J. H. C Whitehead (and his pig)
I am actually completing Master's Thesis on Lawson Homology. In order to do this, I am writing an appendix on Higher Homotopy Groups. Now, as you know, one of the most important Homotopy theorists ever is J. H. C. Whitehead and much of the standard material on homotopy groups etc. is due to him. So, in his honor, I would like to include in my thesis a picture of him. Searching on Google, I found the following (funny) picture of Whitehead.
Now I am wondering if there is some story or funny fact behind this picture. Any anecdote is well accepted.
ho.history-overview
asked Jan 3 at 17:25
Vincenzo ZaccaroVincenzo Zaccaro
632514
|
show 15 more comments
I am actually completing Master's Thesis on Lawson Homology. In order to do this, I am writing an appendix on Higher Homotopy Groups. Now, as you know, one of the most important Homotopy theorists ever is J. H. C. Whitehead and much of the standard material on homotopy groups etc. is due to him. So, in his honor, I would like to include in my thesis a picture of him. Searching on Google, I found the following (funny) picture of Whitehead.
Now I am wondering if there is some story or funny fact behind this picture. Any anecdote is well accepted.
ho.history-overview
asked Jan 3 at 17:25
Vincenzo ZaccaroVincenzo Zaccaro
632514
34
Best ever off-topic question on MathOverflow!
– Jeremy Rickard
Jan 3 at 17:30
10
This may get closed as answers may end up being primarily oswinion based. Gerhard "Can Think Of Other Reasons" Paseman, 2019.01.03.
– Gerhard Paseman
Jan 3 at 17:44
8
but note the following paragraph which states that he lived on a farm: "Whitehead's father died in 1947 and his mother died six years later in 1953. She had owned a small farm and when Whitehead inherited the cattle he and his wife decided to buy Manor Farm in Noke, north of Oxford. The farm was run mainly by Whitehead's wife but he took a keen interest in the farm where the couple lived until Whitehead's death."
– j.c.
Jan 3 at 17:46
13
Or maybe ham.stackexchange.com
– Gerry Myerson
Jan 3 at 20:16
8
@GerhardPaseman Obviously it is opignon-based.
– Danny Ruberman
Jan 4 at 1:33
|
show 15 more comments
I am actually completing Master's Thesis on Lawson Homology. In order to do this, I am writing an appendix on Higher Homotopy Groups. Now, as you know, one of the most important Homotopy theorists ever is J. H. C. Whitehead and much of the standard material on homotopy groups etc. is due to him. So, in his honor, I would like to include in my thesis a picture of him. Searching on Google, I found the following (funny) picture of Whitehead.
Now I am wondering if there is some story or funny fact behind this picture. Any anecdote is well accepted.
ho.history-overview
asked Jan 3 at 17:25
Vincenzo ZaccaroVincenzo Zaccaro
632514
I am actually completing Master's Thesis on Lawson Homology. In order to do this, I am writing an appendix on Higher Homotopy Groups. Now, as you know, one of the most important Homotopy theorists ever is J. H. C. Whitehead and much of the standard material on homotopy groups etc. is due to him. So, in his honor, I would like to include in my thesis a picture of him. Searching on Google, I found the following (funny) picture of Whitehead.
Now I am wondering if there is some story or funny fact behind this picture. Any anecdote is well accepted.
ho.history-overview
ho.history-overview
asked Jan 3 at 17:25
Vincenzo ZaccaroVincenzo Zaccaro
632514
asked Jan 3 at 17:25
Vincenzo ZaccaroVincenzo Zaccaro
632514
asked Jan 3 at 17:25
Vincenzo ZaccaroVincenzo Zaccaro
632514
asked Jan 3 at 17:25
Vincenzo ZaccaroVincenzo Zaccaro
632514
asked Jan 3 at 17:25
Vincenzo ZaccaroVincenzo Zaccaro
632514
632514
34
Best ever off-topic question on MathOverflow!
– Jeremy Rickard
Jan 3 at 17:30
10
This may get closed as answers may end up being primarily oswinion based. Gerhard "Can Think Of Other Reasons" Paseman, 2019.01.03.
– Gerhard Paseman
Jan 3 at 17:44
8
but note the following paragraph which states that he lived on a farm: "Whitehead's father died in 1947 and his mother died six years later in 1953. She had owned a small farm and when Whitehead inherited the cattle he and his wife decided to buy Manor Farm in Noke, north of Oxford. The farm was run mainly by Whitehead's wife but he took a keen interest in the farm where the couple lived until Whitehead's death."
– j.c.
Jan 3 at 17:46
13
Or maybe ham.stackexchange.com
– Gerry Myerson
Jan 3 at 20:16
8
@GerhardPaseman Obviously it is opignon-based.
– Danny Ruberman
Jan 4 at 1:33
|
show 15 more comments
34
Best ever off-topic question on MathOverflow!
– Jeremy Rickard
Jan 3 at 17:30
10
This may get closed as answers may end up being primarily oswinion based. Gerhard "Can Think Of Other Reasons" Paseman, 2019.01.03.
– Gerhard Paseman
Jan 3 at 17:44
8
but note the following paragraph which states that he lived on a farm: "Whitehead's father died in 1947 and his mother died six years later in 1953. She had owned a small farm and when Whitehead inherited the cattle he and his wife decided to buy Manor Farm in Noke, north of Oxford. The farm was run mainly by Whitehead's wife but he took a keen interest in the farm where the couple lived until Whitehead's death."
– j.c.
Jan 3 at 17:46
13
Or maybe ham.stackexchange.com
– Gerry Myerson
Jan 3 at 20:16
8
@GerhardPaseman Obviously it is opignon-based.
– Danny Ruberman
Jan 4 at 1:33
34
34
Best ever off-topic question on MathOverflow!
– Jeremy Rickard
Jan 3 at 17:30
Best ever off-topic question on MathOverflow!
– Jeremy Rickard
Jan 3 at 17:30
10
10
This may get closed as answers may end up being primarily oswinion based. Gerhard "Can Think Of Other Reasons" Paseman, 2019.01.03.
– Gerhard Paseman
Jan 3 at 17:44
This may get closed as answers may end up being primarily oswinion based. Gerhard "Can Think Of Other Reasons" Paseman, 2019.01.03.
– Gerhard Paseman
Jan 3 at 17:44
8
8
but note the following paragraph which states that he lived on a farm: "Whitehead's father died in 1947 and his mother died six years later in 1953. She had owned a small farm and when Whitehead inherited the cattle he and his wife decided to buy Manor Farm in Noke, north of Oxford. The farm was run mainly by Whitehead's wife but he took a keen interest in the farm where the couple lived until Whitehead's death."
– j.c.
Jan 3 at 17:46
but note the following paragraph which states that he lived on a farm: "Whitehead's father died in 1947 and his mother died six years later in 1953. She had owned a small farm and when Whitehead inherited the cattle he and his wife decided to buy Manor Farm in Noke, north of Oxford. The farm was run mainly by Whitehead's wife but he took a keen interest in the farm where the couple lived until Whitehead's death."
– j.c.
Jan 3 at 17:46
13
13
Or maybe ham.stackexchange.com
– Gerry Myerson
Jan 3 at 20:16
Or maybe ham.stackexchange.com
– Gerry Myerson
Jan 3 at 20:16
8
8
@GerhardPaseman Obviously it is opignon-based.
– Danny Ruberman
Jan 4 at 1:33
@GerhardPaseman Obviously it is opignon-based.
– Danny Ruberman
Jan 4 at 1:33
|
show 15 more comments
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
The first record I found of this photograph is in Oxford Figures: Eight Centuries of the Mathematical Sciences. Professor Michael Atiyah shares some recollections of J.H.C. Whitehead and his pigs:
See also an interview with Atiyah at Oxford Mathematics Interviews. (Whitehead and pigs enter at the two-minute mark.)
This might explain why Whitehead liked pigs:
• Henry Whitehead, whose school of topology attracted scholars from around the world, was a keen pig farmer: he claimed to derive mathematical inspiration by scratching his pigs’ backs for an hour every afternoon.
source: Oxford Mathematical Institute Spring Newsletter
answered Jan 3 at 17:56
Carlo BeenakkerCarlo Beenakker
74k9168275
Out of curiosity how do you remember in which video Atiyah said about Whitehead's pig :D :D
– Praphulla Koushik
Jan 3 at 18:26
add a comment |
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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The first record I found of this photograph is in Oxford Figures: Eight Centuries of the Mathematical Sciences. Professor Michael Atiyah shares some recollections of J.H.C. Whitehead and his pigs:
See also an interview with Atiyah at Oxford Mathematics Interviews. (Whitehead and pigs enter at the two-minute mark.)
This might explain why Whitehead liked pigs:
• Henry Whitehead, whose school of topology attracted scholars from around the world, was a keen pig farmer: he claimed to derive mathematical inspiration by scratching his pigs’ backs for an hour every afternoon.
source: Oxford Mathematical Institute Spring Newsletter
answered Jan 3 at 17:56
Carlo BeenakkerCarlo Beenakker
74k9168275
Out of curiosity how do you remember in which video Atiyah said about Whitehead's pig :D :D
– Praphulla Koushik
Jan 3 at 18:26
add a comment |
The first record I found of this photograph is in Oxford Figures: Eight Centuries of the Mathematical Sciences. Professor Michael Atiyah shares some recollections of J.H.C. Whitehead and his pigs:
See also an interview with Atiyah at Oxford Mathematics Interviews. (Whitehead and pigs enter at the two-minute mark.)
This might explain why Whitehead liked pigs:
• Henry Whitehead, whose school of topology attracted scholars from around the world, was a keen pig farmer: he claimed to derive mathematical inspiration by scratching his pigs’ backs for an hour every afternoon.
source: Oxford Mathematical Institute Spring Newsletter
answered Jan 3 at 17:56
Carlo BeenakkerCarlo Beenakker
74k9168275
Out of curiosity how do you remember in which video Atiyah said about Whitehead's pig :D :D
– Praphulla Koushik
Jan 3 at 18:26
add a comment |
The first record I found of this photograph is in Oxford Figures: Eight Centuries of the Mathematical Sciences. Professor Michael Atiyah shares some recollections of J.H.C. Whitehead and his pigs:
See also an interview with Atiyah at Oxford Mathematics Interviews. (Whitehead and pigs enter at the two-minute mark.)
This might explain why Whitehead liked pigs:
• Henry Whitehead, whose school of topology attracted scholars from around the world, was a keen pig farmer: he claimed to derive mathematical inspiration by scratching his pigs’ backs for an hour every afternoon.
source: Oxford Mathematical Institute Spring Newsletter
answered Jan 3 at 17:56
Carlo BeenakkerCarlo Beenakker
74k9168275
The first record I found of this photograph is in Oxford Figures: Eight Centuries of the Mathematical Sciences. Professor Michael Atiyah shares some recollections of J.H.C. Whitehead and his pigs:
See also an interview with Atiyah at Oxford Mathematics Interviews. (Whitehead and pigs enter at the two-minute mark.)
This might explain why Whitehead liked pigs:
• Henry Whitehead, whose school of topology attracted scholars from around the world, was a keen pig farmer: he claimed to derive mathematical inspiration by scratching his pigs’ backs for an hour every afternoon.
source: Oxford Mathematical Institute Spring Newsletter
answered Jan 3 at 17:56
Carlo BeenakkerCarlo Beenakker
74k9168275
edited Jan 3 at 18:40
answered Jan 3 at 17:56
Carlo BeenakkerCarlo Beenakker
74k9168275
answered Jan 3 at 17:56
Carlo BeenakkerCarlo Beenakker
74k9168275
answered Jan 3 at 17:56
Carlo BeenakkerCarlo Beenakker
74k9168275
74k9168275
Out of curiosity how do you remember in which video Atiyah said about Whitehead's pig :D :D
– Praphulla Koushik
Jan 3 at 18:26
add a comment |
Out of curiosity how do you remember in which video Atiyah said about Whitehead's pig :D :D
– Praphulla Koushik
Jan 3 at 18:26
Out of curiosity how do you remember in which video Atiyah said about Whitehead's pig :D :D
– Praphulla Koushik
Jan 3 at 18:26
Out of curiosity how do you remember in which video Atiyah said about Whitehead's pig :D :D
– Praphulla Koushik
Jan 3 at 18:26
add a comment |
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34
Best ever off-topic question on MathOverflow!
– Jeremy Rickard
Jan 3 at 17:30
10
This may get closed as answers may end up being primarily oswinion based. Gerhard "Can Think Of Other Reasons" Paseman, 2019.01.03.
– Gerhard Paseman
Jan 3 at 17:44
8
but note the following paragraph which states that he lived on a farm: "Whitehead's father died in 1947 and his mother died six years later in 1953. She had owned a small farm and when Whitehead inherited the cattle he and his wife decided to buy Manor Farm in Noke, north of Oxford. The farm was run mainly by Whitehead's wife but he took a keen interest in the farm where the couple lived until Whitehead's death."
– j.c.
Jan 3 at 17:46
13
Or maybe ham.stackexchange.com
– Gerry Myerson
Jan 3 at 20:16
8
@GerhardPaseman Obviously it is opignon-based.
– Danny Ruberman
Jan 4 at 1:33