Editorial

Abstract

This issue of Groups Geometry and Dynamics is dedicated to Wilhelm Magnus in a celebration of his life and his work. Magnus was born on February 5, 1907 and died on October 15, 1990 and he left behind him a great body of work which touched on a number of very different branches of mathematics including group theory, Lie rings, differential equations and special functions. This breadth of mathematical interest was reflected in other facets of Magnus’ character, his love of the outdoors, his interest in and collection of minerals, his vitality and wit and extraordinary generosity. To us he was a friend, a colleague and a mentor. We were very much enriched by his presence. His excellence as a mathematician and a human being and his enthusiastic support enhanced our lives and opportunities. This issue has been put together to honor his memory. Magnus’ work includes 8 books and more than 50 articles. References and reproductions of most of his articles are contained in the volume Wilhelm Magnus, Collected papers, edited and with introductory material by Gilbert Baumslag and Bruce Chandler, Springer-Verlag, New York, 1984. It seems appropriate to attach here a reference to the remarks offered by Dr. Harry Hochstadt regarding Wilhelm Magnus in observance of the centennial of Magnus’s birth several years ago: www.cims.nyu.edu/alumni/events/magnus_hochstadt.pdf. The photographs of Magnus were taken from www-history.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/PictDisplay/Magnus.html.

Gilbert Baumslag, Rostislav Grigorchuk and Charles F. Miller III