About the Folger

Main (202) 544-4600
Box Office (202) 544-7077
​Fax (202) 544-4623
info@folger.edu

Folger Shakespeare Library is the world’s largest Shakespeare collection, the ultimate resource for exploring Shakespeare and his world. The Folger welcomes millions of visitors online and in person. We provide unparalleled access to a huge array of resources, from original sources to modern interpretations. With the Folger, you can experience the power of performance, the wonder of exhibitions, and the excitement of pathbreaking research. We offer the opportunity to see and even work with early modern sources, driving discovery and transforming education for students of all ages. 

Shakespeare belongs to you. His world is vast. Come explore. Join us online, on the road, or in Washington, DC.

In addition to being the world's largest Shakespeare collection, the Folger is home to major collections of other rare Renaissance books, manuscripts, and works of art. Located a block from the US Capitol, the Folger serves a wide audience of scholars, visitors, teachers, students, families, and theater- and concert-goers. 

The Folger opened in 1932, as a gift to the American people from founders Henry and Emily Folger. Learn more about the history of the Folger.

Our mission

  • To preserve and enhance our collection
  • To make our collection accessible to scholars and others who can use it productively
  • To advance understanding and appreciation of Shakespeare’s writings and the culture of the early modern world.

What we do

We create experiences. People experience Shakespeare and his world in startling new ways with the Folger Shakespeare Library. Professional theater, exhibitions, lectures, concerts, family programs, podcasts, and events engage millions of people—at the Folger, on the road, and online.
 
We transform education. The Folger Shakespeare Library is revolutionizing the way Shakespeare is taught in classrooms, showing how the study of his work deepens knowledge and hones skills across key academic areas.
 
More than two million teachers and students benefit each year from in-person workshops, lesson plans, webinars, online field trips, and the best-selling Folger Editions of Shakespeare’s plays. The Folger is a leader in performance-based education, which helps to build deep reading skills critical to student success.
 
We drive discovery. The Folger Shakespeare Library is an international center for Shakespeare scholarship and the study of the early modern period. Each year we welcome hundreds of scholars who use our collection to advance knowledge across dozens of fields. We collaborate with other research institutions to expand access, foster exploration, and share knowledge. Through fellowships, seminars, publications, lectures, and partnerships, we advance the study of Shakespeare and his world.
 

Learn more

Find out more about what's happening at the Folger, learn about ways to connect with us online or in social media, or find volunteer or employment opportunities. You can also review our annual report and get information on the Folger Board of Governors and the Folger staff, including director Michael Witmore. 

Main (202) 544-4600
Box Office (202) 544-7077
​Fax (202) 544-4623
info@folger.edu