E. Beatrice Batson Shakespeare Collection | Special Collections, Buswell Library

The E.Beatrice Batson Shakespeare Collection is unique among Shakespeare collections in its focus on the Christian tradition in Shakespeare's works. The Shakespeare Collection attempts to bring together the very best scholarship available on the Christian dimension of Shakespeare's dramas, sonnets, and poems.

The collection has among its holdings a beautiful leather-bound Fourth Folio of Henry IV, Part I and II (London, 1685), two facsimiles of the First Folio (1623), various editions of the dramas, a facsimile copy of the 1602 Geneva version of the Bible (perhaps the major source of Shakespeare’s frequent biblical allusions), and a few promptbooks. Resources also include background materials on Shakespeare’s era, bibliographic guides, and concordances. Among the critical materials are over 1000 books.  Scores of professionally produced videos, including videos of the dramas and on the teaching and performing of the plays, are also in the collection.

The majority of the collection resides on the lower level of Buswell Library, and while materials can't be checked out, can be readily referenced. The Shakespeare Collection may be searched in the library catalog as keyword: SC/34