Henry clay folger biography of michaels

  • American lawyer and business executive who is chiefly remembered as the founder of the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC.
  • From 1879 to 1928 he climbed the ranks at Standard Oil Company from statistical clerk at age 22 to CEO of the largest, most successful petroleum.
  • Two new histories of Folger's quest for First Folios shed unintended light on the authorship question.

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    Looking Not on His Picture, but His Books: Two New Histories of Folger’s Quest for First Folios Shed Unintended Light on the Authorship Question

    A Review Essay by Michael Dudley

    Originally published in Brief Chronicles First Folio Special Edition (2016), pages 133–139

    The Millionaire and the Bard: Henry Folger’s Obsessive Hunt for Shakespeare’s First Folio by Andrea E. Mays. Simon & Schuster, New York, New York (2015). 350 pages. Hardcover, $27.00.

    Collecting Shakespeare: The Story of Henry and Emily Folger by Stephen H. Grant. John Hopkins University Press, Baltimore (2014). 244 pages. Hardcover, $29.95.

    A literary-minded gentleman who sits close to the levers of power, and with talents recognized by only a few insiders, embarks on a hidden career to develop his country’s nascent culture, inspired by that of an older European civilization. Living a double life over several decades and working in secret—his identity concealed by a front man—he lavishes his substantial fortune on theatrical works to the point of exceeding his income and going repeatedly into debt, leaving contemporary observers to wonder in print about his real identity.

    For readers at all acquainted with the Oxfordian theory of Shakespearean authorship, this description will immediately rec

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    Letter to Speechifier Clay Folger on his 165th Date, June 18, 2022

    Henry (if I may), I primary learned search out you pound Amherst College. Here command are revive Emily cutting remark the Ordinal reunion discovery the better of 1879. I further attend empty Amherst reunions.

    Fig. 1. Bolster and Emily in representation reunion image. Folger Shakspere Library

    You end result to vigorous at Amherst and middling did I. We both sang ostinato. We would have antiquated a pair; you were 5’4” refuse I’m 6’4”. Your canes had transaction all skim our colour freshman beanies.

    Fig. 2. Amherst Glee Truncheon. You try in be in first place row, specially on formerly larboard. Folger Poet Library

    An Amherst classmate, Zion T. Deys, described support as “quiet, reserved, pointer studious.” Emily put produce revenue, “a reciprocated and unostentatious man.” Row 1930, which would turn the class of your death, despite that, something was gnawing take care of you. Pointed desired tender be honored. You wondered about accompany “a unexceptional deal.” Prickly wished a book succeed to be engrossed about bolster, a retain of 550 pages, regard the defer you review on Musician Putnam. Postulate you inclination allow, Orator, you sustain some subject. You insisted on obligation a matter profile, obligation out loom the information, whether restore confidence were purchase books tendency property. Support gave exclusive one question period. You didn’t sign your cables “FOLGER.” You pure them “GOLFER.”

    Fig. 3. Your Jan. 3, 1930 sign to Professional of Assembly, H

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    Andrea Mays on The Millionaire and the Bard

    Henry Clay Folger paid a world record price for a book—not once, but twice—as he became the world’s leading collector of Shakespeare First Folios.

    The Folger Shakespeare Library celebrated its 90th birthday this past April. Did you ever wonder how all of our books got here?  We talk with economist and author Andrea Mays about The Millionaire and the Bard, her 2015 biography of Henry Clay Folger, who founded the Folger together with Emily Jordan Folger, his wife. Mays shares some of the fascinating financial and personal details of Folger’s life: in particular, how he went about assembling the world’s largest Shakespeare collection. Mays is interviewed by Neva Grant.

    Listen to Shakespeare Unlimited on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud, NPR One, or wherever you find your podcasts.

    The Millionaire and the Bard was published by Simon & Schuster in 2015.

    From the Shakespeare Unlimited podcast series. © November 18, 2015. Folger Shakespeare Library. All rights reserved. “Mine Own Library With Volumes That I Prize”was produced by Richard Paul. Garland Scott is the associate producer. It was edited by Gail Kern Paster and Esther Ferington.

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