Herbert John Ryser was a professor of mathematics, widely regarded as one of the major figures in combinatorics

Combinatorics

Combinatorics is a branch of mathematics concerning the study of finite or countable discrete structures. Aspects of combinatorics include counting the structures of a given kind and size , deciding when certain criteria can be met, and constructing and analyzing objects meeting the criteria ,...

 in the 20th century. He is the namesake of the Bruck–Ryser theorem and Ryser's formula for the computation of the permanent of a matrix.

Early life

Herbert John Ryser was born to the family of Fred G. and Edna (Huels) Ryser. He received B.A. (1945), M.A. (1947), and Ph.D. (1948) from the University of Wisconsin. His doctoral thesis "Rational Vector Spaces" was supervised by Cornelius Joseph Everett, Jr. and Cyrus C. MacDuffee

Cyrus Colton MacDuffee

Cyrus Colton MacDuffee from Oneida, New York was a professor of mathematics at University of Wisconsin.He wrote a number of influential research papers in abstract algebra...

, being Everett's only doctoral student.

Career

After his Ph.D., Ryser spent a year at Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study

Institute for Advanced Study

The Institute for Advanced Study, located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States, is an independent postgraduate center for theoretical research and intellectual inquiry. It was founded in 1930 by Abraham Flexner...

, then joined the faculty of Ohio State University

Ohio State University

The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...

. In 1962 he took a professorship at Syracuse University

Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...

, and in 1967 moved to Caltech.

Ryser contributed to the theory of combinatorial design

Combinatorial design

Combinatorial design theory is the part of combinatorial mathematics that deals with the existence and construction of systems of finite sets whose intersections have specified numerical properties....

s, finite set systems, the permanent

Permanent

The permanent of a square matrix in linear algebra, is a function of the matrix similar to the determinant. The permanent, as well as the determinant, is a polynomial in the entries of the matrix...

, combinatorial functions, and to many other topics in combinatorics.. For many years, Ryser served as editor of the Journal of Combinatorial Theory

Journal of Combinatorial Theory

The Journal of Combinatorial Theory, Series A and Series B, are mathematical journals specializing in combinatorics and related areas. They are published by Elsevier. Series A is concerned primarily with structures, designs, and applications of combinatorics. Series B is concerned primarily with...

, Linear and Multilinear algebra

Multilinear algebra

In mathematics, multilinear algebra extends the methods of linear algebra. Just as linear algebra is built on the concept of a vector and develops the theory of vector spaces, multilinear algebra builds on the concepts of p-vectors and multivectors with Grassmann algebra.-Origin:In a vector space...

, and the Journal of Algebra

Journal of Algebra

Journal of Algebra is a leading international mathematical research journal in algebra. An imprint of Academic Press, it is presently published by Elsevier. Journal of Algebra was founded by Graham Higman, who was its editor from 1964 to 1984. From 1985 until 2000, Walter Feit served as its...

. Ryser's estate funded an endowment creating undergraduate mathematics scholarships at Caltech known as the H. J. Ryser Scholarships.

The Journal of Combinatorial Theory

Journal of Combinatorial Theory

The Journal of Combinatorial Theory, Series A and Series B, are mathematical journals specializing in combinatorics and related areas. They are published by Elsevier. Series A is concerned primarily with structures, designs, and applications of combinatorics. Series B is concerned primarily with...

 Series A denoted two issues after Ryser's passing as the "Herbert J. Ryser Memorial Issue", parts 1 and 2.

Books

• Combinatorial Mathematics (1963), #14 of the Carus Mathematical Monographs
  Carus Mathematical Monographs
  The Carus Mathematical Monographs is a monograph series published by the Mathematical Association of America. Books in this series are intended to appeal to a wide range of readers in mathematics and science...
  
  , published by the Mathematical Association of America
  Mathematical Association of America
  The Mathematical Association of America is a professional society that focuses on mathematics accessible at the undergraduate level. Members include university, college, and high school teachers; graduate and undergraduate students; pure and applied mathematicians; computer scientists;...
  
  . ISBN 0-88385-014-1. Republished and translated into several languages.