Paul Menzer Named Inaugural Folger Chair in Shakespeare Studies

Menzer’s residency will focus on his forthcoming project, Shakespeare's Enemies, a cultural history analyzing how resistance and animosity toward the playwright actually fueled his canonization. By examining detractors ranging from Robert Greene and Voltaire to James Baldwin, Menzer intends to map how dislike has historically shaped the creative production surrounding the Bard. Beyond his research, he will lead workshops and participate in the library’s public programming, acting as a senior intellectual lead within the Folger’s fellowship cohort.

The fellowship was established by Director Farah Karim-Cooper and Folger Institute Director Patricia Akhimie to address a common gap in academic career paths. As scholars ascend into administrative roles, they often lose the capacity to pursue personal research. This position deliberately protects that space for mid-career and senior academics who have spent years building the broader research ecosystem. For Menzer, who has served as Provost and Dean at Mary Baldwin, the appointment marks a return to intensive scholarly inquiry supported by the world’s largest Shakespeare collection.