Register of the Laissez Faire Books records
Finding aid prepared by Loralee Sepsey
Hoover Institution Archives
434 Galvez Mall
Stanford University
Stanford, CA, 94305-6010
(650) 723-3563
hooverarchives@stanford.edu
© 2015
Title: Laissez Faire Books records
Date (inclusive): 1957-2008
Collection Number: 2007C63
Contributing Institution:
Hoover Institution Archives
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
38 manuscript boxes
(15.2 linear feet)
Abstract: Correspondence, memoranda, financial documents, catalogs, other printed matter, and photographs relating to libertarianism
and publishing in the United States.
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Archives
Creator:
Laissez Faire Books.
Access
Collection is open for research.
The Hoover Institution Archives only allows access to
copies of audiovisual items. To listen to sound recordings or to view videos or films during your visit, please contact the Archives
at least two working days before your arrival. We will then advise you of the accessibility of the material you wish to see
or hear. Please note that not all audiovisual material is immediately accessible.
Publication Rights
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Archives.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Laissez Faire Books records, [Box number], Hoover Institution Archives.
Acquisition Information
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Archives in 2007.
Accruals
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. To determine if this has occurred, find
the collection in Stanford University's online catalog at
http://searchworks.stanford.edu/ . Materials have been added to the collection if the number of boxes listed in the online catalog is larger than the number
of boxes listed in this finding aid.
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 |
Laissez Faire Books is sold back to Andrea and Howard Rich. |
| |
Andrea Rich gives Kathleen Nelson Laissez Faire Books, and it is relocated to Little Rock, Arkansas. |
| 2008 |
Laissez Faire Books announces it is going out of business. |
| |
Laissez Faire Books is sold to the International Society for Individual Liberty. |
| 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
Box/Folder 5 : 2-3
Branden, Nathaniel,
1984-1993
Box/Folder 5 : 4
Hazlitt, Henry,
1983-1986
Box/Folder 5 : 6
Hessen, Robert,
1983-1986
Box/Folder 6 : 1
Palo Alto Book Service,
1984-1986
Petersen, Dyanne,
1994-2001
Box/Folder 7 : 5, 8 : 1-2
Multimedia File,
1958-1994
Box/Folder 9 : 1
"Roy A. Childs Reviews,"
1994
Tape cassettes,
1958-1992
Box/Folder 9 : 2
"Nathaniel Branden Parody (Rothbard),"
1958
Box/Folder 9 : 2
"Memorial Service for Roy A. Childs, Jr.,"
1992
Box/Folder 9 : 2
"Klein Hayek Lecture,"
undated
Box/Folder 9 : 2
"Walter Block Supper Club,"
1986
Printed Matter,
1957-2008
Box/Folder 10 : 1-4
Advertisements,
1986-1998
Box/Folder 10 : 5
Agendas and minutes
1981-1989
Box/Folder 10 : 6-7, 11 : 1-5, 12 : 1-5
Articles and clippings,
1972-2008
Laissez Faire Books,
1973-2004
Box/Folder 19 : 1-2
Contact information,
1988-1992
Box/Folder 19 : 3
Contracts and proposals,
1990-1992
Box/Folder 19 : 9, 20 : 1-4
Financial documents,
1982-2005
Box/Folder 20 : 6, 21 : 1
Accounting books,
1977-1982
Box/Folder 24 : 1-4, 25 : 1-7
Box/Folder 26 : 1-7, 27 : 1-6, 28 : 1-3
Box/Folder 28 : 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/Folder 28 : 6-7, 29 : 1-2
Box/Folder 29 : 3
Press releases,
circa 2003
Box/Folder 29 : 5
Ayn Rand Periodicals,
1987
Box/Folder 29 : 6
Books for Libertarians,
1972-1973
Box/Folder 29 : 8, 30 : 1
Laissez Faire Review,
1973-1985
Libertarian Review,
1974-1981
Box/Folder 31 : 5, 32 : 1-3
Box/Folder 32 : 6, 33 : 1-3
The Objectivist,
1962-1969
Box/Folder 33 : 4
Rothbard-Rockwell Report,
1992-1993
Speeches and Writings,
1980-1999
Box/Folder 34 : 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/Folder 35 : 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/Folder 35 : 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/Folder 35 : 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/Folder 35 : 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/Folder 35 : 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/Folder 35 : 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/Folder 36 : 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/Folder 36 : 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/Folder 36 : 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/Folder 37 : 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/Folder 37 : 2-5, Box 38
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.
