The Folger’s collection is vast and varied, including printed books; manuscripts; prints, drawings, photographs, paintings, and other works of art; and a wealth of performance history, from playbills to films, recordings, and stage costumes.
In addition to the rare material collection, the Folger holds a collection of over 100,000 monographs, periodicals, and electronic resources published between the 1830s and the present, related to the understanding and interpretation of Shakespeare, his works and impact, and to the early modern world.
Printed Books
Manuscripts
Works of Art
Performance History
History of the collection
Henry Clay Folger and his wife, Emily Jordan Folger, began amassing the collection of rare books that would become the Folger Shakespeare Library in 1889. They spent decades gathering the world’s largest Shakespeare collection, as well as associated works from Shakespeare’s time. The Library itself opened in 1932, and continues to expand its holdings today.
Caring for our collections
Related blog posts
Explore some of the scholarly work being done with, in, and around our collections.
Lingua Latina Medica Accessabilis Facta, or, Medical Latin Made Accessible
Lingua Latina Medica Accessabilis Facta, vel Febrem Habeo et Præscriptio Sola Campanæ Bovinæ Plus Est or Medical Latin Made Accessible, or I Have a Fever and the Only Prescription is More (of) Cow Bell. A look into John Ward’s Latin list, a glossary of the medical Latin terms used by the 17th century vicar in his diaries.
Folger Faves: January 2026
Senior Photography Associate William Davis shares his five favorite collection items in our new series: Folger Faves.
Artist Dominick Porras Reconstructs Classical Narratives of the Americas
Porras, a Folger Artist Fellow, shares what inspired him, from the Folger collection to Indigenous futurism, in the creation of his new media work, de Bry’s Slipstream.
Top five Collation blog posts of 2025
Take a look at our top five Collation posts from 2025. Thanks for a great year!
“Greetings from Jamaica”
Seventeenth century resonances in a twentieth century postcard sent from Jamaica.