I.M. Gelfand (1913 - 2009), one of the world's leading contemporary mathematicians, largely determined the modern view of functional analysis with its numerous relations to other branches of mathematics, including mathematical physics, algebra, topology, differential geometry and analysis. In this three-volume Collected Papers Gelfand presents a representative sample of his work. Gelfand's research led to the development of remarkable mathematical theories - most of which are now classics - in the field of Banach algebras, infinite-dimensional representations of Lie groups, the inverse Sturm-Liouville problem, cohomology of infinite-dimensional Lie algebras, integral geometry, generalized functions and general hypergeometric functions. The corresponding papers form the major part of the collection. Some articles on numerical methods and cybernetics as well as a few on biology are also included. A substantial number of the papers have been translated into English especially for this edition. The collection is rounded off by an extensive bibliography with almost 500 references. Gelfand's Collected Papers will be a great stimulus, especially for the younger generation, and will provide a strong incentive to researchers.

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Israel Gelfand (1913-2009) is often considered one of the greatest mathematicians of the Twentieth Century. He published dozens of books and over 400 articles in a variety of mathematical fields, including group theory, representation theory, and functional analysis. Gelfand was known internationally as an outstanding and passionate teacher, as well as for his famous seminars in mathematics and biology, which were attended by the most prominent specialists in the field. He had a remarkable ability to adapt his presentation of difficult concepts so they would be easily understood by his audience, whether that was children or experienced professors. In 1964, he created the Correspondence School in Mathematics (ZMSH) in Moscow, and later on, the Gelfand Correspondence Program in Mathematics (GCPM) at Rutgers University, both of which made mathematics available to a broad range of students. His goal was to pass on to students his belief that mathematics is simple, beautiful, and a part of human culture which anyone can learn and enjoy, just like literature, poetry, art, and music. Tatiana Alekseyevskaya (Gelfand) graduated from the Department of Cybernetics and Applied Mathematics at Kiev State University in Ukraine. She then received her PhD in Mathematics in Moscow for her research on systems of quasi-linear equations and related geometrical constructions describing isotachophoresis, a process used in biological studies of protein molecules. She has extensive experience teaching mathematics to undergraduate students in both Russia and the United States, and worked closely with Israel Gelfand at Rutgers University, preparing assignments to be used in the GCPM.