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Dear Friend of Iranian Cultural Heritage,
I would like to take the liberty of introducing the Encyclopaedia Iranica, a project of Columbia University’s Center for Iranian Studies. It started 33 years ago with the aim of recording and disseminating the facts of Iranian history and culture in an accurate, reliable and well-documented manner. Initially, we thought it would not take more than eight large volumes, but in practice this proved totally inadequate. Iran has a long history, has witnessed many vicissitudes and has achieved a great deal, particularly in the field of literature, art and architecture, mysticism and statecraft. We have to do justice to our long history and our outstanding cultural heritage. Now we are aiming at no fewer than 40 volumes.
The Encyclopaedia Iranica has enjoyed great critical success; it has been variously acclaimed by scholars as “the greatest scholarly project of the twentieth century in the field of the entire Near and Middle Eastern studies,” “ a monumental work of vast proportions, 3000 years in the making,” “an unprecedented undertaking,” and “a masterpiece.”
The Encyclopaedia Iranica has been partially supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities, an independent federal agency, for the past 28 years, based on peer review. It has been backed by the American Council of Learned Societies, sponsored by the International Union of Academies, and supported by the individuals and organizations who value its purpose, objectives, and methods.
Now, with an annual budget of over $1,000,000, in spite of great economy and the fact that neither its Editor, its 43 Consulting Editors, nor the members of its International Advisory Board receive any remuneration, the Encyclopaedia Iranica is dependent more than ever on the financial support of all those who value Iranian cultural heritage and are committed to its preservation and promotion.
You can assist the Encyclopaedia by responding to its fundraising appeals and making donations to its New York Gala Benefit Dinner, which will take place on May 5th 2007 at Columbia University’s magnificent Rotunda.
Checks should be made out to the Encyclopaedia Iranica Foundation or to Columbia University for the account of Encyclopaedia Iranica and sent to the address below. All donations are tax-exempt according to law, and will be acknowledged in both the Gala Journal and the widely circulated Newsletter of the Center for Iranian Studies.
I thank you warmly in advance for your support.
Sincerely,
Ehsan Yarshater