| Admin History | Henry Thomas Hall (1823-1894), a resident of Cambridge, was an active member of the Cambridge Garrick Club with a passion for the theatre in general and the work of Shakespeare in particular. His occasional publications on these interests include the titles: 'Cambridge Dramatic Album' (Cambridge, 1868); 'Shakspere's Plays' (Cambridge, 1880); 'Shaksperean Fly-Leaves etc.' (Cambridge, 1864); 'Shaksperean Statistics' (Cambridge, 1865). A one-act play in verse appeared under the title 'Ye latest edition of ye Rye House Plot, or ye maid, ye Monarch, and ye man' (Cambridge 1868).
The Cambridge Shakespeare Collection is primarily a library of printed works, containing editions and related historical and critical works about the dramatist William Shakespeare (1564-1616) and concerning the reception and performance of his work. It was built up by Henry Hall, who presented it in 1882 to Cambridge Free Library, where further additions were made to it. Hall also collected more generally in the area of dramatic texts and theatre studies 1750-1850, forming a collection which he also presented to the Cambridge Free Library where it was known as the Cambridge Drama Collection.
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| Custodial History | The collection was presented to Nottingham University Library by Cambridge City Libraries in 1960. |
| Description | The core interest of the Collection lies in the many editions of Shakespeare’s works. These range from a reprint of the 1623 First Folio through 18th and 19th century editions by Pope, Bell, Johnson & Steevens, Malone, and many others, up to the twentieth century. There are also some illustrated volumes with engravings and drawings of characters, actors, and scenes from the plays. The Collection is added to occasionally by purchase and gift. |