The Official Restoration
“Animal Rights History is an ongoing effort to provide free online access to historical literature on animal rights, animal welfare, and humanity against cruelty to animals. As a free online library, literary research resource, animal rights timeline and historical literature archive, Animal Rights History promotes and facilitates: access to information, humane education, literary research and the preservation of historical literature on animal rights, animal welfare, and the protection of animals.”
“A wonderful resource for all of us interested in learning more about those who have spoken for the voiceless in the past.”
– Tom Regan, author of The Case for Animal Rights
We’re Bringing It Back!
From 2006 to 2015, the Animal Rights History (ARH) website was an ambitious, easily navigable online encyclopedia and archive of the history of animal ethics from antiquity through the 1950s. Created by Cindy Stein and her partner, it became an invaluable resource for students, scholars, and the general public. After Cindy’s tragic passing in 2015, the website disappeared.
We are fortunate to have acquired the original hard drive containing all files, along with Cindy’s notes and plans for expansion to continue her important work.
A Legacy of Research and Preservation
Cindy poured her heart and intellect into this project, meticulously curating and validating primary sources to ensure accuracy. The ARH website spans antiquity to the mid-20th century, exploring key themes such as law, experimentation, blood sports, justice, kindness, poetry, religion, slaughter, veganism, and more. The site functions as both a historical literature archive and a free online library of primary source e-books (all links will be checked and updated).
The site provided “in-depth insight into an author’s ideologies and additional historical perspective on the continuing struggle for animal rights, animal welfare and protection of animals,” and was recognized by the University of London’s Institute of Historical Research as an online guide for historical resources.
With the Deepest Respect for Those Before Us…
This phrase appears repeatedly on the ARH website, reflecting Cindy’s guiding philosophy—not only to document the history of animal ethics and advocacy, but also to foster respect and kindness for all people while honoring those who have struggled to improve the lives of animals. She understood that unity strengthens the movement to help other animals, while division undermines those efforts.
Ensuring the Future of ARH
Although much of the site’s content was in the public domain, Cindy was deeply protective of its design, structure, layout, and curation. Before her passing, her former partner conveyed that Cindy had designated Eric Greene as the future steward of the project, stating, “he’d know what to do with it.”
In accordance with Cindy’s wishes and those of her partner, this is the only authorized restoration of the Animal Rights History website. The Animals & Culture Collective (ACC) is committed to preserving and expanding this legacy.
Learn more about this restoration and our commitment to Cindy Stein’s vision.
Support the Restoration
To bring the ARH website back online, we need your help. Donate today or join our Patreon, where you can follow the restoration process and ensure this valuable website is preserved for future generations.
If you have web development, archiving, or database expertise and would like to participate in this endeavor, please Contact us.
Animals & Culture Collective™ 