The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project, initiated in 1985 at Stanford University with Coretta Scott King’s invitation to historian Clayborne Carson, is a comprehensive documentary editing enterprise. Its mission is to publish a fourteen-volume authoritative edition of King’s most significant writings—including correspondence, sermons, speeches, published writings, and unpublished manuscripts.
Seven volumes have already been published, spanning King’s life up through 1962, and have become foundational references for scholars. Building upon this editorial foundation, the project is part of Stanford’s broader *Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute*, which also supports public education through resources such as the King Encyclopedia, timelines, educational programming, and document access through the website.
Supported by Stanford University, the NEH, the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, and private donors, the institute aims to bridge scholarly research and public understanding. Its digital initiatives—like *Online King Records Access* (OKRA)—facilitate global access to archival documents and enhance the long-term preservation and impact of Dr. King’s legacy.
