Evening star., 1932-04-17

TINE Folger Shakespeare Library at
East Capitol and Second streets,
housing the most valuable col
Il lection of Shakespearean works
in the world, will be formally
opened and dedicated next Saturday,
the 26Sth anniversary of the famous
English poets birth.
In ceremonies beginning at 2:30
o'clock, Mrs. Emily G. J. Folger, widow
Of Henry Clay Folger, former president
| and chairman of the board of the
Standard Oil Co. of New York, who
! established the library, VIII present the
keys to the impressive editice to George
! Arthur Plimpton, president of the
trustees of Amherst Conege, who also
are trustees of the library.
Arthur Stanley Pease, president of
Amherst, will preside at the dedication,
while Or. Joseph Quincy Adams, promi-
nent Shakespearean scholar and former
professor of English at Cornell Uni
versity, will make the 6edicatory ad-
dress. Prof. Adams has been made
supervisor Of research Of the library.
The exercises will be broadcast over
the nationwide radio network of the
Columbia Broadcasting system.
Prince to Open Theater.
On the same day in England, the
Prince of Wales will formally open the
new Shakespeare Memorial Theater,
| recently completed in Stratford-on
Avon, in ceremonies which also will be
broadcast throughout the United
States. At the English dedication will
be members of the British ministry and
| other governmental dignitaries, as well
as about 70 Ambassadors and repre-
| sentatives from foreign countries. The
Princes speech may be aeard here at
9:15 am.
Mr.. Folgers collection of Shake
! spearean works, costing more than S4,-
0O0,OOO and sinking fund to provide
for its housing and maintenance, were
bequeathed in his will to the trustees
of Amherst College 1t was the wish
of the late oil magnate to create an
everlasting memorial to William Shake
speare under the administration of an
outstanding educational institution in a
| location where the largest number OF
| persons could enjoy it. For this reason
! the Nations Capital was chosen.
Built on plot of ground adjoining
| the Library of Congress, the Folgel
| Shakespeare Library is constructed oi
snow-white Georgian marble The
! building was conceived and designed BY
the architect Paul P. Cret in consulta-
ton with Alexander B. TroWbridge.
OF plain. modern design outside anc
with the interior in the most approved
Elizabethan style. the library wa.
| planned both inside and out to be more
than just sanctuary for ShakeSpearear
students. It is expected by the college
| trustees to become one of the outstand-
| ing monuments and buildings in Wash.
| ington.
Trustees Statement.
In statement issued on behalf o.
the trustees, William A. Slade, director
of the library, said in part:
| THE Folger collection itself is tht
| largest and most outstanding in tht
| world. There are more than 100 .O0(
pieces in it, including a great quantity
of manuscript material, more than 5000
paintings, drawings, engravings. etch,
ingS and prints original oil paintings
water colors and drawings, photograph!
and playbills and programs, costume.
and many other memorabilia of notet
players, properties and souvenirs.
Vaults of the most modern manu-.
| facture circulated with specially con.
ditioned air at constant temperature
are provided to house these treasure.
and preserve them as wen as moderr
science knows how. For the most val.
liable books and manuscripts there arr
vaults which could accommodate more
THAN 1900 volumes and which have tn.
finest safety burglarproof locks, the like
of which can only be found in first.
class banks. A reading room for thost
scholars who wish to study these many