Ed Folsom’s teaching and research have centered on 19th and 20th century American poetry and culture. As one of the most respected scholars of Walt Whitman and the poet’s work, Folsom has directed or co-directed national and international Whitman conferences and has written, edited, or co-edited a number of books on Whitman.

Additionally, Folsom has been a leader in the development of digital humanities. He is the co-director of the Walt Whitman Archive, which is the most comprehensive record of works by and about Whitman and freely accessible online. Folsom is also the editor of both the Walt Whitman Quarterly Review—the online open-access journal of record for Whitman studies—and the popular Whitman Series for the UI Press.