V O L . 1 3 , D O C . 6 1 a O N M A X A B R A H A M 1 3 ALS (Christie’s online auction sale 16447, 2–9 May 2018, lot 23). [97 150]. [1] A week earlier, Maja had informed Einstein that her husband, Paul, had contracted severe pleu- risy and was concerned about many issues (see Maja Winteler-Einstein to Einstein, 7 December 1921 [Vol. 12, Doc. 315]). [2] Einstein had alluded to Elsa’s poor health a month previously (see Einstein to Ilse Einstein, 9 November 1921 [Vol. 12, Doc. 292]). Elsa’s daughters Ilse (1897–1934) and Margot (1899–1986). [3] Einstein had visited the Netherlands from 3 November until approximately 21 November to give his annual lectures. He had given two lectures at the University of Leyden on 11 and 18 November (see De Telegraaf, 19 November 1921, ME). Further lectures were canceled as he traveled to Düsseldorf. [4] Either the Schweizer Kreditanstalt or the Zürcher Kantonalbank. Paul Winteler had recently vis- ited Zurich in the matter of their respective shares in the Schweizerische Auer-Aktien-Gesellschaft (see Maja Winteler-Einstein to Einstein, 7 December 1921 [Vol. 12, Doc. 315]). [5] His opinion was solicited in a case of patent infringement between Signal Co. and Atlas Works (see “Court Expert Opinion in the Matter of Signal Co. vs. Atlas Works,” ca. 3 December 1921, and “Court Expert Opinion in the Matter of Atlas Works vs. Signal Co.,” 3 December 1921 [Vol. 7, Docs. 66, 67]). [6] Einstein had visited Italy with his son Hans Albert in the second half of October. He had given lectures at the universities of Bologna and Padua and visited Maja and Paul in Florence (see Vol. 12, Calendar, entries for 16–29 October 1921). Vol. 13, 61a. Reference for Max Abraham [Berlin, after 22 February 1922][1] Abraham[2] ist ohne Zweifel einer der begabtesten und verdientesten heute le- benden Forscher auf dem Gebiete der mathematischen Physik. Der Schwerpunkt seiner Begabung liegt dabei nicht auf dem Gebiete der physikalischen Ideenbil- dung sondern der mathematischen Gestaltung. Ich halte den Gedanken, ihn zum Lehrer der Mathematik an einer technischen Hochschule zu machen für einen sehr glücklichen denn er vereint die Schärfe wissenschaftlicher Begriffsbildung auf rein mathematischem Gebiet mit einer selten reichen Kenntnis angewandter Mathematik. Ich bin der Überzeugung, dass unter den mir bekannten Männern des Inlandes kein in Betracht kommender existiert, der ihm an Eignung für eine derar- tige Lehrtätigkeit gleich käme.[3] TTr. [95 889]. [1] Dated from the request by Theodor von Kármán (see the following note). [2] Abraham (1875–1922) was German-Jewish Professor of Physics at the Technical University of Stuttgart. Einstein wrote in support of Abraham’s candidacy for a mathematics professorship at the Technical University of Aachen at the request of Theodor von Kármán (1881–1963), Hungarian-born German-Jewish Professor of Aerodynamics and Mechanics in Aachen (see Theodor von Kármán to Einstein, 22 February 1922 [Vol. 13, Doc. 61]). [3] Abraham received and accepted a call to Aachen, but died in Munich in November 1922 before he could take up his duties.
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