About

Noam Chomsky is a linguist and political activist. The Noam Chomsky personal archives consists of Chomsky's lecture, speaking, and travel notes, writings, correspondence, research materials, collected serial publications, and other materials documenting his life and work. The collection is divided into six series: Biographical Materials, Correspondence, Writings and Films, Background and Clippings, Speaking Engagements and Travel, and Periodicals and Pamphlets.

Series 1, Biographical Materials is located in boxes 39-48, 51, 192, 212, 315, 715, and 721-740. This series contains a variety of personal materials such as awards and gifts, as well as biographical articles and interviews. Spanning from 1945 to 2013, these materials focus on Chomsky's life and achievements and comprise a variety of formats including oversize materials, realia, honorary degrees, photographs, CDs, appointment books, posters, and published material.

Series 2, Correspondence is located in boxes 315, 363-714, and 747-748. This series contains the correspondence of Noam Chomsky and others starting at the beginning of Chomsky's academic career in the 1950s.

Series 3, Writings and Films is located in boxes 48-49, 52-143, 146, 158, 161, 284-285, 315, 356-361, and 740. This series includes Noam Chomsky’s published and unpublished writings in linguistics and politics. This series reflects the prolific and diverse range of Chomsky’s writings, containing actual examples (e.g., articles, essays, reviews, and letters to the editor) as well as much related material including correspondence, contracts, and interviews. Drafts of Chomsky’s writings, book proofs with editorial notes, and final versions make up a substantial amount of material in this series.

Series 4, Background and Clippings is located in boxes 48, 110, 145-189, 193-284, 478, 716-720, and 748. This series contains materials on a wide range of topics, representing either research for books, articles, classroom lectures, and talks or items clipped and saved based on Chomsky’s interests. There is a direct relationship between the materials in this series and the materials in Series 3: Writings. Many of the background materials here support the research and ideas presented in Series 3.

While the materials in Series 4 cover both the fields of linguistics and politics, a majority of this material is actually research on various political topics and human rights issues. Some of the largest subjects covered include the Vietnam War, Central America, Israel and Palestine, US foreign policy, human rights, East Timor, terrorism, the cold war, US media, academic freedom, political activism, and language.

Series 5, Speaking Engagements and Travel is located in boxes 1-38, 48-49, 212, 222, 315, 478, 715, and 740. This series contains materials from Chomsky's speaking engagements and include drafts, annotated transcripts, and/or notes on speeches or interviews Chomsky gave throughout the world on both political and linguistic topics.

Series 6, Periodicals and Pamphlets is located in boxes 285-314 and 316-356. This series contains Noam Chomsky's personal collection of periodicals and pamphlets dating from 1962 to 2011. The subjects of the materials mainly cover linguistic research and foreign politics featuring the Middle East, Vietnam, Timor, Central America, and Palestine. Also included are pamphlets and journals on anarchism, socialism, and labor unions.