Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1968 – 1992 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
0.84m of textual records
Context area
Name of creator
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Sub-series contains records relating to Davis’ involvement in the AMS Committee on Human Rights of Mathematicians. Material includes correspondence to and from Davis relating to various campaigns, such as those addressing military funding of mathematics, a response to Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative and the AMS referendum on this subject, and human rights initiatives to support individuals facing political prosecution, imprisonment, and censorship.
The initial grouping of records generally reflects the more administrative operations of the Committee and include mailing/membership lists, board member nominations, petitions, meeting minutes, preparation of motions, and correspondence relating to submissions to the AMS Notices.
The second grouping of records in this sub-series are subject files that follow Davis’ original naming by place name or by individual. These files include news clippings, fact sheets, copies of prisoner testimonies, reports, briefing papers, legal documentation, and other related research materials. Alongside this background material are the resultant notes, drafts, and correspondence for letter writing campaigns (both group and individual action), mailing lists, and copies of petitions.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Files are arranged in chronological order.
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
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Uploaded finding aid
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Material is divided into the two groupings described above, and within each are arranged chronologically. Researchers are encouraged to also consult Sub-series 5.1 as the Mathematics Action Group appears to be a precursor to the AMS Committee on Human Rights of Mathematicians and includes some correspondence that is also under the latter committee’s name.