[Feynman, Richard P.]

A REVEALING COLLECTION OF ACADEMIC RECORDS FROM FEYNMAN'S ADOLESCENCE AND YOUNG ADULTHOOD, INCLUDING HIS MIT DIPLOMA AND A PHOTOGRAPH OF HIS CHILDHOOD CHEMISTRY LAB

These records chart Richard Feynman's academic achievement from middle school through the end of university. They show a capable and talented student, although one clearly more interested in math and science than the humanities and social sciences. Nevertheless, he received high marks in courses such as English and Civics, and perhaps surprisingly, was awarded departmental honors in English at his high school graduation. Unsurprisingly, he received departmental honors in Mathematics and Science, and was awarded both the Algebra League medal and the Mathematics and Science medal by Far Rockaway High School.

Included in this lot is Melville Feynman's letter to W.B. Plank, the Director of the Lafayette Engineering Conference, dated June 6, 1935, in which he says, "At a very early age [Richard's] mind took a scientific turn and we encouraged him. He has a small laboratory of his own manufacture, in his home and spends all of his spare time there." A photo of this lab, which Richard Feynman references numerous times in "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!", is included in this lot.

REFERENCES:

Feynman, Richard P. "Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!" Adventures of a Curious Character. New York: Norton, 2018 [1985], pp. 21-23, 74.