During 1991-1992, Northwestern University conducted a special emphasis year on the topic, 'The connections between topology and representation theory'. Activities over the year culminated in a conference in May 1992 which attracted over 120 participants. Most of the plenary lectures at the conference were expository and designed to introduce current trends to graduate students and nonspecialists familiar with algebraic topology. This volume contains refereed papers presented or solicited at the conference; one paper is based on a seminar given during the emphasis year.