Richard Montague papers, 1948-1972

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Summary

Abstract:
Richard Montague was a mathematician, theorist and UCLA Professor of Philosophy, known as the namesake behind Montague Grammar theory of natural language semantics. The collection consists of correspondence, lecture notes, research notes, and personal materials relating to Montague's role as an organist.
Extent:
20.4 Linear Feet (40 boxes, 1 oversize box, and 1 document box)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Richard Montague papers (Collection 264). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of professional and personal materials relating to mathematician and UCLA Professor of Philosophy, Richard Montague. The papers includes correspondence, lecture notes, research notes, and a manuscript of a monograph written by Solomon Feferman and Richard Montague. Subject files include conference notes, drafts of unpublished papers, and lecture notes from Montague's mentor, Alfred Tarski. Personal materials include programs, announcements, and brochures relating to Montague's role as an organist.

Biographical / historical:

Richard Montague was born in Stockton, California on September 20, 1930. Montague studied philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley, receiving his bachelor's degree in 1950. During his graduate work, Montague studied mathematics and philosophy with Alfred Tarski at Bekeley. His dissertation, Contributions to the Axiomatic Foundations of Set Theory, contained groundbreaking work on axiomatic set theory and helped propel Montague's academic career forward. Montague received his master's degree in mathematics from Berkeley in 1953 and his doctorate in the same subject in 1957.

Montague began teaching at UCLA in 1955 as a professor of Philosophy. While there, he continued research into natural language semantics and formed an approach that would become known as Montague grammar. His thesis was that natural languages and formal languages contain no theoretical differences in terms of comprehension of syntax and semantics.

Montague died on March 7, 1971 in Los Angeles, California after being strangled in his home. His murder currently remains unsolved.

Acquisition information:
Gift from Edgar Montague, 1971. Addition donated by the UCLA Department of Philosophy in 2013.
Processing information:

Collections are processed to a variety of levels depending on the work necessary to make them usable, their perceived user interest and research value, availability of staff and resources, and competing priorities. Library Special Collections provides a standard level of preservation and access for all collections and, when time and resources permit, conducts more intensive processing. These materials have been arranged and described according to national and local standards and best practices.

Original collection processed by Manuscripts Division staff in 1997. Addition processed by Mary Priest in 2015 in the Center for Primary Research and Training (CFPRT), under the supervision of Jillian Cuellar. Processing of this collection was generously supported by the Constantine and Perina Panunzio Endowment for University Archives.

Arrangement:

Collection is arranged in the following series:

  • Series 1: Feferman - Montague Monograph
  • Series 2: Lecture Notes
  • Series 3: Personal
  • Series 4: Philosophy of Language (Miscellaneous Research Notes)
  • Series 5: Subject Files
  • Series 6: Addition

Physical / technical requirements:

CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: This collection contains processed audiovisual materials. All requests to access digital materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

Physical location:
Stored off-site. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located on this page.

Box 41 is restricted due to privacy restrictions including PII and FERPA. Please contact Special Collections reference (spec-coll@library.ucla.edu) for more information.

Terms of access:

Property rights to the physical objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Richard Montague papers (Collection 264). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.

Location of this collection:
A1713 Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575, US
Contact:
(310) 825-4988
AskLSC@library.ucla.edu
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