information they contain:
- B2023-0018/039(03) – restricted until 2025
- B2023-0018/040(06) - (07) – restricted until 2029
- B2023-0018/041(03) – restricted until 2030
- B2023-0018/041(05) – restricted until 2031
- B2023-0018/041(11) – restricted until 2035