INTRODUCTION
The Einstein Archives Online Website provides the first online access to Albert Einstein’s scientific and non-scientific manuscripts held by the Albert Einstein Archives at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and to an extensive Archival Database, constituting the material record of one of the most influential intellects in the modern era.
DIGITIZED MANUSCRIPTS
The site allows viewing and browsing of approx. 3,000 high-quality digitized images of Einstein’s writings, available for viewing in two sizes: a standard resolution image, as well as a high-resolution image for closer inspection. This digitization of more than 900 documents written by Einstein was produced by the Jewish National & University Library’s Digitization Project and was made possible by generous grants of David and Fela Shapell.
FINDING AID
The site enables access to the online version of the Albert Einstein Archives Finding Aid, a comprehensive description of the entire repository of Albert Einstein’s personal papers held at the Hebrew University. The Finding Aid, presented in Encoded Archival Description (EAD) format, provides the following information on the Einstein Archives: its identity, context, content, structure, conditions of access and use. It also contains a list of the folders in the Archives which enables access to the Archival Database and to the Digitized Manuscripts
ARCHIVAL DATABASE
The Archival Database allows direct access to approx. 43,000 records of Einstein and Einstein related documents. The records published in this online version pertain to Albert Einstein’s scientific and non-scientific writings, his professional and personal correspondence, notebooks, travel diaries, personal documents, and third-party items contained in the original collection of Einstein’s personal papers.
The Archival Database also presents records for all items that have been published since 1986 in the Collected Papers of Albert Einstein - scientific and non-scientific writings, notebooks, and correspondence – including an additional 534 items that were not part of the original Einstein Archive. Supplementary archival holdings and databases pertaining to Einstein documents have been established at both the Einstein Papers Project and the Albert Einstein Archives for scholarly research.
PUBLISHED VERSIONS
The website provides access to the published versions (in PDF format) of 39 among the 934 digitized manuscripts, as they appear in the Collected Papers of Albert Einstein in the original language edition with annotations. Provided are also 22 English language translations, taken from the English translation volumes. Publication information on all volumes of the Collected Papers of Albert Einstein edited by the Einstein Papers Project is also accessible through their publisher, Princeton University Press.
HISTORY
The core collection of Einstein's papers was accumulated during Einstein's lifetime and was expanded over several decades after Einstein's death by Helen Dukas, Einstein’s secretary in Princeton, NJ, in collaboration with Otto Nathan, the Executor of Einstein’s Estate. These materials were organized in the 1960s by Helen Dukas, in consultation with Gerald Holton.
The database was initially established in the late 1970s by John Stachel, the founding editor of The Collected Papers of Albert Einstein, as an electronic control index for the original “Dukas” collection. We are especially grateful to Alice Calaprice, who first entered the archival information into a computerized database from 1978 to 1980. Our apologies go to many others who cannot be mentioned here, but have since worked on the electronic data, which was adapted over the years to changing computer technology. In its present form and content, the database is the result of occasional additions and revisions and of a recent unification of separate databases. These had been independently maintained at the Einstein Papers Project and the Albert Einstein Archives for their respective purposes. Systematic revisions have only recently been initiated.
For the accuracy, completeness, and consistency of the database records, see our Disclaimer.
COLLABORATORSDIGITIZED MANUSCRIPTS
The site allows viewing and browsing of approx. 3,000 high-quality digitized images of Einstein’s writings, available for viewing in two sizes: a standard resolution image, as well as a high-resolution image for closer inspection. This digitization of more than 900 documents written by Einstein was produced by the Jewish National & University Library’s Digitization Project and was made possible by generous grants of David and Fela Shapell.
FINDING AID
The site enables access to the online version of the Albert Einstein Archives Finding Aid, a comprehensive description of the entire repository of Albert Einstein’s personal papers held at the Hebrew University. The Finding Aid, presented in Encoded Archival Description (EAD) format, provides the following information on the Einstein Archives: its identity, context, content, structure, conditions of access and use. It also contains a list of the folders in the Archives which enables access to the Archival Database and to the Digitized Manuscripts
ARCHIVAL DATABASE
The Archival Database allows direct access to approx. 43,000 records of Einstein and Einstein related documents. The records published in this online version pertain to Albert Einstein’s scientific and non-scientific writings, his professional and personal correspondence, notebooks, travel diaries, personal documents, and third-party items contained in the original collection of Einstein’s personal papers.
The Archival Database also presents records for all items that have been published since 1986 in the Collected Papers of Albert Einstein - scientific and non-scientific writings, notebooks, and correspondence – including an additional 534 items that were not part of the original Einstein Archive. Supplementary archival holdings and databases pertaining to Einstein documents have been established at both the Einstein Papers Project and the Albert Einstein Archives for scholarly research.
PUBLISHED VERSIONS
The website provides access to the published versions (in PDF format) of 39 among the 934 digitized manuscripts, as they appear in the Collected Papers of Albert Einstein in the original language edition with annotations. Provided are also 22 English language translations, taken from the English translation volumes. Publication information on all volumes of the Collected Papers of Albert Einstein edited by the Einstein Papers Project is also accessible through their publisher, Princeton University Press.
HISTORY
The core collection of Einstein's papers was accumulated during Einstein's lifetime and was expanded over several decades after Einstein's death by Helen Dukas, Einstein’s secretary in Princeton, NJ, in collaboration with Otto Nathan, the Executor of Einstein’s Estate. These materials were organized in the 1960s by Helen Dukas, in consultation with Gerald Holton.
The database was initially established in the late 1970s by John Stachel, the founding editor of The Collected Papers of Albert Einstein, as an electronic control index for the original “Dukas” collection. We are especially grateful to Alice Calaprice, who first entered the archival information into a computerized database from 1978 to 1980. Our apologies go to many others who cannot be mentioned here, but have since worked on the electronic data, which was adapted over the years to changing computer technology. In its present form and content, the database is the result of occasional additions and revisions and of a recent unification of separate databases. These had been independently maintained at the Einstein Papers Project and the Albert Einstein Archives for their respective purposes. Systematic revisions have only recently been initiated.
For the accuracy, completeness, and consistency of the database records, see our Disclaimer.
This project is the product of the joint cooperative effort of the Hebrew University’s Albert Einstein Archives in collaboration with the Information Technology and Photo-Reprography Departments of the Jewish National and University Library (JNUL) and of the Einstein Papers Project at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. The project has been developed in active cooperation with the comprehensive David and Fela Shapell Digitization Project, which presents online versions of some of the treasures of the JNUL. For more detailed information, see the Credits page.
ANNOUNCEMENTSNo announcements at the moment.
VERSION HISTORYThis Website was opened to the public on May 19, 2003. In response to user feedback, some technical changes aimed at enhancing browser compatibility and ease of navigation were introduced on June 19, 2003.
i'll make it more interestin after the finals. with some pics and kewl infos.
i'll make it more interestin after the finals. with some pics and kewl infos.
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