Alvin and Heidi Toffler papers, 1955-1984

Summary Information

At a Glance

Arrangement

Arrangement

Sorrespondence is in several files, both alphabetical and chronological. Administrative files are alphabetical by project.

• Series I: Correspondence
• Subseries I.1: Chronological
• Subseries I.2: Alphabetical
• Subseries I.3: Foreign
• Subseries I.4: Vox Pop
• Series II: Appointment Calendars
• Series III: Phone Messages
• Series IV: Office Files
• Subseries IV.1: General
• Subseries IV.2: Projects
• Series V: Administrative Files
• Subseries V.1: General
• Subseries V.2: Lecture Files
• Subseries V.3: General (cont.)
• Series VI: Office Files
• Subseries VI.1: General
• Subseries VI.2: Projects
• Series VII: Book Files
• Subseries VII.1: The Adaptive Corporation 1985
• Subseries VII.2: The Culture Consumers 1964
• Subseries VII.3: The EcoSpasm Report 1975
• Subseries VII.4: Future Shock 1970
• Subseries VII.5: The Futurists 1972
• Subseries VII.6: Learning for Tomorrow 1974
• Subseries VII.7: The Money Managers
• Subseries VII.8: Previews and Premises 1982
• Subseries VII.9: The Schoolhouse in the City 1968
• Subseries VII.10: Social Dynamics and the Bell System 1972
• Subseries VII.11: The Third Wave 1980
• Series VIII: Tri-wave Productions
• Series IX: Clippings and Magazines

Description

Scope and Content

Correspondence, telephone logs, lecture/administrative files, manuscripts, research files, personal papers, reviews, press clippings, tearsheets, and memorabilia relating to the many projects Toffler and his wife worked on from 1950 to 1985. The collection is divided into closed and open series. Closed files include all correspondence; telephone logs; administrative files pertaining to lectures, contracts, and business memos; and personal papers. Open files consist of clippings, notes, manuscripts, publishers' "dead matter," tearsheets of articles and books, press clippings, interviews, and galleys. The correspondence includes letters from a great variety of people, such as Betty Friedan, Jonas Salk, Newt Gingrich, Ed Koch, and many other politicians and celebrities. There are research files for virtually every project that Toffler was involved with, including his books "Future Shock" and "The Third Wave." The press clippings files are extensive and range from research topics to reviews, and cover countries from Australia to Switzerland. Lecture files also from Toffler's television/video production compnay, Triwave Productions, Inc., which include scripts, contracts, and materials relating to all stages of production. The many manuscripts, proofs, and galleys are in various stages of revision and include Toffler's extensive corrections and notes.

• Series I: Correspondence

• Series II: Appointment Calendars

• Series III: Phone Messages

• Series IV: Office Files

• Series V: Administrative Files

  Some include correspondence

• Series VI: Office Files

• Series VII: Book Files

  These include Bound volumes, Proofs, Galleys, Manuscripts, Drafts, Files, Clippings, Notes, and Miscellaneous materials.

• Series VIII: Tri-wave Productions

• Series IX: Clippings and Magazines

Using the Collection

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Restrictions on Access

You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Alvin and Heidi Toffler papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Accruals

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Ownership and Custodial History

Gift of Alvin and Heidi Toffler, 1987.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--Toffler, Alvin and Heidi. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--06/17/87. Accession number--M-87-06-17.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Processed 06/20/88.

All restrictions lifted July 2019. Boxes 1-83 were closed pending death of Alvin, Heidi, and Karen Toffler.

Revision Description

2010-03-31 Legacy finding aid created from Pro Cite.

2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.

2019-07-19 Restrictions lifted

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Genre/Form

Subject

History / Biographical Note

Biographical sketch

Alvin (1928-2016) and Heidi Toffler, authors and futurists. A journalist and intellectual best know for his popular books Future Shock and The Third Wave in which he speculates on the nature and effects of dynamic social change. Toffler was born on 28 October 1928, in New York City and married Adelaide Heidi Farrell on 29 April 1950. He was educated at New York University (B.A. 1949) and worked as a journalist for various newspapers and magazines in the 1950s. He became a full-time writer in the 1960s. He was on the faculty of the New School for Social Research from 1965-1967.