Preserving History
Welcome to the legacy server of the Folger Shakespeare Library. This repository contains digitized manuscripts, historical prints, and classical literature resources that have been preserved for academic research and public exploration.
Our mission is to make the early modern world accessible to everyone. Browse our extensive database of primary sources and experience history firsthand.
Featured Collections
First Folios
Explore high-resolution scans of Shakespeare’s 1623 First Folio, including marginalia and historical binding details.
View Collection →Renaissance Manuscripts
A curated selection of handwritten letters, diaries, and administrative documents from the 16th and 17th centuries.
View Collection →Early Modern Theatre
Architectural drafts, stage directions, and playbills from the original Globe and Blackfriars theatres.
View Collection →Research & Resources
Access our legacy databases and cataloging systems. While this is an archival site, the search functionalities remain fully operational for scholars and researchers requiring access to older digital formats.