Einstein’s Genius Now On-Line

One of the most significant and influential genius thinkers of the modern age has just gone digital and joined the Internet. With a simple click of the mouse, Internet users can now gain a fascinating insight into one of history’s greatest minds.

This fantastic new website, will allow Internet visitors to access more than three thousand digitised images of the Nobel Prize winner's writings. Among them are papers on the special theory of relativity, his never-published travel diaries, various humanitarian statements and his frequent pleas for peace. They provide a revealing window into the life of a man who contributed so much to not only the scientific community, but also the world at large.

The site will also provide a catalogue of the 43,000 pieces of writing and correspondence that make up the body of Einstein's work, much of it written in the scientist's own hand.

Whilst Einstein died in 1955 at the age of 76 many consider his legacy will live forever.

Is the Web site easy to use and find specific information on Einstein and his life?

The site is really remarkably user-friendly. It is designed to provide a chronological database of events and documents, a biographical timeline, and information on the archives themselves.

For those looking for more general knowledge, the website also provides a “gallery link” which features a sampling of Einstein’s personal and theoretical writings. It is also possible for site visitors to download the handwritten versions of his now famous Theory of Relativity, a great many of his lecture notes, and some of his travel diaries. There is also an incredible listing of communications to Einstein.

A Finding Aid is also available which provides a comprehensive description of the entire repository of Albert Einstein’s personal papers held at the Hebrew University. The Finding Aid provides information on the Einstein Archives, such as : its identity, context, content, structure, conditions of access and use. It also contains a list of the folders in the Archives that enables access to the Archival Database and to the Digitized Manuscripts

What is contained in the Einstein Archive Database?

The Archival Database allows direct access to approx. 43,000 records of Einstein and Einstein related documents. They all 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. Supplementary archival holdings and databases pertaining to Einstein documents have also been established at both the Einstein Papers Project and the Albert Einstein Archives.

There are English language translations, taken from the English translation volumes. Publication information on all volumes of the Collected Papers of Albert Einstein is also accessible through their publisher, Princeton University Press.

How do you view the Digitised Documents on-line, do you need any special equipment?

No special equipment required, simply visit the site with your standard Internet software. It allows viewing and browsing of approx. 3,000 high-quality digitised images of Einstein’s writings. They can be viewed in two sizes: a standard resolution image, and that of a high-resolution image for a much closer inspection.

Who undertook such a mammoth effort to do all this work?

Einstein's personal papers were bequeathed to the Hebrew University in his will of 1950. The Albert Einstein Archives has been housed at the Hebrew University's JNUL since 1982.

The Internet site is a collaborative effort of the Einstein Papers Project at Caltech University in America and the Albert Einstein Archives at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

The Einstein Archives Online website is the digital version (i.e. scanned and read into a computer) of the Einstein Archives at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

For more detailed information, see the Credits

What is the Web site “like”? Wouldn’t Einstein’s work be a bit “out-there” for most of us?

For many, perhaps the most exhilarating experience is to read the manuscripts themselves. Most consider that Einstein had the ability to express himself very clearly and concisely. To quote one authority, “He had a very elegant prose ... very readable and beautiful handwriting, so one has a feeling of intimacy with the material."

Where on earth did all of this information of Einstein’s life come from?

The original papers, which were collected both during Einstein's life and after his death in 1955 by his secretary Helen Dukas, are now kept at the University of Jerusalem.

About 25 years ago, the Einstein Papers Project began publishing the material in chronological order and have completed eight of 25 planned volumes.

His papers show that Einstein was well regarded in the scientific community and was a strong voice for peace long before confirmation of his special theory of relativity in 1919 made him a household name. Nevertheless, it seems many still see a "old frazzled scientist on a worn-out T-shirt".

Arthur Hissey
Computer Research & Technology
www.crt.net.au