A little-known chapter in the history of German mathematics (Q581370)

Editor's note: ``Walter Kaufmann-Bühler enjoyed writing imaginary history. This article, along with a few biographies of nonexistent mathematicians, was found among his papers''. The article is concerned with the ``earlier efforts to set up a similar establishment [to the Max- Planck-Institut for Mathematics in Bonn] devoted to the development of German mathematics'' at the end of the past century. The author gives a detailed description of the vicissitudes involved for the creation of such an establishment. The year 1895 ``marks the final decline of the Berlin group and Althoff''. ``When the Kaiser Wilhelm-Institut was set up by Adolph von Harnack, clearly there was no need to consider mathematics... Never before since has German mathematics been as strong as been 1895 and 1933''. Letter to the Editor: Math. Intell. 9, No.4, 23 (1987). Walter Kaufmann- Bühler. This letter to the Editor, concerned with the shocking and untimely death of Math. Intell.'s editor, announces the existence of a memorial fund set up in his name.