Folger, Emily (1858–1936)

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Folger, Emily (1858–1936)

American scholar and collector. Name variations: Emily Jordan or Emily Clara Jordan; Emily Clara Jordan Folger. Born Emily Clara Jordan on May 15, 1858, in Ironton, Ohio; died Feb 21, 1936, in Long Island, NY; dau. of Edward Jordan (lawyer) and Augusta Woodbury (Ricker) Jordan; sister of Mary Augusta Jordan, English scholar and professor at Smith; graduate of Vassar College, 1879; m. Henry Clay Folger (founder of Folger Shakespeare Library), Oct 6, 1885 (died 1930).

With husband, collected manuscripts, folios, and editions of Shakespeare's work, as well as related articles, and recorded purchases in file which later became basis of official catalogue at Folger Shakespeare Library; traveled from NY to Washington to supervise construction of, and installation of, 100,000 items at Folger Library (1930). Folger Shakespeare Library was dedicated on the anniversary of Shakespeare's birth (April 23, 1932).