This course is based on lectures given by Jesse Douglas in 1965.  He
shared the first Fields medal (with Alfors) for his work on the Plateau
problem, a very difficult problem in the calculus of variations.

<p>


<a href="cofv.pdf">  Calculus of Variations notes. <br>
I shall be grateful to have any errors in the notes brought to my attention. </a><p>

Here is an article describing the work of Jesse Douglas:
<br>
<a href="douglas.pdf">AMS article about Douglas </a><br>