Research
The materials held at the Folger Shakespeare Library are meant to be actively used; Henry Folger once called the collection “a fine kit of tools for scholars.”
Folger Institute
The Folger Institute advances collections-focused research in the early modern humanities. Through its multi-disciplinary programs and inquiry-driven research fellowships, the Institute establishes cutting-edge scholarly communities, sponsors innovative research approaches, and develops new teaching agendas for early modern fields.
Use the library
The Folger welcomes anyone to research with us. Learn more about using our Reading Room for an in-person research visit, from the days and hours we are open to what you need to know before arriving. We also have many digital resources available to assist researchers, from our catalog to the images in our digital collections.
About our collections
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—plus over 100,000 monographs, periodicals, and electronic resources from the 1830s to the present.
Featured research projects and initiatives
The Folger Shakespeare Library sponsors collaborative, cutting-edge research informed and inspired by our world-class collections. We encourage everyone to explore, build upon, and engage with our work.
Images and permissions
The Folger’s Imaging team creates high-quality digital images of books, manuscripts, and art in the Library’s collections. As items are photographed, the images are made available in our digital collections.
Online resources
Find information about our catalog, our digital collections, and our request system, as well as our Finding Aid Database, Early Modern Manuscripts Online, and other Folger created and hosted resources including Shakespeare Documented and The Collation blog.
Ask a Librarian
Need assistance with navigating the Folger’s collection? Get in touch with one of our librarians with our Ask a Librarian form. Our librarians are happy to assist you.
Shakespeare Quarterly
Shakespeare Quarterly (SQ) is a leading journal in Shakespeare studies, publishing highly original, rigorously researched essays, notes, and book reviews. Published for the Folger Shakespeare Library by Oxford University Press (OUP), SQ is peer-reviewed and very selective.
