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title: Background, History and Philosophy | Project Gutenberg
permalink: /background/
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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.

[The History and Philosophy of Project Gutenberg by Michael Hart](/background/history_and_philosphy.html) (1992)

[Mission Statement](/background/mission_statement.html) (2004)

[Principal of Minimal regulation](/background/minimal_regulation.html) (2004)

[Administrativia](/background/administrivia.html) (2004)

[No Cost, or Freedom?](/background/free_ebook.md) (2012)

### Other items about Project Gutenberg
- eBook: [Project Gutenberg (1971-2008)](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/27045) by Marie Lebert, covering the history of Project Gutenberg. Other titles by Marie Lebert cover other aspects of eBooks, in English, French and Spanish. Two of these are translations. A third is an album celebrating Project Gutenberg's 40th anniversary:
  - [Le Projet Gutenberg (1971-2008)](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/27046) [in French]
  - [El Proyecto Gutenberg (1971-2009)](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/31633) [in Spanish]
  - [Project Gutenberg 4 July 1971 - 4 July 2011](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/36616). Album with pictures in PDF.
- Article: [The Second Gutenberg Interview with Michael Hart](http://samvak.tripod.com/busiweb29.html) by Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. (May 2002).
- Article: [Project Gutenberg's Anabasis](http://samvak.tripod.com/busiweb39.html) by Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. (January 5, 2004).
- Interview: [The Ubiquitous Project Gutenberg Interview](http://samvak.tripod.com/busiweb46.html) with Michael Hart, its Founder by Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. (November 11, 2005).