Liberty Fund

Liberty Fund, Inc. is an American private educational foundation headquartered in Carmel, Indiana. Founded in 1960 by Indiana entrepreneur Pierre F. Goodrich, the organization promotes the study of free and responsible societies through books, conferences, digital libraries, scholarly websites, and other educational resources. Its work is associated with the classical liberal and libertarian intellectual traditions, although its programs cover a broad range of historical, philosophical, legal, economic, literary, religious, scientific, and technological subjects. Goodrich established Liberty Fund after developing an interest in the intellectual foundations of individual liberty. His outlook was influenced by the Austrian School economist Ludwig von Mises and by the Mont Pelerin Society, an international network of scholars and public intellectuals associated with free-market and classical liberal ideas. The foundation's operating purpose was expressed in an unpublished memorandum calling for the study of an ideal society composed of free and responsible individuals. Publishing has been one of Liberty Fund's principal activities. The organization began its formal publishing program in 1971 with Education in a Free Society, written by Goodrich and Wabash College professor Benjamin A. Rogge. It subsequently published more than 400 books and editions addressing economics, political theory, American history, law, education, and the history of ideas. Its catalog includes works by or about Adam Smith, Alexis de Tocqueville, David Ricardo, Ludwig von Mises, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay, and Josef Pieper. The organization has also kept historically important titles in print when commercial publishers might not consider them sufficiently profitable. Liberty Fund's conference program is another defining part of its identity. Since its founding, it has sponsored more than 6,000 small, discussion-based conferences, mainly in North America, Europe, and Latin America, with additional meetings in other regions. These gatherings generally use a selected set of primary and secondary readings and are organized around intensive, moderated discussion rather than public advocacy or large-scale lectures. Themes have ranged from constitutional history, law, economics, religion, and political philosophy to literature, science, genomics, and artificial intelligence. The program has included discussions of writers such as Shakespeare, Cervantes, Jane Austen, Mary Shelley, and Frederick Douglass, as well as economists and political thinkers including Friedrich Hayek, Milton Friedman, and James Buchanan. The foundation has also supported specialized intellectual programs. Conferences involving James Buchanan, Gordon Tullock, and Geoffrey Brennan contributed to discussions surrounding public choice theory, while a long-running series led by Henry Manne helped develop the law-and-economics field. Other scholars have led discussions of the early American Republic and constitutional development. Liberty Fund's digital presence extends its reach beyond print publishing and invitation-based conferences. The Online Library of Liberty provides free access to a large collection of classic texts concerning individual liberty, political economy, and related subjects. Law & Liberty publishes commentary on law, political thought, and the classical liberal tradition. Adam Smith Works offers research and educational materials on Adam Smith, including resources for students and teachers. The Library of Economics and Liberty hosts EconTalk, a long-running interview podcast presented by Russ Roberts, along with other economic and historical materials. The foundation's financial scale expanded significantly in 1997, when it received an $80 million donation from Enid Goodrich, Pierre Goodrich's wife. The gift increased Liberty Fund's assets to more than $300 million according to contemporary descriptions. In 2015, the organization announced plans for a new $22 million headquarters in Carmel. Liberty Fund remains an active nonprofit institution focused on preserving, publishing, and discussing ideas about liberty rather than selling conventional consumer products.

Liberty Fund was established in 1960 by Pierre F. Goodrich, an Indiana entrepreneur whose business interests included coal mining, corn production, telecommunications, and securities. Goodrich was active in the intellectual networks associated with classical liberalism. He belonged to the Mont Pelerin Society and was influenced by Ludwig von Mises and the Austrian School of economics. The foundation was created to encourage the study of a society made up of free and responsible individuals, a purpose that has shaped its publishing, conference, and educational work. The organization developed as an endowed educational foundation rather than as a conventional political advocacy group. Its activities centered on making important texts available, bringing scholars together for sustained discussion, and supporting the historical and philosophical study of liberty. Its publishing program formally began in 1971 with Education in a Free Society, co-authored by Goodrich and Benjamin A. Rogge, a Wabash College professor and one of Liberty Fund's founding directors. Over time, Liberty Fund published more than 400 titles across economics, political thought, law, education, American history, and related disciplines. Its editions include works by Adam Smith, Alexis de Tocqueville, David Ricardo, Ludwig von Mises, and the authors of The Federalist Papers. The foundation's conference program became a central institutional feature. Liberty Fund sponsored small, Socratic meetings in which participants read and discuss carefully selected texts. More than 6,000 conferences have reportedly been held since the organization's founding, primarily in North America, Europe, and Latin America. The subject matter has included political theory, constitutional history, economics, law, religion, literature, fine arts, science, technology, genomics, and artificial intelligence. The format has also supported specialized intellectual movements. Conferences led by James Buchanan, Gordon Tullock, and Geoffrey Brennan addressed public choice theory, while meetings organized by Henry Manne from the late 1970s through the early 2000s contributed to the development and dissemination of law-and-economics scholarship. Liberty Fund broadened its digital and educational activities through a collection of online projects. The Online Library of Liberty offers free access to more than 2,000 works and related materials, including classic writings that can be difficult or expensive to obtain. Law & Liberty provides commentary on legal theory, political thought, and the classical liberal tradition. Adam Smith Works supports scholarship and teaching on Adam Smith's life and writings, including materials related to The Theory of Moral Sentiments, The Wealth of Nations, and Smith's lectures and essays. The Library of Economics and Liberty includes the EconTalk podcast, hosted by Russ Roberts, as well as other economic resources. The foundation has additionally produced intellectual portrait interviews and educational documentaries concerning figures and historical developments such as Adam Smith, Friedrich Hayek, the Industrial Revolution, Hong Kong, and the United States Constitution. Liberty Fund's endowment grew substantially in 1997 when Enid Goodrich contributed $80 million. Contemporary accounts stated that the gift raised the foundation's assets above $300 million. In November 2015, Liberty Fund announced plans for a $22 million headquarters in Carmel, Indiana, consolidating its institutional presence in the city. The organization continues to operate as a nonprofit educational foundation whose principal outputs are books, scholarly conversations, online archives, teaching resources, and media rather than commercial goods.

• 2016

  Adam Smith Works receives grant support

  [1]Liberty Funden.wikipedia.org

  Liberty Fund receives a multimillion-dollar John Templeton Foundation grant for Adam Smith-related scholarship, conferences, and educational resources.

• 2015

  New Carmel headquarters announced

  [1]Liberty Funden.wikipedia.org

  The foundation announces plans for a new headquarters in Carmel, Indiana.

• 1997

  Endowment receives major donation

  [1]Liberty Funden.wikipedia.org

  Enid Goodrich donates $80 million, reportedly raising Liberty Fund's assets to more than $300 million.

• 1971

  Publishing program begins

  [1]Liberty Funden.wikipedia.org

  Liberty Fund publishes Education in a Free Society by Pierre F. Goodrich and Benjamin A. Rogge, beginning a long-running program of books and scholarly editions.

• 1960

  Liberty Fund is founded

  [1]Liberty Funden.wikipedia.org

  Pierre F. Goodrich establishes Liberty Fund as an educational foundation devoted to the study of liberty and free, responsible societies.

A nonprofit intellectual and educational institution serving the classical liberal tradition through scholarly publishing, small-group discussion, historical texts, and freely accessible digital resources.

• Publishing · 1971

  Liberty Fund books and scholarly editions

  Liberty Fund publishes and keeps in print works on political philosophy, economics, law, education, history, and literature. Its catalog includes editions of Adam Smith's writings, Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America, David Ricardo's economic works, Ludwig von Mises's Omnipotent Government, and The Federalist Papers. The program combines original scholarship, historical editing, and reprints of influential texts.

• Digital library

  Online Library of Liberty

  The Online Library of Liberty is a free digital collection focused on individual liberty, political economy, and related intellectual traditions. It provides access to more than 2,000 works and supporting materials, helping students, researchers, and general readers consult classic texts that may otherwise be difficult to find or afford.

• Academic commentary

  Law & Liberty

  Law & Liberty is Liberty Fund's online publication focused on law, legal philosophy, political thought, and the classical liberal tradition. It publishes articles and commentary intended for readers interested in how legal institutions and political ideas shape free societies.

• Educational website · 2016

  Adam Smith Works

  Adam Smith Works is a research and teaching platform devoted to Adam Smith's life, scholarship, and historical context. Its materials address The Theory of Moral Sentiments, The Wealth of Nations, lectures on jurisprudence, and Smith's writings on subjects including astronomy and ancient philosophy. The project also provides resources for school and college educators.

• Podcast

  EconTalk

  EconTalk is a long-running economics and ideas podcast associated with the Library of Economics and Liberty and hosted by Russ Roberts. Episodes consist primarily of extended conversations with economists, historians, scientists, authors, and other public intellectuals on economics, institutions, culture, and social thought.

• Academic conferences · 1960

  Socratic conference program

  Liberty Fund's conference program convenes small groups of scholars and other participants for sustained discussion based on a shared reading list. Meetings have addressed economics, political theory, history, law, religion, literature, science, technology, genomics, and artificial intelligence, with the format emphasizing close reading and moderated exchange.

• 2007

  Criticism of judicial education seminars

  In The Assault on Reason, Al Gore alleged that Liberty Fund training seminars attended by judges were politically unbalanced and promoted a pro-corporate, anti-environmental agenda. The account characterized Liberty Fund, along with two other organizations, as providing ideological rather than neutral judicial education. The allegation is included as a documented criticism, not as an established finding of wrongdoing.

  Source

Read more

• 2016Adam Smith Works expansion

  International · Online

  Liberty Fund used grant support from the John Templeton Foundation to expand conferences, scholarship, and online educational materials concerning Adam Smith.

  Outcome. The initiative produced a dedicated website and broader educational resources for students, teachers, and researchers.

  Source

• 2015

  Plans a new headquarters in CarmelStrategy

  Background

  Liberty Fund announced plans to strengthen and consolidate its institutional base in Carmel, Indiana.

  Action taken

  The foundation announced construction of a new headquarters with a reported project cost of $22 million.

  Aftermath

  The announcement reinforced Carmel as the foundation's headquarters location.

  Announced headquarters construction cost. $22 million (2015 announcement)

  Source

• 1971

  Establishes a permanent publishing programStrategy

  Background

  The foundation sought to advance the study of liberty not only through conferences but also by making important historical and contemporary texts broadly available.

  Action taken

  Liberty Fund published Education in a Free Society and developed a continuing catalog of books and scholarly editions.

  Aftermath

  Publishing became one of the foundation's core activities, eventually producing more than 400 titles across multiple disciplines.

  Source

1. 1Liberty Funden.wikipedia.org
2. 2Liberty Fund official websitelibertyfund.org