The Whole Earth Catalog, a renowned anarcho-libertarian magazine that gained popularity in the 1960s for its focus on technology and internet culture, has been fully digitized and made available online. The publication, which was first published in 1968 by Stewart Brand, aimed to provide readers with tools and DIY advice to foster self-reliance and a connection to the natural world. The archive includes not only the original magazine but also its offshoots, such as the Whole Earth Software Review. The project to digitize the collection was led by the Gray Collective and the Long Now Foundation, with the Internet Archive hosting the online collection. Each issue is accessible as a PDF on the Internet Archive’s website.
The availability of the Whole Earth Catalog’s archive online is a significant development for fans of the magazine and those interested in counterculture and cyberculture. The archive provides a comprehensive collection of issues from the original magazine, as well as its offshoots, offering a wealth of information on technology and self-reliance. The digitization project was a collaborative effort involving the Gray Collective, the Long Now Foundation, and the Internet Archive, making the collection easily accessible to a wide audience. The now 84-year-old founder of the magazine, Stewart Brand, expressed delight at the availability of the archive, noting that it was a long-awaited accomplishment. The entire collection can be accessed on the Internet Archive’s website.
The significance of the Whole Earth Catalog’s archive being made available online cannot be overstated. This collection represents a crucial part of counterculture history and serves as a valuable resource for those interested in the intersection of technology and self-reliance. It not only showcases the original magazine but also its offshoots, highlighting the evolution of the publication’s content and its lasting impact. The digitization project was led by the Gray Collective and the Long Now Foundation, in collaboration with the Internet Archive, ensuring the collection’s preservation and accessibility. The founder of the magazine, Stewart Brand, expressed his happiness with the archive’s availability, emphasizing the importance of making it freely accessible. With the collection now online, readers have the opportunity to explore the Whole Earth Catalog’s rich content and gain insight into the counterculture movement of the 1960s and beyond.
