First Folio! The Book that Gave Us Shakespeare - Iowa

First Folio! The Book that Gave Us Shakespeare was a touring exhibition from the Folger Shakespeare Library that visited one location in all 50 United States, Puerto Rico, and Washington DC in 2016 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death.


This article provides highlights from the exhibition’s visit to Iowa.

Exhibition Location: Iowa City, Iowa

Exhibition Venue: The University of Iowa Libraries

Exhibition Dates: August 29, 2016 – September 25, 2016


Partner Organizations:

  • Brucemore
  • Iowa City Public Library
  • Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature
  • Salisbury House
  • Riverside Theatre
  • Coe College
  • Cornell College
  • Grinnell College
  • UI Alumni Association
  • Center for the Book
  • Department of Cinematic Arts
  • Department of English
  • School of Library and Information Science
  • School of Music
  • Obermann Center for Advanced Studies
  • Theater Arts Department


Complementary Exhibitions:

  • Shakespeare Redesigned - August 25, 2016 – December 1, 2016
    • Whether they were faithful to a source text, bound it, distilled it, or plucked it apart, the creators of these books were all inspired by William Shakespeare’s writings. Drop in to view this special exhibit featuring examples of fine press and artists’ books.


Event List:

  • June 16 -19, 2016 – King Lear presented by The Repertory Theater of Iowa
  • July 14 – 23, 2016 – As You Like It, presented by The Classics
  • August 6, 2016 – B.Y.O. BOOK — A Brave New World, discussion of Aldous Huxley’s book
  • August 18, 2016 – Film screening, Much Ado About Nothing (directed by Kenneth Branagh)
  • August 20, 2016 –Teaching Shakespeare in Iowa Workshop, Grades 6 -12
  • August 25, 2016 – Film screening, Henry V (directed by Laurence Olivier)
  • August 29, 2016 – Grand Opening – First Folio! The Book That Gave Us Shakespeare
  • September 10, 2016 – Shakespeare’s Herbs & Flowers, Professor Colleen E. Kennedy demonstrates how locally-grown flowers and herbs were used during Shakespeare’s time.
  • September 14, 2016 –An Evening with Professor Adam Hooks - Professor Hooks will give visitors a look at some books related to the exhibit that are not in the Gallery cases — an exclusive view of bonus content!
  • September 15, 2016 – So Many Instruments of Memory: Printing Sonnet 122 on the Iron Hand-Press As Public Remembrance, Lecture by Professor Kirilka Stavreva
  • September 15, 2016 - Film screening, O
  • September 18, 2016 – Shakespeare Family Festival
  • September 20, 2016 – B.Y.O. BOOK — The Millionaire and the Bard, a discussion of Andrea Mays’ book.
  • September 20, 2016 - Creative Matters Lecture Series Q Brothers In Dialog with Miriam Gilbert
  • September 21, 2016 – Shakespearean Noon Tunes featuring vocalists from the Chamber Singers of Iowa City and vocal performance students from the University of Iowa’s School of Music
  • September 21, 2016 – Lecture by Ana Rodriguez, Hamlet and Quixote: Still Crazy After All These Years
  • September 22, 2016 – Film screening, Looking for Richard
  • September 23 – 24, 2016 – Hawkeye Shakespeare: Teaching Shakespeare in Iowa for College-Level Faculty and Instructors
  • September 23, 2016 – Experiencing Digital Shakespeare: A Keynote Address for the “Hawkeye Shakespeare” Workshop by Sarah Werner
  • September 24, 2016 – Dost Thou Speak Masterly? Iowa Reads Shakespeare, First Folio Closing Event
  • September 27, 2016 – Lecture by Colleen Kennedy, Hamlet’s Dreams: The Robben Island Shakespeare
  • September 28, 2016 – Shakespearean Noon Tunes featuring vocalists from the Chamber Singers of Iowa City and vocal performance students from the University of Iowa’s School of Music
  • October 2, 2016 – Julius Caesar Presented by The Q Brothers
  • October 12, 2016 – Finding My Way to Shakespeare, a talk by artist Emily Martin
  • October 27, 2016 – B.Y.O. BOOK — Station Eleven discussion of Emily St. John Mandel’s novel
  • October 28, 2016 –Creepy Campus Crawl Shakespeare-Style: A Shakespeare-Themed Family Event
  • November 9, 2016 - Lecture by Blaine Greteman, Shakeosphere: Visualizing Shakespeare’s Network
  • November 11, 2016 – Family Weekend at the UI School of Music offering a variety of performances, including music and dance from the period and a performance of the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet.


Click here to learn about the First Folio that visited Iowa.