It’s been 10 years since Cindy Stein’s tragic passing in May 2015—a loss for all who care about animals, as well as close friends and family. Cindy was the visionary behind the Animal Rights History digital archive, which she co-founded and developed with her partner from 2006 to 2015. An easily navigable site documenting animal ethics throughout history and across cultures, it served as a vital record of the longstanding, global conversation about how we think about and treat animals.

And then this magnificent archive, into which Cindy poured her heart and intellect, was offline, and I worried about its fate. This was her legacy, and needed to be restored and safeguarded.

I’m relieved and happy to announce that the Animals & Culture Collective™ has recently acquired the website’s hard drive with all its files, along with Cindy’s notes and plans for future additions, and is now in the process of revitalizing this invaluable resource.

I first met with Cindy at an outdoor vegan café shortly after arriving in Los Angeles. She respected my work in animals and culture studies, and I admired her comprehensive approach to building the Animal Rights History digital archive. Over two large servings of fries, we quickly formed a strong connection, sharing stories and reflecting on this calling we both felt. It continues to be one of the most meaningful evenings I’ve had since moving to LA.

Cindy wanted people to know that ethics toward animals was not new—there’s an entire, often forgotten history of people thinking deeply about and advocating for other species. But she was also protective of the website, aware of how easily work like this could be exploited or co-opted, even within animal rights and vegan circles. I understood her concerns, yet after sharing more stories and ideas, we agreed to help each other with our respective projects—a partnership rooted in mutual trust and hope for a brighter future.

Less than three years later she was gone. Her former partner told me that Cindy wanted the website to be entrusted to my care if anything happened to her, saying “he’d know what to do with it.” It has taken time, but we can finally fulfill that trust. With your support, we’ll restore and enhance this much needed digital archive. This is the only authorized restoration of the Animal Rights History website, in full accordance with Cindy’s wishes.

Your donation will enable us relaunch the website, update its technology, and with our partners, greatly expand its offerings. Follow our development of this project and support us on Patreon.

Together, we’ll ensure that this vital history remains accessible to all and continues to inspire a more just world.

~ Eric