PRINTER'S NO. 4134
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
1109
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY CONKLIN, BURNS, D. COSTA, DEAN, DiGIROLAMO,
FREEMAN, KIRKLAND, MACKENZIE, MAHONEY, MILLARD, NEILSON,
ROSS, SCHLOSSBERG, STURLA, TOOHIL, WATSON AND MARSICO,
OCTOBER 26, 2016
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
OCTOBER 26, 2016
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of November 2016, as "William Shakespeare
Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, In 2016, cultural and educational organizations from
around the world are joined in the celebration of great author
William Shakespeare's legacy, marking 400 years since his death
in 1616; and
WHEREAS, As a part of this year-long celebration, "First
Folio! The Book that Gave Us Shakespeare" is a nationally
touring exhibit that brings the "First Folio" to one site in
each of the 50 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico; and
WHEREAS, The "First Folio," published in 1623, is the first
collection of Shakespeare's plays ever assembled and includes 36
of Shakespeare's plays, 18 of which had never been published;
and
WHEREAS, The "First Folio" was assembled by Shakespeare's
friends and colleagues and, without its publication,
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Shakespeare's works might have been lost forever; and
WHEREAS, The "First Folio" is considered one of the most
influential books in history and only 235 copies exist today out
of an estimated 750 copies originally printed; and
WHEREAS, In November, this nationally touring exhibit arrives
in Pennsylvania and will be on display at Elizabethtown College,
courtesy of the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C.,
in honor of William Shakespeare; and
WHEREAS, The traveling exhibition, which also includes panels
and digital content, exclusively features copies of "First
Folio" from the Folger Library; and
WHEREAS, The Folger Library's collection of 82 copies of
"First Folio" is by far the largest in the world; and
WHEREAS, During November, the English-Speaking Union (ESU) of
the United States and the Folger Library have partnered with
Elizabethtown College and the two ESU branches in Pennsylvania
to hold a month-long series of events for children, teachers and
the public surrounding a display of the "First Folio"; and
WHEREAS, Among these events is a "Teaching Shakespeare
Workshop" which is dedicated to educating teachers on the
historical and cultural significance of Shakespeare's "First
Folio" and demonstrating its use in the classroom; and
WHEREAS, Teachers will be empowered to connect their students
directly with Shakespeare's language and provided with hands-on
practice techniques that work with students and classrooms of
all types; and
WHEREAS, According to the National Endowment for the Arts,
William Shakespeare, upon his death, was recognized as one of
the greatest English playwrights of his era and over the past
four centuries has come to be seen as the greatest playwright in
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the English language; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
month of November 2016 as "William Shakespeare Month" in
Pennsylvania.
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