John L. Kelley
Encyclopedia
John Leroy Kelley was an American mathematician at University of California, Berkeley
who worked in general topology
and functional analysis
.
Kelley's 1955 text, General Topology, which eventually appeared in three editions and several translations, is a classic and widely cited graduate level introduction to topology
. An appendix sets out a new approach to axiomatic set theory, now called Morse–Kelley set theory
, that builds on Von Neumann–Bernays–Gödel set theory
.
After earning B.A. (1936) and M.A. (1937) degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles
, he went to the University of Virginia
, where he obtained his Ph.D. in 1940. Gordon Whyburn, a student of Robert Lee Moore
, supervised his thesis, titled A study of hyperspaces. He taught at the University of Notre Dame
until the outbreak of World War II
. From 1942 to 1945, he did mathematics for the war effort at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, where his work unit included his future Berkeley colleagues Anthony Morse
and Charles Morrey
. After teaching at the University of Chicago
, 1946-47, Kelley spent the rest of his career at Berkeley, from which he retired in 1985. He chaired the Mathematics Department at Berkeley 1957-60 and 1975-80. He held visiting appointments at Cambridge University and the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur, India.
In 1950, Kelley was one of 29 tenured Berkeley faculty (3 of whom were members of the Mathematics Department) dismissed for refusing to sign a McCarthy-era
loyalty oath
mandated by the UC Board of Regents. He then taught at Tulane University
and the University of Kansas
. He returned to Berkeley in 1953, after the California Supreme Court declared the oath unconstitutional and directed Berkeley to rehire the dismissed academics. He was later an outspoken opponent of the Vietnam War
.
Kelley's interest in teaching extended well beyond the higher reaches of mathematics. In 1960, he took a leave of absence to serve as the National Teacher on NBC
's Continental Classroom television program. He was an active member of the School Mathematics Study Group
(SMSG) which played an important role in designing and promulgating the "new math
" of that era. In 1964, he led his department to introduce a new major called Mathematics for Teachers, and later taught one of its core courses. These endeavors culminated in the text Kelley and Richert (1970). In 1977-78, he was a member of the U.S. Commission on Mathematical Instruction.
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
who worked in general topology
Topology
Topology is a major area of mathematics concerned with properties that are preserved under continuous deformations of objects, such as deformations that involve stretching, but no tearing or gluing...
and functional analysis
Functional analysis
Functional analysis is a branch of mathematical analysis, the core of which is formed by the study of vector spaces endowed with some kind of limit-related structure and the linear operators acting upon these spaces and respecting these structures in a suitable sense...
.
Kelley's 1955 text, General Topology, which eventually appeared in three editions and several translations, is a classic and widely cited graduate level introduction to topology
Topology
Topology is a major area of mathematics concerned with properties that are preserved under continuous deformations of objects, such as deformations that involve stretching, but no tearing or gluing...
. An appendix sets out a new approach to axiomatic set theory, now called Morse–Kelley set theory
Morse–Kelley set theory
In the foundation of mathematics, Morse–Kelley set theory or Kelley–Morse set theory is a first order axiomatic set theory that is closely related to von Neumann–Bernays–Gödel set theory...
, that builds on Von Neumann–Bernays–Gödel set theory
Von Neumann–Bernays–Gödel set theory
In the foundations of mathematics, von Neumann–Bernays–Gödel set theory is an axiomatic set theory that is a conservative extension of the canonical axiomatic set theory ZFC. A statement in the language of ZFC is provable in NBG if and only if it is provable in ZFC. The ontology of NBG includes...
.
After earning B.A. (1936) and M.A. (1937) degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
, he went to the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, where he obtained his Ph.D. in 1940. Gordon Whyburn, a student of Robert Lee Moore
Robert Lee Moore
Robert Lee Moore was an American mathematician, known for his work in general topology and the Moore method of teaching university mathematics.-Life:...
, supervised his thesis, titled A study of hyperspaces. He taught at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
until the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. From 1942 to 1945, he did mathematics for the war effort at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, where his work unit included his future Berkeley colleagues Anthony Morse
Anthony Morse
Anthony Perry Morse was an American mathematician who worked in both analysis, especially measure theory, and in the foundations of mathematics. He is best known as the co-creator, together with John L. Kelley, of Morse–Kelley set theory. This theory first appeared in print in General...
and Charles Morrey
Charles B. Morrey, Jr.
Charles Bradfield Morrey Jr. was an American mathematician who made fundamental contributions to the calculus of variations and the theory of partial differential equations.- Life :Charles Bradfield Morrey Jr...
. After teaching at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, 1946-47, Kelley spent the rest of his career at Berkeley, from which he retired in 1985. He chaired the Mathematics Department at Berkeley 1957-60 and 1975-80. He held visiting appointments at Cambridge University and the Indian Institute of Technology in Kanpur, India.
In 1950, Kelley was one of 29 tenured Berkeley faculty (3 of whom were members of the Mathematics Department) dismissed for refusing to sign a McCarthy-era
McCarthyism
McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence. The term has its origins in the period in the United States known as the Second Red Scare, lasting roughly from the late 1940s to the late 1950s and characterized by...
loyalty oath
Loyalty oath
A loyalty oath is an oath of loyalty to an organization, institution, or state of which an individual is a member.In this context, a loyalty oath is distinct from pledge or oath of allegiance...
mandated by the UC Board of Regents. He then taught at Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
and the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
. He returned to Berkeley in 1953, after the California Supreme Court declared the oath unconstitutional and directed Berkeley to rehire the dismissed academics. He was later an outspoken opponent of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
Kelley's interest in teaching extended well beyond the higher reaches of mathematics. In 1960, he took a leave of absence to serve as the National Teacher on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's Continental Classroom television program. He was an active member of the School Mathematics Study Group
School Mathematics Study Group
The School Mathematics Study Group was an American academic think tank focused on the subject of reform in mathematics education. Directed by Edward G...
(SMSG) which played an important role in designing and promulgating the "new math
New math
New Mathematics or New Math was a brief, dramatic change in the way mathematics was taught in American grade schools, and to a lesser extent in European countries, during the 1960s. The name is commonly given to a set of teaching practices introduced in the U.S...
" of that era. In 1964, he led his department to introduce a new major called Mathematics for Teachers, and later taught one of its core courses. These endeavors culminated in the text Kelley and Richert (1970). In 1977-78, he was a member of the U.S. Commission on Mathematical Instruction.
Books by Kelley
- 1953 (with Edward J. McShane and Franklin V. Reno). Exterior ballistics. The University of Denver Press
- 1955. General topology. van Nostrand. Reprinted (1975) by Springer Verlag. ISBN 0-387-90125-6
- 1963 (with Isaac Namioka et al.). Linear Topological Spaces. Van Nostrand.
- 1970 (with Donald Richert). Elementary Mathematics for Teachers.