Banach's doctorate: a case of mistaken identity (Q6169266)

The authors of this enjoyable paper discuss the validity of several popular stories about the famous Polish mathematician Stefan Banach. For example, it is indeed true that the mathematical genius of Banach was discovered by Hugo Steinhaus, who overheard a mathematical conversation between Banach and Otto Nikodym in the Planty Park of Kraków. But, contrary to some sources, Katarzyna Banach was the name of Banach's biological mother (not his foster mother); Banach obtained his doctorate in a standard way (the dissertation was written by himself instead of being compiled by an assistant, and he underwent standard exams instead of being questioned during a supposedly accidental conversation); Wiener never offered Banach a position in the United States with an arbitrarily high salary. The authors also identify the sources of these erroneous stories.