American mathematician (1884-1944) best known for what is now called the ergodic theorem. ALS signed “George D. Birkhoff,” three pages on two sheets, 6 x 7, personal letterhead, August 27, 1936. Letter to Professor Charles Homer Haskins of Harvard, in part: "It was only yesterday that I received your note of congratulations upon my Paris degree. I appreciated your writing to me more than I can tell you. Your scholarly ideals and high achievement, your fairness and vision have been an inspiration to me since I first came to Harvard, as they have been to all on the Faculty. To be associated with you in this great honor from Paris deepens its significance for me…I particularly appreciate the Paris degree for certain reasons & sentiment: my mathematical work has been a natural development of much that Henri Poincare did; I have always had deep ties of admiration and affection for the French." In fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope addressed in Birkhoff's hand.
