Editors' Note: Among International Mathematical Congresses, the one held in Oslo in 1936 holds a special place. Of strictly mathematical interest is the fact that the first Fields Medals were awarded there—to Lars Ahlfors and Jesse Douglas. Of wider interest is the political climate in Europe at the time. The Nazis were already in control in Germany and it would not be long before they would take over countries throughout Europe. Even by the time of the 1936 Congress, Italian mathematicians (all but two women) were prevented from coming. Germans attended, but by 1936 many German mathematicians had fled to other countries, mainly the United States. Attendance was low, only 487, whereas the two previous congresses in Bologna and Zurich had had 836 and 667 attend, respectively.

Here Dunnington describes the Congress and its setting. The mathematical community in those days was very different from what it is today. It was relatively small; people seemed to know each other. It was certainly more formal and more genteel, like the society around it; note that the King and Queen of Norway held a tea for the participants at the Royal Palace. What Dunnington is too polite to say is that not all the mathematicians behaved in a way suitable for a Palace tea. From some reports, Queen Maud was shocked to see the supply of food disappear so quickly.