Fifty years after the death of Herbrand, about two hundred people attended
the colloquium which was held in Marseilles from July 16 through
July 24,1981.
The conference has tried to encompass fifty years of logic; this could be considered
as a very ambitious goal, but because of the enthusiasm of the invited
speakers and of the audience, our aim was achieved to a large extent.
During the opening ceremony, the participants could hear a short address
by Professor A. Guinier who knew Herbrand personally; messages from
Professor C. Chevalley and Professor J. Dieudonni, who also knew Herbrand,
were read.