The
New England Shakespeare Oxford Library is a private special
library located in Somerville, Massachusetts dedicated to the
study of Shakespeare literature and history and the study of
the Shakespeare Authorship question. The Library is comprised
of a permanent collection of books, journals, articles, and
various media made available to subscribers.
While the library
is operated by individuals who accept the Oxfordian
theory of the authorship of the Shakespeare canon (and the
authorship portion of our collection concentrates on this theory),
we welcome all who are interested in general Shakespeare studies.
Indeed, it is our conviction that knowing the true author of
the canon and the circumstances under which he wrote will greatly
increase one's understanding and appreciation of the plays and
poems.
Presently, the Library
is housed in a private residence; once a permanent home is established,
we expect to serve as a gathering place in the Boston area for
meetings, discussion, study and educational programs. At that
time there will also be set hours of operation and members may
visit the library during those hours. Until then members may
access the Library by appointment (contact librarian@shakespeareoxfordlibrary.org).
Our
Catalog
Our catalog is freely
available to the general public via the World Wide Web. Anyone
may access the catalog by logging on to this site and clicking
on NESOL
Catalog. Anyone may become a library member for an annual
fee. Members gain physical access to the Library's collections,
the services of a reference librarian who specializes in Shakespeare
studies and the Shakespeare Authorship question, photocopying/delivery
services for materials (i.e. journal and newsletter articles)
not available on the Web, and borrowing privileges. Members
may borrow materials by visiting the library in person, or via
a mail service with prior agreement with the Library (details
to be announced).
What makes our catalog
unique is the presence of records not just for books, but also
for the contents of books (i.e. individual essays in collections),
individual articles in journals and newsletters, and for manuscript
documents related to the authorship debate (e.g. letters, government
documents, etc). These catalog records provide links to the
material anywhere it is available on the Internet (i.e. other
Shakespeare authorship and/or Shakespeare websites, publisher
websites, archival websties, Google books, etc.).
We expect the basics
of building our catalog to be completed by late 2007/early 2008.
However, we have already progressed far enough to be able to
begin lending books to members in
the Boston area (i.e. those who can visit the library in person),
and to provide (via fax or email attachment) copies of articles/essays
from newsletters, journals or books in our collection to members
anywhere in the US. Our catalog will incorporate links to all
online resources for texts we own, and also for texts which
we do not own, but which are available on the internet, so there
is much material that anyone using the catalog can access directly
on the web; our copying service will be only for those materials
not available on the web. We will be cataloging some materials
that have never before been cataloged or made available for
study by any library. We are also in the process of making all
our holdings keyword searchable with terms specifically related
to the Shakespeare Authorship question.
Our
Collection
A long-time Shakespearean
researcher and writer began our collection with a generous donation
of books collected over a lifetime. We have also been adding
publications to this collection with donations from several
other local researchers, and purchasing a selection of newly
published books (See Recent
Acquisitions) to provide patrons with up-to-date materials
on many subjects related to Shakespeare studies and the Renaissance
in general, its culture, philosophy, history, literature, politics,
and music, with a particular interest in the life and reign
of Queen Elizabeth I, and the Shakespeare Authorship question.
We shall make available to our members research and publications
related to all Shakespeare Authorship theories, with emphasis
on the Oxfordian theory that Edward de Vere, Seventeenth Earl
of Oxford (1550-1604), was the true author of the Shakespeare
canon. Our goal is to provide a useful core collection of publications
and research materials for study.
Presently we have
approximately 750 books on general Shakespeare studies and the
Shakespeare authorship question, including many of the books
published since 1920 on the case for Edward de Vere, 17th Earl
of Oxford. The collection also includes a selection of books
on the Baconian and Marlovian theories of the Shakespeare authorship,
and some of the primary texts on Shakespeare research and studies
published over the past century (e.g. Bullough's Narrative
and Dramatic Sources of Shakespeare, Furness's The Variorum
Shakespeare, First Folio reprints, quarto reprints from
the Folger Shakespeare Library, etc.) We have full runs of the
primary Oxfordian periodicals published in the past 70 years,
including the old Shakespeare Fellowship newsletters and quarterly,
the Shakespeaeran Authorship Review, the Bard,
the De Vere Society Newsletter from Britain, the Edward
de Vere Newsletter, Spear-Shaker review, the Shakespeare
Oxford Newsletter (from the Shakespeare Oxford Society),
and the revised Shakespeare Fellowship newsletter (Shakespeare
Matters).
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Donations
While we have on
hand a good starting collection of both Oxfordian and general
authorship materials, basic Shakespeare texts and criticism,
and Elizabethan/Jacobean history and biographies, new material
is published continually and there is much older material which
we would love to acquire. Therefore, in order for the library
to be a dynamic organization in the New England region we will
need ---like any good library--- to purchase books and to subscribe
to journals and newsletters on an on-going basis (See Recent
Acquisitions for a listing of what we have acquired in recent
months). So, we welcome your donations of books, journals (or
subscriptions to journals), or other related items. If you wish
to help us financially, consider becoming a sustaining member
for $100.00. See below for details, under "Membership."
We would also be
most grateful for any in-kind (i.e. books or subscriptions)
donations you may be able to give to help us build the Library.
For more information, please contact librarian@shakespeareoxfordlibrary.org
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Membership
Even as we continue
building our catalog, we can now offer those in the Boston area
the ability to borrow books from our collection by becoming
subscribing members for just $35.00 per year. Members from anywhere
in the US are eligible to request from us copies of essays in
journals, newsletters or books and have them sent to them via
fax or email attachment. We expect later this year to announce
how members may borrow books by mail. Books eligible for loan-by-mail
will be noted in the catalog. Sustaining memberships are available
for those who wish to help underwrite the costs of building
and maintaining our catalog, housing the collection, and acquiring
new materials.
Contact membership@shakespeareoxfordlibrary.org
with any questions about membership.
Subscribing member ($35.00, one year):
Sustaining member ($100.00, one year):
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Volunteer
Opportunities
Would you like to
be involved? Earn a complimentary library subscription or reduced
or free admission to future selected events! We have short and
long-term volunteer opportunities:
Readers:
If you are an avid
reader, we would be very grateful to receive your help in
making our collection keyword searchable. We need people who
are willing to read articles and write a summary that we may
then use in our catalog to make materials keyword searchable.
We will provide the articles and training.
Events:
If you like to
plan events or write publicity, or just like to throw a party,
please contact us! We would be very pleased to have your help
with future event planning and hosting at the event.
Lectures:
Are you interested
in giving lectures on Shakespeare or the Shakespeare Authorship
question? We would like to organize future lectures sponsored
by the Library. Please contact us with your ideas!
Contact librarian@shakespeareoxfordlibrary.org
for further information.
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New England Shakespeare
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