Background, History and Philosophy of Project Gutenberg

How did Project Gutenberg begin, and grow? What motivated its founder, Michael Hart? What are some of the core beliefs?

Project Gutenberg has a long history, which predates the modern Internet and continues until today. The essays and documents in this section provide some of the background of Project Gutenberg, and also describe the basis for how Project Gutenberg operates.

50 years of eBooks: 1971-2021, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first for reading enjoyment and unlimited free redistribution (2021).

The History and Philosophy of Project Gutenberg by Michael Hart (1992)

Mission Statement (2004)

Principal of Minimal regulation (2004)

Administrativia (2004)

How eTexts Will Become the “Killer App” of the Computer Revolution (Undated)

No Cost, or Freedom? (2012)

Other items about Project Gutenberg

• Forty-Five Years of Digitizing Ebooks: Project Gutenberg’s Practices, by Dr. Gregory Newby, CEO of the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (2019).
• Project Gutenberg eBooks by Marie Lebert covering the history of Project Gutenberg:
  • in English (2008): Project Gutenberg (1971-2008).
  • in French (2008): Le Projet Gutenberg (1971-2008).
  • in Spanish (2009): El Proyecto Gutenberg (1971-2009).
  • album with pictures (PDF) for Project Gutenberg’s 40th anniversary: Project Gutenberg 4 July 1971 - 4 July 2011.
• Article: The Second Gutenberg Interview with Michael Hart by Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. (May 2002).
• Article: Project Gutenberg’s Anabasis by Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. (January 5, 2004).
• Interview: The Ubiquitous Project Gutenberg Interview with Michael Hart, its Founder by Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. (November 11, 2005).