Stephen Hawking Archive released online

The Cambridge University Digital Library has made a significant contribution to the scientific community and the public by making the Stephen Hawking Archive available online. This digital collection offers unprecedented access to the personal and professional papers of one of the most influential theoretical physicists of the modern era.

Stephen Hawking Archive online unveiled by Cambridge University Digital Library

The archive encompasses a vast range of materials, including Hawking's seminal works on black holes and the nature of the universe, his groundbreaking book "A Brief History of Time," and his extensive correspondence with other renowned scientists. The digital collection also includes personal items such as photographs, travel diaries, and notes from his time as a student.

"Working with the archive has impacted the way I think about creative and scientific processes, and what it means to create an original document. It highlights the importance of digital archives and the challenges of curating them," said Dr Katrina Dean, Cambridge University Library.

Archive letter from Stephen Hawking to his mother and father, January 1986

"I’m writing this letter on my new computer which also speaks but a bit like a Dalek with an American accent."

"It is very useful for communicating but it is too big to carry around. However I have another one which I may be able to get fixed to my chair."
 

The letter written using his new communication system, in which Hawking compares his new voice synthesizer to that of a Dalek

The Library’s cataloging process has also uncovered how actively Hawking campaigned for issues such as nuclear disarmament, disability rights, and supporting scientific colleagues trapped behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War.

While his advocacy work is well-known, the Library’s archive highlights Hawking’s dedication to these causes on a local, national, and international level.

Insight into Hawking's life and work

The Stephen Hawking Archive provides a unique window into the life and mind of a scientist whose theories have shaped modern cosmology. Among the highlights are handwritten notes and early drafts of his publications, revealing the evolution of his ideas and the rigorous thought processes behind his pioneering work. Additionally, users can explore multimedia content, including audio and video recordings of Hawking's lectures and interviews.

A letter written by a young Stephen Hawking to his father

Among the Library’s papers are letters sent to officials at The Royal Society, The Royal Opera House, and Cambridge Arts Theatre, in which he demanded improved disabled access to their buildings. Frequently citing the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act of 1970, he persistently wrote over the years to criticize presidents and chief executives for the lack of progress made.

A letter from the archive addressed to Stephen Hawking, accompanied by family photos.

Accessibility and impact

This online archive is part of a broader initiative by Cambridge University to make significant scientific and historical collections accessible to a global audience. By digitizing Hawking's papers, the university ensures that students, researchers, and enthusiasts around the world can explore his contributions to science without the barriers of physical location.

A 1982 letter to from Hawking to Sir John Tooley, General Director of the Royal Opera House

"I wrote to you a few years ago about the lack of facilities for disabled people in the Royal Opera House. I knew that you had recently spent a lot of money on improvements so I expected the situation would now be better.

"However, on my visit to the Meistersinger last night I found the arrangements were just as bad as ever. I had to be carried to my seat by two attendants, carried out and back again during the interval and carried out at the end when they succeeded in dropping me.
"It was not the fault of the attendants, they did their best, but there is no proper provision for the disabled."

Future potential

The release of the Stephen Hawking Archive marks a milestone in the preservation and dissemination of scientific knowledge. It not only honors Hawking's legacy but also provides an invaluable resource for future generations of scientists and thinkers. The archive is expected to inspire new research and foster a deeper understanding of the universe.

An image of Professor Hawking projected onto Senate House at Cambridge University.

Credit: Sir Cam

Watch the video below to learn more about the arrival of the 10,000-page archive at the Cambridge University Library

The Stephen Hawking Archive

Read the press release