Hermann Weyl's 1945 Memo Ranks the Top Mathematicians and Physicists for the IAS
Hermann Weyl – Frank Aydelotte memorandum (1945)
In 1945, Hermann Weyl and Frank Aydelotte evaluated leading theoretical physicists and mathematicians for the Institute for Advanced Study. Weyl's blunt rankings place Bohr and Einstein at the top, with Pauli, Dirac, and Fermi in the second tier. Mathematicians include Siegel, Artin, and Zariski, with candid notes on their strengths and weaknesses. The memo offers a rare, unfiltered look at how one genius judged his peers.
There is no doubt that if we cannot get Siegel we should have to come down several steps for an appointment in mathematics.