Finding Aid to the Gerard Debreu Papers, 1949-2001
Finding Aid written by Bancroft Library staff
The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California, 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/
© 2007
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Finding Aid to the Gerard Debreu Papers, 1949-2001
Collection Number: BANC MSS 2006/218
The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California
- Finding Aid Written By:
- Bancroft Library staff
- Date Completed:
-
October 2007
© 2007 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Collection Summary
Collection Title: Gerard Debreu papers
Date (inclusive): 1949-2001
Collection Number: BANC MSS 2006/218
Creators :
Debreu, Gerard
Extent:
Number of containers: 1 box, 23 cartons
Linear feet: 29
Repository: The Bancroft Library
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California, 94720-6000
Phone: (510) 642-6481
Fax: (510) 642-7589
Email: bancref@library.berkeley.edu
URL: http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/
Abstract: The Gerard Debreu papers, 1949-2001, consist of correspondence; professional
activities, which include research notes, writing and editorial work, visiting scholar appointments, and
speeches; organizational files; course notes; a small amount of papers pertaining to Debreu winning the Nobel
Prize; and Debreu reprints.
Languages Represented: Collection materials are in English and French
Physical Location: Many of the Bancroft Library collections are stored offsite and advance notice
may be required for use. For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the
Library's online catalog.
Information for Researchers
Access
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from or otherwise use collection materials must be submitted in
writing to the Head of Public Services, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-6000.
Consent is given on behalf of The Bancroft Library as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to
include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission must be obtained from the copyright
owner. See:
http://bancroft.berkeley.edu/reference/permissions.html .
Restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files is
restricted to research and educational purposes.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Gerard Debreu Papers, BANC MSS 2006/218, The Bancroft Library, University of
California, Berkeley.
Alternate Forms Available
There are no alternate forms of this collection.
Separated Material
Photographs have been transferred to the Pictorial Collections of The Bancroft Library. BANC PIC 2007.011-FR.
Objects have been transferred to the Pictorial Collections of The Bancroft Library. BANC PIC
19xx.031:158-159-OBJ. Printed materials have been transferred to the book collection of The Bancroft
Library.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public
access catalog.
Debreu, Gerard--Archives
University of California, Berkeley. Dept. of
Economics
National Academy of Sciences (U.S.). Committee on
Human Rights
Nobel Prize winners--United States
Economics, Mathematical
Faculty papers
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
The Gerard Debreu Papers were given to The Bancroft Library by Francoise Debreu on September 26, 2006.
Accruals
No additions are expected.
System of Arrangement
Arranged to the container level.
Processing Information
Processed by the Bancroft Library staff in 2007.
Biographical Information
Gerard Debreu was born in Calais, France on July 4, 1921. As a young man he pursued studies in mathematics
until 1944, when after D-day he enlisted in the French army. After briefly serving in the French occupational
forces in Germany he resumed his studies and shifted his focus to Economics.
In 1948 Debreu came to the United States on a Rockefeller Scholarship. In 1950 he began working at the Cowles
Commission for Research in Economics at the University of Chicago. He moved to Yale University from 1955 to
1959, then Stanford University's Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences in 1960 and 1961. Early in
1962 he became a member of Berkeley's Economics faculty, and his Nobel Prize of 1983 was the first of a string
of four Nobel Prizes won by Berkeley Economics professors. He retired in 1991, but he continued his teaching and
research activities for several years.
Debreu became an American citizen in 1975. He was also noted for his interest in human rights. He joined a
fact-finding mission to Chile on behalf of the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Human Rights, which
focused on scientists believed to be unlawfully detained, in 1985.
Debreu passed away in Paris on December 31, 2004
Scope and Content of Collection
The Gerard Debreu papers, 1949-2001, consist of correspondence; professional activities, which include research
notes, writing and editorial work, visiting scholar appointments, and speeches; organizational files; course
notes; a small amount of papers pertaining to Debreu winning the Nobel Prize; and Debreu reprints.
Most of the correspondence is professional in nature, concerning Debreu's teaching, writing and research
activities. Topic-related correspondence is also interfiled throughout the rest of the collection. Professional
activities primarily focus on Debreu's non-teaching work. The organizational files contain information on the
organizations to which Debreu belonged, committee details, correspondence, and meeting minutes. Of note in this
series are Debreu's membership in the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Human Rights. The Nobel
Prize-related papers include some correspondence and photographs.
Series 1
Correspondence
1952-2001
Physical Description:
Cartons 1-6
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by last name, followed by miscellaneous correspondence.
Scope and Content Note
Primarily professional correspondence, a significant amount of which is in French.
Carton 5, Folder 102-112
Miscellaneous correspondence
1965-1993
Carton 6, Folder 1-51
Miscellaneous correspondence
1952-2001
Series 2
Professional Activities
1952-2000
Physical Description:
Cartons 7-14 and Box 1
Arrangement
Arranged as received.
Scope and Content Note
Contains research notes, subject files, including correspondence regarding writing and editing duties,
visiting scholar programs, grants, seminars, writings, and speeches.
Carton 7, Folder 1-86
Research notes, Centre de Recharches Mathématiques, Statistiques, et Economic
Mathématiques (CERMSEM), and Oiko Nomia project
1952-2000,
undated
Box 1, Folder 1-7
Computer printouts and notes for Simsim project (disassembled volumes)
undated
Carton 8, Folder 1-52
Research notes, grants, and correspondence
1962-1985,
undated
Carton 9, Folder 1-50
Writings, lecture notes, research notes, and correspondence
1954-1993
Carton 10, Folder 1-53
Research notes, writings, symposium materials, and correspondence
1952-1994
Carton 11, Folder 1-50
Writings, grants, research notes, and seminar materials
1973-1994
Carton 12, Folder 1-76
University Professorship, Visiting Professorships, seminars, conferences, and invitations
1984-1993
Carton 13, Folder 1-69
Conferences, writings, speeches
1983-1994
Carton 14, Folder 1-41
Speeches and writings
1972-1994
Series 3
Organizational Files
1977-1994
Physical Description:
Cartons 14-21
Arrangement
Arranged as received.
Scope and Content Note
Contains files concerning Debreu's involvement primarily with the American Economic Association, Berkeley
Mathematical Society Research Institute, the National Science Foundation and the National Academy of
Sciences.
Carton 14, Folder 42
American Association for the Advancement of Science
1984-1994
Carton 14, Folder 43-46
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
1986-1993
Carton 14, Folder 47-61
American Economic Association
1984-1990
Carton 15, Folder 1-43
American Economic Association
1988-1993
Carton 16, Folder 1-42
American Economic Association
1988-1994
Carton 17, Folder 1-102
American Economic Association
1987-1991
Carton 18, Folder 1-4
American Philosophical Society
1984-1993
Carton 18, Folder 6
Committee of Concerned Scientists
1986-1991
Carton 18, Folder 7-21
Berkeley Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI)
1983-1987
Carton 18, Folder 22-27
National Science Foundation
1985-1991
Carton 19, Folder 1-32
National Academy of Sciences
1984-1994
Carton 20, Folder 1-57
National Academy of Sciences
1977-1994
Carton 21, Folder 1-24
National Academy of Sciences
1982-1994
Series 4
Course and lecture notes
1954-1995
Physical Description:
Carton 22
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Contains course notes, problem sets, lectures, and miscellaneous papers pertaining to classes taught by
Debreu.
Carton 22, Folder 1-85
Course and lecture notes
1954-1995
Series 5
Nobel Prize-related papers
1983-1992
Physical Description:
Carton 23
Arrangement
Arranged as received.
Scope and Content Note
Contains correspondence, biographical materials, photographs, and speeches.
Carton 23, Folder 1-49
Nobel-related materials
1983-1992
Series 6
Reprints
1949-2000,
undated
Physical Description:
Carton 23
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Scope and Content Note
Reprints of Debreu articles.
Carton 23, Folder 50-81
Reprints
1949-2000,
undated
