New Rochelle in Westchester County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Richard Courant & Kurt Friedrichs

(1888 - 1972) (1901 - 1892)

— New Rochelle Walk of Fame —

Richard Courant & Kurt Friedrichs Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 19, 2025

1. Richard Courant & Kurt Friedrichs Marker

Inscription.

Richard Courant and Kurt Friedrichs. , Richard Courant and Kurt Friedrichs were co-founders of The Courant Institute of Mathematical Science , a division of New York University that serves as a center for research and advanced training in computer science and mathematics. The Institute, named after Richard Courant, is considered to be one of the most prestigious and leading mathematics schools and mathematical sciences research centers in the world., Richard Courant was born in Lublinitz in the German Empire's Prussian province of Silesia. He came to New York University in 1934 as a visiting professor after having left his position as director of the Mathematics Institute at the University of Göttingen in Germany. In 1935, he was invited to build up NYU's Department of Mathematics at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. He was joined by Kurt Friedrichs and James Stoker, and together they formed a research group that became the Courant Institute., Apart from his outstanding organizational talent, Courant is well remembered both for his mathematical achievements and for his conviction that pure mathematics had practical applications. He and David Hilbert authored the influential textbook Methods of Mathematical Physics, and he coauthored What is Mathematics? with Herbert Robbins., Kurt Otto Friedrichs was born in Kiel, Germany. Before coming to this country in 1937, he taught at the Aerodynamics Institute in Aachen and the Institute of Technology in Braunschweig. Friedrichs' greatest contribution to applied mathematics was his work on partial differential equations, operators in Hilbert space, perturbation theory and bifurcation theory. In 1972, he was the recipient of the National Academy of Science Award in Applied Mathematics and in 1977 President Jimmy Carter presented him with the National Medal of Science., Both Courant and Friedrichs were long-time New Rochelle residents and good friends. Courant lived at 142 Calton Road and Friedrichs at 24 Lester Place. Other Courant Institute faculty members who resided in New Rochelle included Fritz John, Harold Grad and Wilhelm Magnus.

Richard Courant and Kurt Friedrichs were co-founders of The Courant Institute of Mathematical Science — a division of New York University that serves as a center for research and advanced training in computer science and mathematics. The Institute, named after Richard Courant, is considered to be one of the most prestigious and leading mathematics schools and mathematical sciences research centers in the world.

Richard Courant was born in Lublinitz in the German Empire's Prussian province of Silesia. He came to New York University in 1934 as a visiting professor after having left his position as director of the Mathematics Institute at the University of Göttingen in Germany. In 1935, he was invited to build up NYU's Department of Mathematics at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. He was joined by Kurt Friedrichs and James Stoker, and together they formed a research group that became the Courant Institute.

Apart from his outstanding organizational talent, Courant is well remembered both for his mathematical achievements and for his conviction that pure mathematics had practical applications. He and David Hilbert authored the influential textbook Methods of Mathematical Physics, and he coauthored What is Mathematics? with Herbert Robbins.

Kurt Otto Friedrichs was born in Kiel, Germany.

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Before coming to this country in 1937, he taught at the Aerodynamics Institute in Aachen and the Institute of Technology in Braunschweig. Friedrichs' greatest contribution to applied mathematics was his work on partial differential equations, operators in Hilbert space, perturbation theory and bifurcation theory. In 1972, he was the recipient of the National Academy of Science Award in Applied Mathematics and in 1977 President Jimmy Carter presented him with the National Medal of Science.

Both Courant and Friedrichs were long-time New Rochelle residents and good friends. Courant lived at 142 Calton Road and Friedrichs at 24 Lester Place. Other Courant Institute faculty members who resided in New Rochelle included Fritz John, Harold Grad and Wilhelm Magnus.

Erected by City of New Rochelle, NY; New Rochelle Downtown Business District.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Immigration • Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1934.

Location. 40° 54.618′ N, 73° 46.992′ W. Marker is in New Rochelle, New York, in Westchester County. It is on Huguenot Street (U.S. 1) south of Lawton Street, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 264 Huguenot St, New Rochelle NY 10801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Hudson Valley

and in the New York City Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), April 19, 2025

2. Richard Courant & Kurt Friedrichs Marker

markers are within walking distance of this marker: Adrian Iselin and Family (here, next to this marker); Don Hewett (here, next to this marker); Ellabelle Davis (here, next to this marker); Whitney M. Young, Jr. (here, next to this marker); Madame Alexander (here, next to this marker); John Stephenson (a few steps from this marker); Pearl Primus (a few steps from this marker); Elia Kazan (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Rochelle.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 24, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 123 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 24, 2025, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.