The Bhaktivedanta Archives | Collections: Documents

Documents

The Bhaktivedanta Archives has four main categories of documents or paper-based items in its collection, which are as follows:

1. Manuscripts which mainly consist of typed audio dictated by Srila Prabhupada for his books along with handwritten pages he wrote before coming to America.

2. Transcripts from audio recordings.

3. Letters which consist of correspondence to and from Srila Prabhupada and correspondence written by secretaries on Srila Prabhupada´s behalf.

4. Other small collections such as essays, legal papers, business papers, diaries, newspaper articles, flyers, etc., written by, for, or about Srila Prabhupada.

The large majority of the documents are made of pulp paper stock which is acidic by nature and therefore have required chemical treatment to stabilize them to a neutral or alkaline pH state. All the documents are or will be encapsulated for future safe handling.

As items are preserved, they are stored in specialized, acid-free containers (boxes, folders) and are placed in a secure environment. We have a small, designated area with fire and unauthorized entry controls, air purification, fireproof cabinets, relief air conditioning. We also use the Iron Mountain Storage facility in Butler, Pennsylvania (previously called National Underground Storage). It is envisaged that an appropriate, permanent facility (like a presidential library) be built to protect, conserve and allow research in the future. Although the originals are kept, it will be digital technology that will make this collection viewable to all. As with the audio, the originals will be the primary reference as to provenance.