The Nifty Archive began as a personal collection in 1992 and became public in 1993.
Initially focused on gay stories, it expanded to include various genres of erotic literature.
The archive faced access restrictions, resource limitations, and legal challenges.
It found support from mirror sites and became a non-profit organization in 2000.
Adult verification methods were implemented to comply with regulations.
The archive uses a content delivery network for web hosting.
The Nifty Archive has grown with a large number of mirror sites supporting its content.