Archives

In the Spring 2023 edition of The Institute Letter, archivist Caitlin Rizzo outlined her research into Thayyoor K. Radha, one of the earliest women of color at the Institute. Radha joined IAS in 1965–66 as a Member, but her continued success was rendered virtually undiscoverable after her marriage saw her change her surname. After reading The Institute Letter, Radha’s daughter reached out to the Archive, allowing more elements of her story to be collected.

Caitlin Rizzo, Archivist at the Institute for Advanced Study's Shelby White and Leon Levy Archives Center, highlights the role she played in bringing Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer to life, and how the film has provided opportunities to share stories not only about the former IAS Director, but about the people around him who helped to push the boundaries of knowledge.

"From our cherished teatime tradition to celebratory dinners, the Institute fosters its unique network of intimacy, illumination, and understanding by gathering its community around the table," writes archivist Caitlin Rizzo. "The Shelby White and Leon Levy Archives Center is home to a range of documents which speak to dining at IAS, from dinner menus to seating charts."

Zhengkai Li, a participant in the 2023 Women in Mathematics program, recounts her recent archival investigations into C.S. Wang Chang, the Institute's first woman of color, who joined the School of Mathematics/Natural Sciences in 1945.

"The Shelby White and Leon Levy Archives Center engages in critical work to sustain and highlight the unique histories that distinguish the Institute for Advanced Study. With this work in mind, the Archives Center would like to shine a spotlight on former Member in the School of Mathematics Hideki Yukawa (1907–1981)."