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Folger Story

Stuart and Mimi Rose

Part of our series spotlighting donors to The Wonder of Will, in support of our building renovation

Stuart and Mimi Rose
Stuart and Mimi Rose

Gift: $5 million for the Stuart and Mimi Rose Rare Book and Manuscript Exhibition Hall

Stuart Rose is a rare book collector and a member of the Board of Governors. His own private collection includes a Shakespeare First Folio.

The three galleries of the Stuart and Mimi Rose Rare Book and Manuscript Exhibition Hall will be located in the New Pavilion, providing permanent and temporary exhibition space. One of these galleries will be devoted to objects from the Folger collection that demonstrate the impact of the early modern world on the world today.

Inspiration for supporting the campaign

“I very much want people to see the great books that the Folger has, the books that are sitting in the vaults right now. And I have pushed very hard and want very much for people of the world to be able to see great books as the authors wanted them to be seen. This exhibition space will give people—not just scholars, but regular people—a chance to appreciate rare books.”

“There’s nothing like seeing the original book to stimulate interest in reading the books, in studying the books, and learning about history, learning about the world, learning about printing.”

Favorite book in the Folger collection

The Caxton Canterbury Tales: “It’s actually a much rarer book than the First Folio, and it’s the first book printed in England, which helped spark the spread of the printing press off the continent.”

The Caxton Canterbury Tales will be one of the objects on display in the Stuart and Mimi Rose Rare Book and Manuscript Exhibition Hall.