DEUTSCH“Why is it that nobody understands me, and everybody likes me?”
Albert Einstein, 1944
EINSTEIN PAPERS PROJECT
(The Collected Papers of Albert Einstein)
In one of the probably most ambitious undertakings in the history of science and publishing they are busy for a few years now with publishing Einstein’s collected papers as a book series bearing the title “The Collected Papers of Albert Einstein”. Sponsored by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Princeton University Press a lot more than 14,000 documents are published in more than 25 volumes. The series which is chronologically arranged consists of two parts: the “Writings” and the “Correspondence”. In the “Writings” you find, among other things, published and unpublished scientific publications, notes, lectures and book reviews of Einstein. The parts of the “Correspondence” include, among other things, the letters written by Einstein, letters to him and important documents. In this book series the documents are portrayed in the language they were written in, all other things are in English.
PAPERS PROJECT
With the Collected Papers a monument is set for one of the probably greatest geniuses of our century. An American professional journal wrote therefore:
“Einstein wished no monument;
this monument is the one he would have accepted.”
Published volumes of “The Collected Papers of Albert Einstein”
Volume 1, The Early Years: 1879-1902
Volume 2, The Swiss Years: Writings, 1900-1909
Volume 3, The Swiss Years: Writings, 1909-1911
Volume 4, The Swiss Years: Writings, 1912-1914
Volume 5, The Swiss Years: Correspondence, 1902-1914
Volume 6, The Berlin Years: Writings, 1914-1917
Volume 7, The Berlin Years: Writings, 1918-1921
Volume 8, part A, The Berlin Years: Correspondence, 1914-1917
Volume 8, part B, The Berlin Years: Correspondence, 1918
Volume 9, The Berlin Years: Correspondence, January 1919-April 1920
Volume 10, The Berlin Years: Correspondence, May-December 1920, and Supplementary Correspondence, 1909-1920
Volume 11, Cumulative Index, Bibliography, List of Correspondence, Chronology, and Errata to Volumes 1-10
Volume 12, The Berlin Years: Correspondence, January-December 1921
Volume 13, The Berlin Years: Writings & Correspondence, January 1922-March 1923
Volume 14, The Berlin Years: Writings & Correspondence, April 1923–May 1925
Volume 15, The Berlin Years: Writings & Correspondence, June 1925–May 1927
Volume 16, The Berlin Years: Writings & Correspondence, June 1927–May 1929
| Forthcoming: | Date of publication: |
Volume 17, The Berlin Years: June 1929-November 1930 | expected 2024 |
The “Collected Papers of Albert Einstein”, online freely available
The Princeton University Press provides all previously edited letters and writings of Albert Einstein free of charge. The online available material covers the 15 volumes of the Collected Papers that have been published until now, the adolescence of Einstein, and the time until the year 1927. (as of April 2022)
THE COLLECTED PAPERS OF ALBERT EINSTEIN
Published volumes of “The Collected Papers of Albert Einstein” – English translation of selected texts
Volume 1, The Early Years, 1879-1902
Volume 2, The Swiss Years: Writings, 1900-1909
Volume 3, The Swiss Years: Writings, 1909-1911
Volume 4, The Swiss Years: Writings, 1912-1914
Volume 5, The Swiss Years: Correspondence, 1902-1914
Volume 6, The Berlin Years: Writings, 1914-1917
Volume 7, The Berlin Years: Writings, 1918-1921
Volume 8, The Berlin Years: Correspondence, 1914-1918
Volume 9, The Berlin Years: Correspondence, January 1919 – April 1920
Volume 10, The Berlin Years: Correspondence, May-December 1920, and Supplementary Correspondence, 1909-1920
Volume 12, Correspondence, January-December 1921
Volume 13, The Berlin Years: Writings & Correspondence, January 1922 – March 1923
Volume 14, The Berlin Years: Writings & Correspondence, April 1923 – May 1925
Volume 15, The Berlin Years: Writings & Correspondence, June 1925–May 1927
Volume 16, The Berlin Years: Writings & Correspondence, June 1927–May 1929
(English translation supplement)
volume 1 (1987) – volume 16 (2022)
Wanted: Einstein autographs!
The Einstein Archives in Jerusalem and the editors of the Papers Project are interested in sifting through a collection of Einstein’s letters that should be as complete as possible, work on them and perhaps publish them in the Collected Papers. As there are a lot of “unknown” Einstein autographs in private possession (for example in the possession of collectors) still today, I would like to ask the respective owners to send me copies of their Einstein autographs. In his process not only the documents of Einstein are of interest but also the ones of his closer relatives, for example of his family. The same applies for letters sent to Einstein. These letters are also of great interest for the Einstein Archives and the Papers Project. I would then send the copies (please with the name of the owner on it) to the Einstein Archives which subsequently would send the copies to the editors of the Papers Project.
Address: Hans-Josef Küpper, Besenbinderstr. 26, D-51145 Cologne / Germany
Email: info@einstein-website.de
The copies can also be sent directly to the Albert Einstein Archives in Jerusalem.
Link to the Albert Einstein Archives, Jerusalem
But what is the advantage for the owner of an autograph worthy for consideration? On the one hand he can be sure to have helped that Einstein’s correspondence is completed, which apart from the editors of the Papers Project is also of great interest for the scientific historians. On the other hand an increase in value may perhaps be the case when mentioning the name of the owner for using the autograph in one of the volumes of the “Collected Papers of Albert Einstein”.
Einstein’s four-line stanza about Isaac Newton from 1927
With friendly permission of the Albert Einstein Archives, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.
“Observe the stars and you will learn
to honour Newton in your turn.
For each obeys the Master’s laws
ever silent in its course.”
Illustrations Credits:
Einstein Papers Project, Pasadena: 1, 6
Archives of the author: 2, 5
Princeton University Press : 3, 4
