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Guy Waldo Dunnington Collection
Biographical Sketch
Dr. Guy Waldo Dunnington (b. 1906, d.1974) was born and buried in Bowling Green, Missouri, and was a scholar, educator, historian and linguist. He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in German from Washington & Lee University. Dunnington earned his doctorate in philosophy at the University of Illinois, and did additional graduate work at Mount Holyoke College and the University of Gottingen. He taught German Literature and Math History at St. Louis Junior College, Atlantic University, Horner Junior College, Lacrosse Wisconsin State College and Northwestern State University of Louisiana, where he retired from teaching in 1969.
Dunnington published numerous articles in German and English for mathematical and foreign language journals. He earned the Howard Houston and Alexander Von Humbolt Fellowships, and was a member of numerous education honor societies, as well as a life member of the Gauss Society and honorary member of the Jean Paul Society.
After a Gauss relative schooled him in math at an early age, Dunnington became fascinated by the renowned German mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauss (1777-1855). In 1955 Dunnington published the only full-length biography of Gauss. The same year he was invited to deliver the memorial address at Gauss’ gravesite for the one hundredth anniversary of Gauss’ death. Over the years Dunnington spent many years in Germany and the United States doing extensive research on Gauss. Dunnington was also dedicated to the Lutheran Church, and remained active as a lay preacher and chairman of the board of elders.
Scope & Content Note
This collection contains correspondence of renowned German mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauss. These letters were collected by Dr. Dunnington through his acquaintances with Gauss relatives. The bulk of the letters date from the nineteenth century and many are translated into English by Dunnington. Included in the letters are a few of a romantic nature to Gauss' future second wife, Minna Waldeck. Other materials related to the life of Gauss are in the collection. Pamphlets collected by Dunnington can also be found.
These materials consist of German scientific and cultural publications from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Some of the publications deal with the theories and mathematical computations of Gauss. The bulk of these materials are in German, with some English, and a few in other languages. Of particular interest in the collection, is one of three copies of Adolph Hitler's private will, political testament and marriage certificate that was produced by Allied Forces. This item was acquired by Dunnington through his involvement as an interpreter during the Nuremburg War Trials following World War II.
The addition of the Dunnington Collection contains correspondence, photographs, clippings, pamphlets, publications, oversized materials and three-dimensional items. The bulk of this material deals with Dunnington’s lifelong research into Carl Friedrich Gauss. There are also items that document the personal life, professional life and ancestry of Dunnington himself.
Items related to Gauss include a substantial amount of correspondence between Dunnington and Gauss’ relatives in both Germany and America during the 1940’s to 1960’s. Of particular interest are several original letters from Gauss, most of which are written to his second wife. Many of these letters have been translated into English. Also present are photographs, sketches and lithographs of Gauss and other contemporary German scientists, scholars and writers. The bulk of the pamphlets and publications present, many of which are authored by Dunnington, deal with similar subjects. Many drafts of Dunnington’s most extensive work on Gauss, his biography of Gauss, are also included. Other publications in the collection concern math and science research, literature studies and German culture and history. Clippings and other news items on Dunnington’s Gauss research can also be found. Oversized and three-dimensional items include a plaster bust and framed portrait of Gauss, various prints relating to German history and culture and two mathematical models owned by Dunnington.
Materials on Dunnington’s personal life include correspondence, printed material and photographs concerning genealogy research, education career, religion and the town of Bowling Green, Missouri, his birthplace. Offering a glimpse into Dunnington’s professional life are materials in similar format relating to his military and teaching career, as well as his work as a translator in the Nuremberg War Trials. Of particular interest among these items is a certified copy of Adolph Hitler’s will, which was acquired by Dunnington during his work at the war trials.
Significance Accomplishments of Carl Friedrich Gauss
1. Discovered the Method of Least Squares.
2. Discovered Non-Euclidean Geometry.
3. Made important contributions to The Theory of Numbers.
A. Developed The Theory of Elliptic Functions.
B. Developed The Algebra of Congruence.
C. Founder of Differential Geometry.
4. Had a unit of magnetism named for him as a result of his work in the field of
Terrestrial Magnetism.
5. Devised the Gauss Eyepiece which is still used in spectrometers and
refractometers.
6. Developed the Bifilar Magnetometer.
7. Used a working telegraph ten years before Morse was given credit for discovering
it.
Inventory
Folder
1 later notes about Gauss
2 two letters from Helen dated August 1, 1911
3 list & unsigned letter, c. 1916
4 Fragmentary recent writings , manuscript
5 4-p typed translation and 1 label
6 1-p typed transition of an 1802 item
7 2-p transcription of a letter from Chantel to Pernety, Nov 27, 1806
8 1807 C.F. Gauss A.L.S. ; 1807 Perthes letter (3 pp; 1 p.)
9 3 ms transcription of letters Reinhart to Gauss, n.d.
10 1 photostat C.F. Gauss letter, 1 transcription, 1 translation, 3 other pages
11 transcription & translation of 1811 C.F. Gauss letter
12 transcription & translation of a 1815 C.F. Gauss letter
13 4 C.F. Gauss 1816 transcriptions & translations
14 translation of an 1818 C.F. Gauss letter to Minna
15 Transcription & translation of 1821 C.F. Gauss letter
16 Transcription of an 1822 Edward Everett letter
17 Transcription of an 1823 C.F Gauss letter
18 Typed transcription of an 1824 C.F. Gauss letter
19 Transcription of an 1825 C.F. Gauss letter to Pfaff
20 Transcriptions & 2 translations, misc. letters
21 Transcription of an 1833 C.F. Gauss letter
22 Transcription of an 1835 Eugene Gauss letter
23 Transcription of a C.F. Gauss letter dated March 24, 1835
24 Transcription, translation 1836, 1837 letters to Richard Parish to Winfeild Scott
25 Typed transcription of 1840 C.F. Gauss letter
26 Transcription of & 1841 letter to Chas. W. Gauss
27 Transcription of an 1842 letter from C.F. Gauss
28 Transcription of 1842 letter Gauss to Fries & note
29 Photostat, translation, 1844 letter of C.F. Gauss
30 Transcription & translation 1845 letter Theresa Gauss to Eugene Gauss
31 Transcription & translation of 1846 letter C.F. Gauss to son Eugene
32 Transcription & translation of 1850 Theresa Gauss to Eugene Gauss
33 Transcription & translation 1851 letter to C.F. Gauss
34 Transcription of 1852 letter M. Moarevieff to C.F. Gauss
35 Transcription, 1852 letter from C.F. Gauss
36 A.L.S. C.F. Gauss, April 7, 1853
37 Photostat, transcriptions, translations, Asa Grey & Gould letters
38 Translation 1856 letter from J. Liouville
39 Transcription , C.F. Gauss letter, from Ernst Schering to Herr Gauss
40 1901 typed letter Robert Gauss to Wm. T. Gauss
41 A.L.S. R. Gauss 1912 & other corresp. With Floorian Cajori.
42 C.c. 1912 Robert Gauss to Felix Klein
43 Listings on cards
44 Seems to be an original 1794 mathematical item
45 A list
46 A.L.S. n.d. C.F. Gauss to Frau Waldeck & translation
47 A.L.S. c. 1810 C.F. Gauss to Minna & translation
48 A.L.S. from C.F. Gauss to Minna 1816 & translation
49 A.L.S. C.F. Gauss to Minna & typed translation, 1816
50 A.L.S. C.F. Gauss to Minna & typed translation, 1815
51 A.L.S. C. F. Gauss to Minna & typed translation, 1811
52 A.L.S. C.F. Gauss to Minna & typed translation ,1816
53 A.L.S. C.F. Gauss to Minna &typed translation, 1816
54 A.L.S. C.F Gauss to Minna & typed translation ,1818
55 A.L.S. C.F. Gauss to Minna & typed translation ,1816
56 A.L.S. C. F. Theresa Gauss to Eugene (2 letters) & translation & commentary, 1855
57 A.L.S C. W. Gauss, 1835
58 A.L.S. Charles Wm Gauss, 1841
59 A.L.S. C. W. Gauss,1859
60 Handwritten booklet,1831
61 List covering years 1815-1846
62 2 list covering years 1812-1854
63 Handwritten list covering years 1812-1854
64 Dunnington’s correspondence with various colleges
65 1902 correspondence
66 1902 correspondence
67 1903 correspondence
68 Handwritten copy of 1856 obituary for C.F. Gauss
69 Bibliography and other material written in German
70 Bibliography and other material written in German
71 Bibliography and other material written in German
72 Bibliography and other material written in German
73 Bibliography and other material written in German
74 Bibliography and other material written in German
75 Catalog of Gauss library, manuscript book
Box
1-15 Pamphlets collected by Dunnington
Series 1. Dunnington Addition
Box 1
Folders 1-6 Correspondence (English), 1855-1958
Box 2
Folders 7-11 “ “, 1959-1979, n.d.
Box 3
Folders 12-13 “ “, 1954-1963
Folders 14-18 Correspondence (German), 1827-1962
Box 4
Folders 19-21 “ “, 1963-1977, n.d.
Folder 22 Other Languages, n.d.
Folder 23 Addressed cards and postcards-English, n.d.
Folders24-25 Addressed cards and postcards-non-English, n.d.
Folder 26 Personal materials, 1908-1979
Box 5
Folders 27-28 “ “, n.d.
Folder 29 Student materials, 1928-1946
Folder 30 High school drawings, 1928
Folder 31 Navy Career, 1942-1945
Folders 32-33 Teaching-related materials, 1926-1956, n.d.
Folder 34 Educational fraternity materials, 1926-1969
Box 6
Folder 35 Austrian student goodwill tour, 1949-1951
Folder 36 Foreign language conference materials, 1946-1964
Folder 37 Book orders and catalogs, 1926-1972
Folder 38 NSU & Robert E. Lee photographs, n.d.
Folder 39 Russell Library materials, 1947-1962
Folder 40 Edith Dunnington (mother) materials, 1921-1958
Folders 41-43 Personal notes, n.d.
Box 7
Folders 44-46 Clippings (English), 1917-1979, n.d.
Folders 47-49 Clippings (German), 1855-1969, n.d.
Folders 50-51 Misc. newspapers and publications, n.d.
Series 2. Gauss
Folder 52 Biography drafts by Dunnington, n.d.
Box 8
Folders 52-58 “ “, n.d.
Box 9
Folders 59-63 “ “, n.d.
Box 10
Folder 64 “ “, n.d.
Folders 65-66 Biography proofs by Dunnington, 1955
Folders 67-70 Publications/papers by Dunnington, n.d.
Box 11
Folder 71 Publications/papers by others, 1915-1925
Folders 72-74 Photographs, n.d.
Folder 75 Prints and drawings, n.d.
Folders 76-77 Misc. material, n.d.
Folders 78-79 Related images and photographs, n.d.
Box 12
Folders 80-82 “ “, n.d.
Series 3. Other scientific/mathematical materials
Folders 83-86 Publications/papers by others, 1923-1967, n.d.
Folder 87 Sir David Brewster, n.d.
Folder 88 Misc. materials, 1904-1970
Series 4. Literature
Box 13
Folders 89-95 Jean Paul papers/publications by Dunnington, n.d.
Folder 96 Jean Paul-related certificate to Dunnington, 1955
Folder 97 Jean Paul papers/publications by others, 1930-1939
Folder 98 Jean Paul misc. materials, 1923-1963
Folder 99 Goethe papers/publications by Dunnington, 1949
Folders 100-102 Goethe misc. materials, 1925-1966, n.d.
Box 14
Folder 103 Literature publication/papers by others, 1886-1937
Folder 104 Related materials, 1936-1961
Series 5. Germany
Box 14 (cont.)
Folder 105 Herr Fritz-Egbert Dohse (visiting German student), 1925-
1957
Folder 106 Heidelberg, 1936-1936
Folder 107 Nuremberg trials material, 1945-1947
Folders 108-109 Misc. publications, 1902-1957
Box 15
Folders 110-111 “ “, 1961-1974, n.d.
Folder 112 Misc. materials, 1967, n.d.
Folder 113 Photographs and images, n.d.
Oversize Addition
9-D-4
OS Box 1 Miscellaneous oversized materials
OS Box 2 Mathematical models
OS Box 3 Atlas Des Erd Magnetismal von Gauss und Weber, 1840
Herodoti Historiarum, 1839
Guestbook (NSU Gauss Archives?), 1969-74
OS Box 4 Slides
OS Box 5 Miscellaneous publications
OS Box 6 One (1) Dunnington family scrapbook
9-B-4
OS Box 7-8 Includes Dunnington's high school yearbooks (with clippings, programs and two photographs), college notes, notes on Gauss, diary, military record book. Also present is a memorial book from Dunnington's 1974 funeral in Natchitoches, Louisiana
