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.
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.
Printed Books
Manuscripts
Works of Art
Performance History
Caring for Our Collections
Explore some of the scholarly work being done with, in, and around our collections.
Othello: what’s in a name?
Simon Newman examines the use of the name “Othello” given to enslaved people on both sides of the Atlantic.
A 17th Century Letter Collection, Part 2: Travelling Around Early Modern England, 1630-1632
A continued look at the Powell family letters.
Censorship and the Valladolid Folio
Why was this copy of the Second Folio so heavily redacted? Dumbarton Oaks fellow Abner Aldarondo explores the reasons.
The Carib Garifuna Chief: Transatlantic Images of Chatoyer in the Early 19th Century
Folger Fellow Désha Osborne looks at Horace Twiss’s early 19th century play The Carib Chief.
Should Ophelia Die in the 21st Century?
Folger Fellow Injela Zaini examines Ophelia’s death and the purpose it serves.