Buckminster Fuller's archive at Stanford weighs 45 tons! What the h*ll is in it?

Factual Questions
1

According to a recent NY Times article
(http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/15/arts/music/15ster.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=fuller+dome+tons&st=nyt&oref=slogin):

“…Because he believed his ideas and life would hold enduring interest, [Buckminster] Fuller collected nearly every scrap of paper that ever passed through his hands, including letters that raise questions about the suicide story. At 45 tons, it is the largest personal archive at Stanford…”

**45 TONS!?!?!? **

What the hell is in it? Surely it can’t all be papers. Even if there are a few dozen models and one of those wacky teardrop cars, it can’t even come close to 45 tons!

2

Maybe it contains his entire collection of National Geographics? :smiley:

3

Buckyballs.

:smiley:

4

If you really want to know what’s in the archive, look at this webpage, which has a detailed description of the contents. And yes, it does include some models.

5

Big Brass BuckyBalls

6

Actually, as a student from SIU where he used to teach, according to friends who were students of his, 45 tons might just be enough to cover his ego.

7

That would be fullerene clathrates of copper and zinc atoms?