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Folger Shakespeare Library

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The historic Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, a place to explore books and learn about Shakespeare.

Folger Shakespeare Library

The Folger Shakespeare Library is a special place in Washington, D.C., in the United States. It is a research library with the biggest collection of books and things about William Shakespeare.

It was built by Henry Clay Folger and his wife, Emily Jordan Folger. They loved Shakespeare's books and collected them for many years. The library opened in 1932.

People can learn about Shakespeare here. There are fun programs for students and teachers. The library has plays, music shows, poetry readings, and special exhibits. It also makes books and guides to help people understand Shakespeare’s works.

The Folger Shakespeare Library is managed by the Trustees of Amherst College. The building is very special and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It helps keep safe many rare and old books and items from early modern period in Britain and Europe.

The library has a big collection of Shakespeare's plays. It has 82 copies of the 1623 First Folio, which is the first book with all of Shakespeare's plays. There are also over 200 early printed copies of his plays, called quartos.

Visitors can enjoy the Elizabethan Theatre, where plays are performed. There is also a garden with plants from Shakespeare’s plays. The library has many events and programs to help everyone learn more about Shakespeare.

Images

Portrait of Henry Clay Folger Jr., founder of the Folger Shakespeare Library.
Portrait of Emily Jordan Folger, co-founder of the Folger Shakespeare Library.
The elegant facade of the Folger Shakespeare Library, designed by architect Paul Philippe Cret.
The reading room inside the Folger Shakespeare Library, a quiet space for learning and reading.
The west front of the Folger Shakespeare Library with a charming statue of Puck, a playful character from Shakespeare's plays.
Rows of books safely stored in the special vault of the Folger Shakespeare Library.
An old book called the First Folio, kept in a library in Washington, DC.
The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., a historic building that houses a famous collection of Shakespeare’s works.
The interior of the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., featuring its historic theater space.

Related articles

Washington, D.C.
William Shakespeare
Early modern period
First Folio

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Folger Shakespeare Library, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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