Conversion: Preservation and Arrangement

The current focus of the Archives is a major preservation project that has been in development for several years: the Ayn Rand Papers Conversion Project. We are in the process of converting the Ayn Rand Papers into digital form. At a later date, we will convert the material to stable media, such as microfilm and acid-free paper. To date, we have digitized about thirty percent of the papers.

When completed, this project will allow us to migrate the information contained in unique (and often fragile) documents, and also provide ease of access for researchers. “By putting our files into digital form,” says archivist Jeff Britting, “we can take elements of our collection and put them online to highlight the richness of what we have. In the future, we may be able to accommodate researchers from afar who want to see some portion of our collection.”

In addition to the paper collection, we are in the process of preserving (on digital tape and paper transcription) an extensive collection of audio material, including recordings of speeches, radio shows and discussions by Ayn Rand.

On a wider preservation note, the Archives is currently undertaking a conservation assessment of its material holdings and facilities. Important data regarding the current condition of the holdings will assist in the long-term preservation and storage of archival materials, as well as anticipate storage scenarios that may involve the creation of a dedicated research and storage facility.

We have also been refining our finding aids, adding significant detail to the first aids created in 1992. Although detailed finding aids for The Ayn Rand Papers and the Special Collections are now available only in-house, general tables of contents are available. A box and folder-level description of each collection will be soon available online. We will also provide revised and updated finding aids to the Archives’ photographs, audio, audio-visual, furniture, art and table top collections, including a small amount of miscellany.

NOTE: Due to the conversion project, the Archives is currently unavailable to researchers. Completion of the project is expected before the end of 2008.

Reference Library

The Archives has acquired a small but growing collection of secondary literature, including books, essays and Web media, documenting Ayn Rand and her influence.

Ayn Rand’s Library

In progress is the reproduction of Ayn Rand’s personal library, to the extent that its contents can be determined from such sources as catalogs of extant and auctioned collections, correspondence, biographical interviews, book and articles. This collection is augmented by books owned by Ayn Rand.

Documentary Editing

RUSSIAN LETTERS DOCUMENT: Between 1926 and 1937, Ayn Rand received approximately 900 letters from her family in Soviet Russia. All letters have been translated by Dina Schein Federman, a specialist in Ayn Rand’s life and philosophy and a native Russian speaker. Editing and formatting of the 700,000-word document is underway, after which publication possibilities will be determined.

ORAL HISTORY: Preparations are in the final stages for a research volume of approximately 100 oral history interviews. Those interviewed include Ayn Rand’s friends, family, fans and colleagues, dating back to her earliest days in Hollywood.

TAPE TRANSCRIPTIONS: The Archives has begun creating transcriptions of Ayn Rand’s and other Objectivists’ works that have long been available only on audiotape. In addition, word-for-word transcriptions will be made of Ayn Rand’s fiction and nonfiction courses, edited versions of which have been published by Penguin Plume. A long-term project is to reformat and review the content of this published material, thus making a closer reading and study of these lectures possible.

BIOGRAPHICAL INTERVIEWS: The Archives is preparing indexes for the transcription of approximately 46 hours of biographical interviews that Ayn Rand gave in 1960–61. The 350,000 word transcript was recently edited for accuracy (based on the original audiotape recordings) and annotated with information gathered from materials in the Archives and elsewhere.

Acquisitions

The Archives has acquired (and continues to seek) materials related to Ayn Rand, for placement in its Special Collections. Among recent acquisitions is a donation of letters, paintings, art objects and inscribed books from Mary Ann Sures, a long-time friend and colleague of Miss Rand’s.