About Paper Lanterns

Preserving the intimate conversations and powerful orations that shaped our world

My Vision

Before the age of instant communication, every written word carried weight. Letters were deliberate, speeches were crafted with care, and each sentence was chosen with intention. These documents reveal not just historical facts, but the human experiences behind them—the hopes, fears, loves, and dreams of those who came before us.

There's something magical about these letters. They are frozen in time yet some continue to travel through time and violently awaken the fullness of human capabilities, while others lie neglected, waiting for someone to rediscover them. Voice from Time is dedicated to preserving and presenting these remarkable documents as they deserve to be seen: as works of art, windows into the soul, and bridges across time.

Behind the Page

Hi, my name is Bhuvan and I'm utterly fascinated by all the treasures available in the public domain. I'm working on a larger project to curate and catalog all the Indian works in the public domain, but I also wanted to collect and publish all the letters in the public domain separately, inspired by the work of Shaun Usher at Letters of Note.

Each letter in this collection has been carefully verified for authenticity and historical accuracy. I believe that these letters and speeches contain timeless wisdom and beauty that should be accessible to everyone, preserved for future generations to discover and rediscover.

You can find me on Twitter and LinkedIn. If you know of a remarkable public domain letter that deserves preservation and presentation, or if you have corrections or additional context for existing content, I'd love to hear from you.

What Makes a Letter Worth Preserving

Not every historical letter deserves a place here. I'm looking for those rare moments when someone put pen to paper and captured something eternal—a breakthrough in human understanding, a heart laid bare, or words so beautiful they transcend their time.

After experiencing the painful lesson of removing fabricated letters from this collection, I now apply ruthless standards. Every letter must pass these tests:

  • Verified authenticity — I can point to the exact historical source, whether it's Project Gutenberg, Wikisource, or documented archives. No exceptions.
  • Transformative power — Does this letter change how we see the world, reveal profound human truth, or capture a pivotal moment in history?
  • Timeless resonance — Will someone reading this in 2050 find it as moving and relevant as we do today?
  • Literary beauty — The language itself must sing. These aren't just historical documents—they're works of art.
  • Public domain freedom — Everything here belongs to humanity, free from copyright restrictions forever.

I'd rather have 50 letters that genuinely matter than 500 that merely exist. Quality over quantity, always. Each letter here has earned its place by touching something universal in the human experience.

Our Sources

Every document in this collection comes from verified public domain sources. We draw from the world's most trusted digital archives and libraries to ensure authenticity and accuracy:

  • Wikisource — The free library of public domain texts, carefully transcribed and verified by volunteers worldwide.
  • Project Gutenberg — The oldest digital library, with over 70,000 free eBooks from the public domain.
  • Internet Archive — Digital preservation of historical documents, books, and manuscripts.
  • National Archives — Official government archives from various countries containing verified historical correspondence.
  • University Libraries — Digitized special collections from institutions like Yale, Harvard, and Cambridge.

Each document includes source attribution and links to the original text where available. If you notice any errors or have questions about authenticity, please reach out.

What You'll Find

150+ Historical Documents
500+ Years of History
12 Thematic Collections
100% Public Domain