A New Rare Recording of Ayn Rand: Premiere of “Is Atlas Shrugging?” in Its Clearest Form Yet

On September 2 — a day of recurring prominence in Atlas Shrugged — the Ayn Rand Institute will debut a rare, newly acquired recording of Ayn Rand’s 1964 Ford Hall Forum talk, “Is Atlas Shrugging?” This version, preserved in far higher quality than any previously available, offers a vivid new experience of Rand’s voice and ideas.

The event will open with a twenty-minute presentation by ARI archivists Brandon Lisi and Audra Hilse, joined by Rand scholar Shoshana Milgram, a literature professor with the English Department of Virginia Tech. Together, they will set the historical background, highlighting the lecture’s connections to Atlas Shrugged and the cultural and political events Rand examined in 1964.

This release is part of the Archives’s broader mission to recover and restore Rand’s recorded legacy. Our latest discovery at the Boston Public Library revealed a cache of Ford Hall Forum recordings, many with superior quality and some never-before-released segments. Portions of this material were previewed earlier this year at an ARI donor Roundtable and at OCON 2025 in Boston.

Between 1961 and 1981, Rand appeared at the Ford Hall Forum nineteen times. In “Is Atlas Shrugging?” she drew the parallels between her novel and real-world trends, outlining how her philosophy could spark a profound intellectual and moral revolution.

The September 2 premiere is free to attend, thanks to the support of ARI’s donors, who enjoy early access to newly recovered archival content.

Register now to join us for this special event — and consider becoming an ARI donor to help preserve and share Ayn Rand’s legacy.