8-4FolgerLibrary

Henry Clay Folger WHO WAS HENRY CLAY FOLGER AND WHY IS HE IMPORTANT TO SHAKESPEARE STUDIES? Henry Clay Folger was a man who devoted his life to researching and collecting Shakespearean material. The impact of his studies changed the world’s view on Shakespeare’s writings. Folger was born on June 18th, 1857 in New York, and was the oldest of eight children. Henry assumed many responsibilities as the oldest child. Folger attended the Adelphi Academy in Brooklyn to prepare for college. He attended Amherst College in 1875 on financial aid. There, he received a masters degree and went on to earn law degree from Columbia University. Later on, he took up a clerkship for an oil company. In 1885, Folger married Emily Jordan who morally supported Henry’s collecting of Shakespeare materials. Outside of Shakespeare studies, Folger enjoyed music and golf. Being an avid singer, Folger sang at his school. This hobby led him to collect manuscripts, some of which were from Shakespeare’s plays. Henry often played golf with John T. Rockefeller, who was the owner of Standard Oil, the company at which Folger worked at. because the original company had been split up into sections. Folger would later on become the president of Standard Oil New York. Henry Folger became interested in Shakespeare when he heard a lecture given by Ralph Waldo Emerson for Shakespeare’s 300th birthday. Emerson’s words inspired Folger to pursue a life of collecting Shakespearean materials. Around 1885, Folger bought the modern facsimile (copy) of Shakespeare’s first folio for around $1.25. Folger was fascinated by the difference between the modern versions and the originals. In 1889, Folger purchased a copy of the Fourth Folio, a rare book containing Shakespeare works. According to folger.edu, He bid on it himself for $107.50. This was his first rare addition to his collection. As his studies proceeded with success, the array of Shakespearean works included playbills, paintings, manuscripts encompass books, and much more. The collection grew so much that it needed to be moved from Folger’s house to a warehouse in hundreds of boxes. Mrs. Folger kept track of the collection by frequently updating catalogs and notebooks.

Somewhere around 1910, the Folgers wanted to establish a museum from what they had collected. They sought out a block close to the Library of Congress. They thought of this site being ideal for people to look inside of. After nine years of discussion, the Folgers decided to build. However, because they had kept their plot quiet, the Library of Congress had been planning to expand to the same site, but The Library of Congress kindly let the Folgers build. In 1930, while the library was under construction, Henry Folger died in a hospital bed while undergoing operation. The Folger Library was dedicated to Henry at his ceremony for making the world aware of the works of Shakespeare.

Works Cited "Founding the Library-Folger Shakespeare Library." __-Folger Shakespeare Library__. 4 Apr. 2009 .

"Henry Clay Folger-Folger Shakespeare Library." __-Folger Shakespeare Library__. 4 Apr. 2009 .

Shakespeare, William. __A Midsummer Night's Dream (New Folger Library Shakespeare)__. New York: Washington Square Press, 2004.

WHAT IS THE FOLGER SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY? WHAT IS ITS HISTORY AND ITS MISSION? WHO IS ITS FOUNDER, HENRY CLAY FOLGER? WHAT WERE HIS MOTIVATIONS BEHIIND HIS DEDICATION TO SHAKESPEARE STUDIES? //Answer Prepared by Nish K. // The Folger Shakespeare Library is located on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. According to www.folger.edu, it is home to the world's largest and most elegant collection of Shakespeare material. It is also the home to rare Renaissance books, manuscripts, and works of art. To keep these priceless possessions intact, the library is always protecting preserving, and restoring. It possesses 79 copies of the 1623 Shakespeare plays in the First Folio "The Folger is a world-renowned research center on Shakespeare and on the early modern age in the West." The Folger is also a place where many public programs and seminars can occur. They host plays, concerts, literary readings, family activities, exhibitions, and academic activities for K-12 and college students. The library publishes re-edited and illustrated copies of Shakespeare's work. They also publish award-winning exhibition catalogs, and the journal //Shakespeare Quarterly//. The library contains online teaching resources like Shakespeare lesson plans and other materials to help someone learn the difficult Shakespeare and his work. The Folger Institute is where advanced study and research in the humanities takes place. Scholars, faculty, and graduate students from universities close to the institute conduct multi-disciplinary and cross-cultural programs. According to __The Life, The Works, The__ Treasures by Catherine Alexander, the Folger Shakespeare Library was established in 1932 as a gift to the American people. It was founded by Henry Clay Folger who was the president of the Standard Oil Company in New York and his wife Emily Jordan Folger who was a leading scholar. Folger and his wife possessed a massive collection of Shakespeare books, playwrights, and manuscripts, yet had no place to home them. They decided to establish a library in Washington D.C. that was adjacent to the Library of Congress. The Folgers had the green light from Congress and the Library of Congress to go ahead with their project. The work began in 1930 when the Folgers’s contacted architects Paul Philippe Cret and Alexander Trowbridge for the job. A shocking event occurred that same year; Henry Folger unexpectedly died on June 11. Though the death of Henry Folger was tragic, work on the library had to continue. Emily Folger played a big role in the creation and success of the library after her husband's death. She donated millions of dollars to the project and after it was done she remained active in organizing the administration and contents of the Folger. Finally in 1932 the Folger Shakespeare library was complete. There was a big ceremony attended by President Hoover and his wife, also the ambassadors of Great Britain, France, and Germany attended the celebration as well. The vision that Henry and Emily Folger had for this library was to preserve and keep Shakespeare's work lasting forever. They also wanted to print copies of Shakespeare's work that scholars and the common people could understand. They want people to appreciate the genius of Shakespeare and celebrate his achievements. For example plays written by Shakespeare are being put on //like The Winter's Tale//. To give people Shakespeare's perspective as a writer, the library is hosting their annual write a sonnet contest. The Folgers also wanted people to learn about early modern Europe through all the artifacts and relics of that time period. Many art galleries and exhibitions are opening to achieve this goal. The library is trying to get people to understand how Shakespeare not only impacted Elizabethan England with his work, but how he impacted us today. I mean he was the one who completely reshaped the English language forever. Maybe learning about Shakespeare's status in Elizabethan England can help us learn about that time period as a whole. All the events, programs, and extravaganza functions that the library hosts are based on giving people fulfillment and appreciation to the past. The library is also striving to give inspiration to the next generation. Works Cited Alexander, Catherine. //Shakespeare: The Life, The Works, The Treasures//. New York, NY: Andre Deutsch Limited, 2006.

"Folger Shakespeare Library." //http://www.folger.edu/index.cfm//. 7 Apr 2009

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