Register of the Laissez Faire Books records

Finding aid prepared by Loralee Sepsey

Hoover Institution Library and Archives

434 Galvez Mall

Stanford University

Stanford, CA 94305-6003

hoover-library-archives@stanford.edu

URL: http://www.hoover.org/library-and-archives

Title: Laissez Faire Books records

Date (inclusive): 1957-2008

Collection Number: 2007C63

Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives

Language of Material: English

Physical Description: 38 manuscript boxes, 2 floppy disks (15.2 Linear Feet)

Abstract: Correspondence, memoranda, financial documents, catalogs, other printed matter, and photographs relating to libertarianism and publishing in the United States.

Creator: Laissez Faire Books

Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives

Access

The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Use

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Acquisition Information

Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 2007.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Laissez Faire Books records, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Historical Note

1972	Laissez Faire Books opens in New York City, founded by John Muller and Sharon Presley.
1982	Andrea and Howard Rich buy Laissez Faire Books.
1989	Laissez Faire Books moves to San Francisco, California.
1993-1995	Laissez Faire Books reaches peak revenue of $1.3 million per year.
2002	Laissez Faire Books goes bankrupt and is sold to the Foundation for Economic Education.
2003	Andrea Rich gives Kathleen Nelson Laissez Faire Books, and it is relocated to Little Rock, Arkansas.
	Laissez Faire Books is sold back to Andrea and Howard Rich.
2008	Laissez Faire Books is sold to the International Society for Individual Liberty.
	Laissez Faire Books announces it is going out of business.
2011	Laissez Faire Books is sold to Agora Financial LLC, and is currently still operating under this company.

Scope and Content of Collection

This collection contains correspondence, financial records, serial issues, photographs, and other printed matter relating to libertarianism and book publishing in the United States.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Libertarianism -- United States

Publishers and publishing -- United States

Correspondence 1972-2002

General 1982-2002

box 1, folder 1

A 1984-2002

box 1, folder 2-4

B 1982-1996

box 1, folder 5-6

C 1984-1996

box 1, folder 7

D 1986-1996

box 2, folder 1

E 1985-1994

box 2, folder 2

F 1982-1997

box 2, folder 3

G 1982-1998

box 2, folder 4-5

H 1983-1994

box 2, folder 6

I-J 1984-2002

box 2, folder 7-8

K 1985-1999

box 3, folder 1-2

L 1984-1994

box 3, folder 3-4

M 1982-1996

box 3, folder 5

N-O 1984-1994

box 3, folder 6

P 1983-1997

box 4, folder 1

Q-R 1984-1994

box 4, folder 2

R 1984-1994

box 4, folder 3-4

S 1983-1996

box 4, folder 5

T 1983-1995

box 4, folder 6

U-V 1983-1994

box 4, folder 7

W 1983-1998

box 5, folder 1

X-Z 1984-1996

Individuals 1983-2001

box 5, folder 2-3

Branden, Nathaniel 1984-1993

box 5, folder 4

Hazlitt, Henry 1983-1986

box 5, folder 5

Hess, Karl 1990-1991

box 5, folder 6

Hessen, Robert 1983-1986

box 5, folder 7-8

Kephart, Bob 1985-1996

box 6, folder 1

Palo Alto Book Service 1984-1986

Petersen, Dyanne 1994-2001

box 6, folder 2

1994

box 6, folder 3

1995

box 6, folder 4

1996

box 6, folder 5-6

1997

box 6, folder 7

1998

box 7, folder 1

1998

box 7, folder 2-4

1999

box 7, folder 5

2000

box 8, folder 1-2

2000

box 8, folder 3

2001

box 8, folder 4

Telegrams 1972

Multimedia File 1958-1994

Discs undated

box 8, folder 5

"Mailing List," undated

box 8, folder 5

"Untitled," undated

Floppy discs 1994

box 9, folder 1

"Roy A. Childs Reviews," 1994

Tape cassettes 1958-1992

box 9, folder 2

"Nathaniel Branden Parody (Rothbard)," 1958

box 9, folder 2

"Memorial Service for Roy A. Childs, Jr.," 1992

box 9, folder 2

"Klein Hayek Lecture," undated

box 9, folder 2

"Walter Block Supper Club," 1986

box 9, folder 3-6

Photographs undated

Printed Matter 1957-2008

box 10, folder 1-4

Advertisements 1986-1998

box 10, folder 5

Agendas and minutes 1981-1989

box 10, folder 6-7

Articles and clippings 1972-2008

box 11, folder 1-5

Articles and clippings 1972-2008

box 12, folder 1-5

Articles and clippings 1972-2008

box 13, folder 1-2

Artwork 1992-1994

box 13, folder 3

Book lists 1993-1997

box 13, folder 4-5

Calendars 1973-2002

Catalogs 1973-2004

box 13, folder 6-7

General 1985-1996

Laissez Faire Books 1973-2004

box 14, folder 1

1973-1975

box 14, folder 2

1976

box 14, folder 3

1977

box 14, folder 4

1978

box 14, folder 5

1979

box 14, folder 6

1980-1984

box 14, folder 7

1985

box 15, folder 1

1986

box 15, folder 2

1987

box 15, folder 3

1988

box 15, folder 4

1989

box 15, folder 5

1990

box 16, folder 1

1991

box 16, folder 2

1992

box 16, folder 3

1993

box 16, folder 4

1994

box 16, folder 5

1995

box 17, folder 1

1996

box 17, folder 2

1997

box 17, folder 3

1998

box 17, folder 4

1999

box 18, folder 1

2000

box 18, folder 2

2001

box 18, folder 3

2002

box 18, folder 4

2003

box 18, folder 5

2004

box 19, folder 1-2

Contact information 1988-1992

box 19, folder 3

Contracts and proposals 1990-1992

box 19, folder 4-8

Emails 1994-2003

box 19, folder 9

Faxes 1988-1999

box 20, folder 1-4

Faxes 1988-1999

Financial documents 1982-2005

box 20, folder 5

1982-1987

box 20

1982-1998

box 21, folder 1

1982-1998

box 21, folder 2

1988-1989

box 21, folder 3

1990

box 21, folder 4

1991

box 21, folder 5

1992

box 21, folder 6

1993

box 21, folder 7

1994

box 22, folder 1

1995

box 22, folder 2

1996

box 22, folder 3

1997

box 22, folder 4

1998

box 22, folder 5

1999

box 23, folder 1

2000

box 23, folder 2-3

2001

box 23, folder 4

2003-2005

Accounting books 1977-1982

box 23

1977-1982

box 24

Undated

box 23, folder 5

Flyers 1983-1988

box 24, folder 1-4

Manuscripts 1962-1997

box 25, folder 1-7

Manuscripts 1962-1997

box 26, folder 1-7

Memoranda 1980-2002

box 27, folder 1-6

Memoranda 1980-2002

box 28, folder 1-3

Memoranda 1980-2002

box 28, folder 4

Miscellany circa 1994

Scope and Contents note

Contains miscellaneous printed matter such as a CD catalogue for Roy A. Childs's memorial service, a customer survey, postcard templates, and job listings.

box 28, folder 5

Order forms 1981-1988

box 28, folder 6-7

Pamphlets 1973-1999

box 29, folder 1-2

Pamphlets 1973-1999

box 29, folder 3

Press releases circa 2003

box 29, folder 4

Reports 1957-2002

Serial issues 1972-1993

box 29, folder 5

Ayn Rand Periodicals, 1987

box 29, folder 6

Books for Libertarians, 1972-1973

box 29, folder 7

Critical Review, undated

box 29, folder 8

Laissez Faire Review, 1973-1985

box 30, folder 1

Laissez Faire Review, 1973-1985

Libertarian Review, 1974-1981

box 30, folder 2

1974-1975

box 30, folder 3-4

1976

box 30, folder 5

1977

box 30, folder 6

1977-1978

box 30, folder 7

1978

box 31, folder 1

1979

box 31, folder 2

1979-1980

box 31, folder 3-4

1980

box 31, folder 5

1981

box 32, folder 1-3

1981

box 32, folder 4

Miscellaneous 1984-1992

box 32, folder 5

Outlook, 1972-1973

box 32, folder 6

The Objectivist, 1962-1969

box 33, folder 1-3

The Objectivist, 1962-1969

box 33, folder 4

Rothbard-Rockwell Report, 1992-1993

Speeches and Writings 1980-1999

box 34, folder 1-4

Notes 1980-1999

Subject File 1972-2002

box 34, folder 5-6

Ayn Rand 1982-1999

Scope and Contents note

Contains issues of the Laissez Faire Books catalog, newspaper articles, lists, notes, and other printed matter relating to the objectivist author Ayn Rand.

box 35, folder 1

Critical Review 1988-1989

Scope and Contents note

Contains correspondence, stationery, financial documents, and other printed matter relating to the magazine Critical Review, a project involving Laissez Faire co-owner Howard Rich.

box MC7

Mailing lists, US and Foreign 1989 July 20

Physical Description: 2 5.25-inch floppy disks, removed from Box 35:1. Annotated "Howie."

box 35, folder 2

Eastern European outreach 1990-1991

Scope and Contents note

Contains photographs, correspondence, essays, and other printed matter relating to Laissez Faire Book's outreach into Eastern European countries, such as Czechoslovakia, Ukraine, Poland, Hungary, and Romania, post-communism as an attempt to promote libertarianism. They established an outpost of Laissez Faire Books in Bucharest.

box 35, folder 3-5

Events 1972-1991

Scope and Contents note

Contains invitations, guest lists, pamphlets, photographs, and other printed matter relating to social and fundraising events held or attended by Laissez Faire Books.

box 35, folder 6

Feminism 1991-1994

Scope and Contents note

Contains pamphlets, newsletters, profiles, and other printed matter relating to feminism and the Association of Libertarian Feminists.

box 35, folder 7

Hillsdale College 1996

Scope and Contents note

Contains speeches, notes, correspondence, pamphlets, and other printed matter relating to a talk Laissez Faire co-owner Andrea Rich gave at Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan.

box 35, folder 8

Laissez Faire Book Club undated

Scope and Contents note

Contains several flyers about the Laissez Faire Book Club, a positive selection mailing list that allowed members to pick and choose their monthly book mailing.

box 36, folder 1-4

Laissez Faire Books website 1999-2001

Scope and Contents note

Contains correspondence, artwork, notes, and other printed matter relating to the development of the Laissez Faire Books website.

box 36, folder 5-6

Libertarian institutes 1982-1993

Scope and Contents note

Contains newsletters, pamphlets, and other printed matter from various libertarian institutes, such as the Cato Institute, the John Locke Society, and Libertarians Futurist Society.

box 36, folder 7

Nathaniel Branden undated

Scope and Contents note

Contains newsletters, articles, and other printed matter relating to Nathaniel Branden, former lover of Ayn Rand.

box 37, folder 1

Palo Alto Books Service undated

Scope and Contents note

Contains mailings, catalogs, and other printed matter relating to Palo Alto Book Service, a distributor of books that was based in Palo Alto, California.

box 37, folder 2-5

Thomas Szasz Award 1996-2002

Scope and Contents note

Contains correspondence, guest lists, pamphlets, nomination packets, and other printed matter relating to the Thomas Szasz Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Cause for Civil Liberties.

box 38

Thomas Szasz Award 1996-2002

Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence, guest lists, pamphlets, nomination packets, and other printed matter relating to the Thomas Szasz Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Cause for Civil Liberties.