The unique archive of personal belongings of the famous late astrophysicist and popularizer of science Stephen Hawking was donated to the Science Museum of the University of Cambridge. The agreement was concluded by the British government and the university library.
The archive includes drafts and notes of the scientist. The archive was acquired in accordance with the provision in the British tax law Acceptance in Lieu. It states that inheritance tax debts can be written off in exchange for the acquisition of objects of national importance.
According to The Guardian, the museum’s collection now contains six Hawking wheelchairs, letters from popes and presidents. Also in the collection is the original doctoral dissertation “Properties of Expanding Universes.” It also contains his favorite portrait by the British landscape painter Fred Cuming.
I got to the museum and Hawking’s script for the 22nd episode of the 10th season of The Simpsons. The museum will also transfer all the contents of the theoretical physicist’s office at the University of Cambridge. This will cover £ 1.4 million in tax.
And the archive of Hawking’s documents will go to the library of the University of Cambridge in exchange for the payment of a tax of £ 2.8 million.
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