LSU Libraries Acquires Rare Second Folio and Civil War Eyewitness Letters

March 14, 2025

An old book lies open on a table. An images of William Shakespeare is on the left page. On the right, the title reads "William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies.” — The frontispiece and title page of the Rufford-Purton copy of the Second Folio. However, neither the frontispiece nor the title page included in this copy are actually from the second folio but are instead supplied from other sources. The famous frontispiece portrait of Shakespeare by Martin Droeshout has been added from the later fourth folio (1685), and the title page is a later, handwritten facsimile, presumably from the late eighteenth century.

LSU Libraries is proud to announce two significant additions to its Special Collections: the “Rufford-Purton” copy of William Shakespeare’s Second Folio and a set of Civil War-era letters describing the capture of Jefferson Davis, in which eyewitnesses claim he was disguised in women’s clothing. These remarkable acquisitions align with LSU’s collecting strengths and will provide scholars and students with valuable opportunities for research and learning for years to come.

“As a collector, I’m fascinated with finding rare historical documents and preserving them, so they don't end up lost. Now, I'm at a point where I'd like to share them so they can be studied,” said Jeffery M. Leving, the renowned rare book and manuscript collector who donated the items. “This gift stems from my professional relationship with LSU’s Dean of Libraries, Stanley Wilder. Dean Wilder is a close friend, and I have full confidence that LSU will preserve these documents for future generations while ensuring that students and faculty benefit from their presence. LSU is the ideal institution to make that possible.”

a page of a book — John Milton's first published poem, which makes up part of the prefatory material of the Second Folio. It is annotated here in what appears to be an eighteenth-century hand, possibly Reverend Rufford's.

Shakespeare’s Second Folio is among the most coveted and studied books in the world of literature. The First Folio, published in 1623, preserved many of Shakespeare’s plays that might have been lost otherwise. Originally published in 1632, the Second Folio is a critical edition of Shakespeare’s collected plays. There were almost 1,700 changes introduced into the Second Folio, mostly minor corrections to the text or modernizations of language that was then almost 40 years old. Significantly, the Second Folio includes an anonymous dedication to Shakespeare attributed to then-young poet John Milton. Thirty years later, Milton would secure his reputation as one of the most important British poets of the early modern period with his publication of the epic poem Paradise Lost (1667).

The “Rufford-Purton” copy of Shakespeare’s Second Folio is particularly distinguished by its unique provenance and marginalia, featuring manuscript notes by 18th-century rector Francis Rufford, as well as additional annotations and documents tracing its ownership through the Purton family. Its journey includes time at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Stratford-upon-Avon before re-entering private hands, and is now in its final resting place, LSU’s Hill Memorial Library.

Leving also contributed a historically significant collection of letters and statements related to the capture of Confederate President Jefferson Davis on May 10, 1865, near Irwinville, Georgia. These documents were gathered and preserved by Robert Burns (ca. 1832–1899), a lieutenant colonel of Company C, 4th Michigan Cavalry. Burns himself was not an eyewitness to Davis’ capture, but he was stationed nearby and later collected first-hand accounts from the soldiers who were eyewitnesses to the event.

These accounts of Davis' dramatic capture include descriptions of his attempted disguise. According to multiple eyewitness statements, Davis was discovered wearing what appeared to be women’s clothing, a fact that became a source of both controversy and satire in the following years. These materials provide valuable insight into how historical narratives are shaped and remembered, offering researchers a deeper understanding of the political and cultural climate of the time.

Taken together, the newly acquired folio and the Burns collection offer a unique juxtaposition of literary and historical artifacts, demonstrating the breadth and depth of LSU’s Special Collections. Scholars in literature, history, and archival studies will find these acquisitions invaluable for their research and educational endeavors forever after.

Both the Second Folio and the collection of Civil War documents are being cataloged and will soon be available to students and researchers alike. Please contact us to make an appointment or to hear more about how these resources fit into our larger collections.

An old book lies open on a table. The right page reads "The Tempest" at the top. — The text of “Measure for Measure” is accompanied by a tipped-in, handwritten guide to the play's characters.

The LSU Libraries includes the LSU Library and the adjacent Hill Memorial Library. Together, the libraries contain more than 4 million volumes and provide additional resources such as expert staff, technology, services, electronic resources, and facilities that advance research, teaching, and learning across every discipline.