The Collation
Research and Exploration at the Folger
The Collation is a gathering of useful information and observations from Folger staff and researchers. Read more about this blog
Postcards in the (home) archive: 1939
a guest post by Stephen Grant Fig. 1. Folger Shakespeare Library from Northwest 1939 Author’s Collection, photo by Stephen Grant Printed on picture side: THE FOLGER SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY, WASHINGTON, D. C. 39686 Printed on address side: Published by B. S.…
Recipe Books, Plague Cures and the Circulation of Information
a guest post by Yann Ryan As well as its terrible consequences for health and mortality, plague in early modern England had a major impact on the communication and circulation of information. Movement was restricted, towns with suspected cases were…
The book thief
Response of James Tabor, public notary, July 10, 1604, in Henry Cotton vs. William Windle. Cambridge University Archives, Comm.Ct.II.11, fol. 57v. Today’s post is about a woman, Margaret Cotton, who allegedly stole a book in 1602. The book might have…
“What manner o’thing is your crocodile?”: December 2021
For our final Crocodile Mystery of the year, here’s a paleographical challenge. What’s going on here, and why might the Crocodile find it interesting? (Disclaimer: This is not a Folger manuscript). Leave your thoughts, guesses, and attempts at transcriptions in…
A Glimpse into the Cultural History of Fragaria
a guest post by Jennie Youssef When the term of my Folger fellowship began, I had made some headway in my research for a dissertation chapter on the foodway of strawberries. The strawberry’s symbolic significance in medieval art and early…
The mystery of Humphrey Walcot’s grocery bill and early-modern popular numeracy
While merchant Humphrey Walcot’s May 8, 1601 shopping list is unique for some of its items, writing lists of items and prices was very common. Packed with accounts, bills, and receipts, the Folger collection shows how people from all walks of life used numbers every day.
What's in a playbill?
The Folger collection includes approximately 250,000 playbills, the single-sheet precursors of today’s multi-page theater programs.Many theater programs in the United States have a striking yellow banner with PLAYBILL in black letters on the front cover. These aren’t playbills, they’re free…
Postcards in the (home) archive: 1938
a guest post by Stephen Grant Fig. 1. Folger Shakespeare Library from Northwest 1938Author’s Collection, photo by Stephen Grant Printed on picture side: FOLGER SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY, WASHINGTON, D. C. 60063 Printed on address side: THE WASHINGTON NEWS COMPANY FOLGER SHAKESPEARE…
Small Latin and Less Greek
In answer to this month’s Crocodile Mystery, Abbie Weinberg explores 17th century vicar John Ward’s use of both Latin and Greek in his notebooks.
“What manner o’thing is your crocodile?”: November 2021
What is going on in this image? Does something look a little odd to you? Is it all Gr— well now, that would be giving it away. Leave your thoughts in the comments and we’ll be back next week with…
Camaraderie, congeniality, and collaboration: paleography at the Folger
A look at the virtual community of volunteer paleographers who work together to transcribe manuscripts in the Folger’s collection.
Picturing Children’s Food in Early Modern Europe
a guest post by Carla Cevasco While I started my Folger fellowship intending to research children’s foodways in the manuscript recipe book collection, I was surprised by how many hungry, eating, or even eaten children could be found in the…