About the Collection
The Folger Shakespeare Library is known for its amazing collection of early modern materials related to Shakespeare. However, the library also collects contemporary works that are related to Shakespeare. As a result, there is a small collection of artists’ books that engage with Shakespearean plays.
Sue Doggett’s The Tempest: A Sketchbook from the Play by William Shakespeare is one of the artists’ books at the Folger Shakespeare Library
Finding Artists’ Books
In Hamnet, the Folger’s online public access catalog, type in “artists’ books” under the “Search for” field. On the right, select “Subject & Form/Genre Browse” and click the Submit Search button. On the results page, click the first result, “Artists’ books.” This will pull a list of the small collection of artists’ books at the Folger.
How to Get There
201 East Capitol Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
Take the Orange or Blue lines to Capitol South. Walk up the hill on 1st Street SE. Turn right onto East Capitol Street. The Folger Shakespeare Library is located at 201 East Capitol Street SE. Use the door closest to 2nd Street.
What to Expect
The Folger’s reading room is not open to the public. To become a reader, you must be a scholar or qualified researcher and go through an application process, explained here. If you aren’t able to do research at the Folger, you can also look for scans of artists’ books in LUNA, the Folger’s Digital Image Collection, or contact a reference librarian about the collection by emailing .
Gail Paster Reading Room at the Folger Shakespeare Library. Photo by Julie Ainsworth
Other Resources
Artists’ books posts from the Folger’s Collation blog
Folger Shakespeare Library