Objectivism as a formal discipline began with [[Ayn Rand]], a Russian-born émigrée to the United States. Ayn Rand attended The University of Petrograd where she studied philosophy and history. She graduated in 1924. In her work, showed more than a passing familiarity with the great philosophers of ancient Western civilization. The ancient philosopher she respected the most was [[Aristotle]].
By far the most complete expression of Objectivism in a single volume is in her novel, and most famous work, ''[[Atlas Shrugged]]''.<ref name=Atlas>Rand, Ayn. ''[[Atlas Shrugged]]''. New York: Random House Publishers, 1957, 1168 pages, cloth. ISBN 0394415760</ref> However, her philosophy found expression in innumerable essays, whichwere which were published in a number of newsletters and magazines that she edited from time to time, primarily ''The Objectivist Newsletter'', ''The Objectivist'', and ''The Ayn Rand Letter'', many of which have no been collected in ''The Letters of Ayn Rand''.<ref>Rang, Berliner and Peikoff (1997), '''The Letters of Ayn Rand''', Plume Publishing</ref> Many of her working notes have also been collated, edited and published in ''The Journals of Ayn Rand''.<ref>Rand, Peikoff and Harriman (1999), '''The Journals of Ayn Rand''', Plume Publishing</ref> These compilations have made it far easier for the aspiring student of philosophy to gain insight not only into Rand's revolutionary philosophy, but also into the formation of the philosophy, the question she asked and avenues she explored.
During her life she attracted as dedicated following of students, including such names as the former chairmen of the Federal Reserve, Alan Greenspan, Nathaniel Branden, a leading psychotherapist, the writer, Barbara Branden, and Leonard Peikoff, who went on to become a leading philosopher in his own right.