Edward Switzer Allen
Edward Switzer Allen was born in Kansas City on December 12, 1887. He
received an A.B. (1909), A.M. (1910) and a Ph. D (1914) from Harvard University
in Geometry. He attended the University of Rome (1911-1913) in Italy under a
Harvard fellowship and later, during the 1931-1932 academic school year, Dr.
Allen spent time at the University of Berlin in Germany listening to the
lectures of; Albert Einstein, E. Schrödinger and Richard von Mises.
Before coming to Iowa State University as an Associate Professor (1921), Dr.
Allen served as an Instructor of Mathematics on the faculties at Dartmouth
(1913), Brown University (1914), and the University of Michigan (1915-1919). Dr.
Allen was also an Associate Professor at West Virginia University (1919-1921).
During his tenure at Iowa State (College) University he was a Professor of
Mathematics from 1943-1985 and was a visiting Professor at Grinnell College
(1960-1962), at Cottey College (1964-1964) and at Wartburg College (1967-1969).
Dr. Allen's main area of research concerned algebraic geometry, applications of
mathematics to chemistry, enumeration and probability.
Dr. Allen was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi, and served on the Iowa State
University Art Committee. He was a member of American Association of University
Professors, American Mathematical Society, the Mathematical Association of
America, The Circolo Matematico di Palermo in Italy, and a member of Deutsche
MathematikerVereiningungg in Germany.
He was a member of the American Civil Liberties Union and a founder of the Iowa
Civil Liberties Union (1935) where he served as president for several terms. A
book titled "Freedom in Iowa" was written by Dr. Allen dealing with this
organization in Iowa. He also wrote and translated many books about mathematics.
Together with his wife Minne, Dr. Allen entertained numerous foreign students
and faculty through an Iowa State club called the Cosmopolitan Club and worked
diligently for civil liberties.
Edward Switzer Allen died May 8, 1985.
Minne Müller-Liebenwalde was born February 7, 1887 in Sondershausen, Germany.
She earned a B.S. from Iowa State College. At Iowa State she taught Sociology
and was promoted to Assistant Professor. She held this position until Iowa State
passed a law forbidding members of the same family to be in their employ.
Minne Allen was a member of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom,
Fellowship of Reconciliation, Ames Friends Meeting, and United Church Women.
Along with her husband she did a wide range of peace activist ambassadorships.
Together Edward and Minne Allen had 2 sons named Julius and Herman. They also
had a daughter named Rosemarie.
Minne died September 9, 1980.
