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Collected Works Editorial Committee

General Description

Principal Activities

The Committee is responsible for the selection of collected or selected works of eminent mathematicians for publication. Selection is not limited to the works of those who have died. The Committee is encouraged to be active in soliciting collections and in identifying appropriate editors for these collections for publication.

The principal function of a book editorial committee is to decide the appropriateness of proposed book projects for publication. Because the AMS is competing vigorously with other mathematics publishers, it is extremely important that the committee make its decision in a timely manner, usually within weeks and always within two months’ time.

A committee will often seek the advice of one or more outside experts in order to facilitate its decision process, but this is not always necessary. The AMS Acquisitions Staff is available to help the committee in any possible way, including communication with outside experts suggested by the committee.

Although most proposals will come to a committee from an AMS Acquisitions Editor, the Editorial Committee itself may solicit proposals.

Publishing the collected works (or selecta) of an eminent scholar honors that individual, while at the same time making that person's work conveniently available in printed form. Publications in the series will often include expository articles. These are articles that explain the major ideas and themes and place them in historical and/or current mathematical perspective making these ideas and papers and their significance available to a wider audience. In this sense, a collected/selected works constitutes a prize, but a prize that has value to the community at large in addition to the honoree — a prize that may last for centuries rather than just for a few years.

Miscellaneous Information

The chair will be appointed by the President, upon nomination by the Editorial Boards Committee. The business of this committee, such as communication charges, may be reimbursed by the Society. Travel reimbursement for this committee has been designated at LEVEL B.

Note to the Chair

For the purpose of archiving the committee activities, the Secretary maintains a central file system for archiving committee records. Committee Chairs are asked to submit committee records on yearly basis. Chairs can submit material at their discretion, and some materials that they may wish to provide are meeting minutes, agenda, and emails. Confidential material should be noted, so that it can be handled in a confidential manner.

Authorization

Past Members

A list of current and past members is available here:
http://www.ams.org/about-us/governance/committees/collectwor-past.html