Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140

MS 572
Herbert Solomon (1919-2004)
Papers, 1967-2004

Descriptive summary

creator:	Solomon, Herbert (1919-2004)
title:	Papers
dates:	1967-2004
extent:	2.3 linear feet (2 records center cartons)
collection number:	MS 572
repository:	Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

Administrative information

access:	Open for research
publication rights:	Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation:	Herbert Solomon Papers, MS 572, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

Abstract

Statistician Herbert Solomon (1919-2004) was a professor at Stanford University. His studies included work on quality control, geometric probability, jurimetrics and the study of small group processes. He was particularly interested in applying statistics to practical problems. He also conducted many research projects with branches of the military, including the Army, Air Force, and the Navy. His work in probability had direct application in many bombing campaigns in WWII. This collection contains correspondence to and from Herbert Solomon as well as mock exams and syllabi for courses in statistics. The majority of the collection consists of correspondence. A tribute to Solomon is included at the end of this collection.

Biographical note

Herbert Solomon was born in New York City on March 13, 1919. Solomon received his B.A. (1940) from the City College of New York in mathematics, his M.A. (1941) from Columbia University in mathematics, and his Ph.D. (1950) from Stanford University. During World War II, Solomon worked with Columbia University's Statistical Research Group which conducted military research such as aircraft reliability and bombing patterns. His work in probability had direct application in many bombing campaigns in World War II. Awarded Stanford's first Ph.D in statistics, Solomon worked in the United States Office of Naval Research (1948-1952), taught at Columbia University (1952-1959), returned to Stanford University as a Visiting Professor (1958-1959), and stayed at Stanford for the rest of his career as Professor of Statistics beginning in 1959. He served as Chair of the Department of Statistics for many years (1959-1964, 1985-1988) and as the head of several committees and research groups.

His studies included work on quality control, geometric probability, jurimetrics and the study of small group processes. He was particularly interested in applying statistics to practical problems. He was involved with many research projects with branches of the military, including the Army, Air Force, and the Navy. He received many awards and honors for his work, was fellow and president of the Institute of Mathematical Statistics, and a fellow of the American Statistical Association. He was well-loved by faculty and students, the latter of which affectionately called him "Big Daddy" or "King Solomon".

In 1947, Solomon married fellow graduate student Lottie Lautman. Together they had three children, Mark, Jed and Naomi. He helped found two synagogues and worked with Stanford to develop Hillel (a Jewish campus organization) for students there. He also served as a member of the faculty committee on religious practices at Stanford University.

Solomon died September 20, 2004.

Collection description

This collection (1967-1987) contains correspondence to and from Herbert Solomon as well as mock exams and syllabi for courses in statistics. The majority of the collection contains correspondence. A tribute to Solomon is included at the end of this collection.

Container list

Box	Folder	Title	Dates
1	1	Correspondence: August - January	1967-1968
1	2	Correspondence: February - August	1968
1	3	Correspondence: September - February	1968-1969
1	4	Correspondence: February - August	1969
1	5	Correspondence: September - December	1969
1	6	Correspondence: January - June	1970
1	7	Correspondence: June - December	1970
1	8	Correspondence: January - August	1971
1	9	Correspondence: September - December	1971
1	10	Correspondence: July - October	1974
1	11	Correspondence: November - December	1974
1	12	Correspondence: January - March	1975
1	13	Correspondence: April - May	1975
1	14	Correspondence: June - August	1975
1	15	Correspondence: September - October	1975
1	16	Correspondence: November - December	1975
1	17	Correspondence: January - February	1976
1	18	Correspondence: March - April	1976
1	19	Correspondence: April (includes minutes)	1976
1	20	Correspondence: July - August	1976
1	21	Correspondence: September	1976
1	22	Correspondence: October	1976
1	23	Correspondence: November - December	1976
2	1	Correspondence: January - February	1980
2	2	Correspondence: March - April	1980
2	3	Correspondence: May - June	1980
2	4	Correspondence: November - December	1980
2	5	Correspondence: January - February	1981
2	6	Correspondence: March - April	1981
2	7	Correspondence: May - June	1981
2	8	Correspondence: September - October	1981
2	9	Correspondence: November - December	1981
2	10	Correspondence: January	1982
2	11	Correspondence: February	1982
2	12	Correspondence: October	1983
2	13	Correspondence: November	1983
2	14	Correspondence: December	1983
2	15	Correspondence: January	1984
2	16	Correspondence: February	1984
2	17	Correspondence: March	1984
2	18	Correspondence: June	1984
2	19	Correspondence: July	1984
2	20	Correspondence: August	1984
2	21	Correspondence: September	1984
2	22	Correspondence: October	1984
2	23	Correspondence: November	1984
2	24	Correspondence: December	1984
2	25	Correspondence: January	1985
2	26	Correspondence: February	1985
2	27	Correspondence: March	1985
2	28	Correspondence: April	1985
2	29	Correspondence: May	1985
2	30	Correspondence: June	1985
2	31	Correspondence: July	1985
2	32	Correspondence: August	1985
2	33	Correspondence: September	1985
2	34	Correspondence: October	1985
2	35	Correspondence: November	1985
2	36	Correspondence: December	1985
2	37	Correspondence: January	1986
2	38	Correspondence: February	1986
2	39	Correspondence: March	1986
2	40	Correspondence: April	1986
2	41	Correspondence: May	1986
2	42	Correspondence: June	1986
2	43	Correspondence: July	1986
2	44	Correspondence: August	1986
2	45	Correspondence: September	1986
2	46	Correspondence: October	1986
2	47	Correspondence: November	1986
2	48	Correspondence: December	1986
2	49	Correspondence: January	1987
2	50	Correspondence: February	1987
2	51	Correspondence: March	1987
2	52	Correspondence: April	1987
2	53	Correspondence: May	1987
2	54	Correspondence: June	1987
2	55	Correspondence: July	1987
2	56	Correspondence: August	1987
2	57	Correspondence: September	1987
2	58	Correspondence: October	1987
2	59	Correspondence: November	1987
2	60	Correspondence: December	1987
2	61	Memorial resolution (Stanford University)	2004