The Competitive World Of Academic Archiving

“The recent death of Hunter S. Thompson has triggered speculation over where the gonzo journalist’s papers will end up. In the final few weeks of Thompson’s life, he was adamant about placing his papers at a single institution… For authors, artists and social figures, the allure of placing their private papers in an academic library is threefold: It’s a chance to clean out the basement; it’s an assurance that their legacy on paper will be professionally cataloged and preserved; and it can be profitable. There’s a market for the best collections, and libraries are willing to invest.”