henry and emily jordan folger were born in the 1850s when many american families had only two books this their library -- in their library; the bible and shakespeare be. they died childless in the 19 1930s. i searched in vain for someone who remembered them. the closest i got was an octogenarian who had attended the dedication of the folger library in 1932 on shakespeare's birthday in reasons of president and mrs. herbert hoover. i beseeched her, what do you remember? she confided in me, my leggings itched. [laughter] what did the folgers leave behind for a biographer? first, a handsome, white marble edifice of neoclassical design two blocks from capitol. that contains a world class rite research library, a theater where shakespeare and other plays by award-winning directors are performs. are performed. there is a renaissance concert series called the folger consort. there are curated exhibits, robust programs in poetry and education, communications and outreach. and a cohort of dedicated do sents will show -- doe sents will show you the public spaces while in the reading rooms english p