RASCAL

Research and Special Collections Available Locally (Ireland)

Simms Collection (Irish)	Queen's University Belfast
Associated Collections	Return to results page

Collection
Identifier	y/
Description	Significant collection of early monographs, pamphlets, bound letters etc pertaining to Ireland by foreign authors and/or by Irishmen printed abroad. Dating mainly from before 1701, the Simms collection contains many rare and important items that have been gathered together by a local book collector of some repute reflecting a particular interest in Irish affairs. Prominent among the subjects covered in the collection are items relating to the tumultuous events of 17th century Britain and their particular impact on Ireland. The Flight of the Earls, Plantation, the English Civil War (1642-45), the so-called 'Glorious Revolution' of 1689 and the Seige of Derry (1690) are all well represented. Other subjects befitting the age to which the collection as a whole relates extends to matters of religious debate and history, with items commentlng on the lives of the Irish Saints, theology and philosophy etc to be found throughout. The collection also contains a number of examples of incunabula with the earliest number dating from c. 1490 and being an edition of Richard Fitzralph's (c. 1295-1360, Archbishop of Armagh) Defensorium Curatorum.
Strengths	17th century Britain and Ireland. English Civil War.
Physical Characteristics	Approx. 208 volumes - monographs, pamphlets, bound letters etc.
Languages	English;French;Italian;Latin
Collection Temporal Date Range	. - .
Accumulation Date Range	. - .
Contents Date Range	1490 - 1701
Collection Type	Collection.Library.Text.Special
Accrual	Policy: Closed Method: Purchase Periodicity: Closed
Access	The collection is available for reference only under supervised access in the Special Collections Reading Room at The McClay Library. Further information is available here: http://libguides.qub.ac.uk/specialcollections Information for visitor access to The McClay Library is available here: http://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/InformationServices/TheLibrary/AccesstotheLibrary/Accessformembersofthepublicandothervisitors/
Description or Catalogue	Items contained in the Simms Collection can be found catalogued on the QUB on-line catalogue (QCAT) as part of the Early Printed Book Collection (prefix y/). The catalogue is accessible at: http://www.qub.ac.uk/lib

Collector
Name	Dr Samuel Simms (d. 1967)
Role	Private Collector
History	Private book collector and medical doctor. Belfast. d. 1967

Owner
Organisation	Queen's University Belfast
Role	Academic Institution
Telephone	+44 (0)28 9024 5133
Fax	+44 (0)28 9024 7895
History	Queen's University Belfast was formerly established as 'Queen's College, Belfast' by Queen Victoria in 1845 as one of a network of three Queen's Colleges in Ireland alongside Cork and Galway. It was raised to the status of a full university in 1908 with its own Charter and Statutes. When Queen's College first opened its doors in 1849, there were 20 professors and 90 matriculated students all based in the main Lanyon building off University Road, Belfast. Since then, the University has grown considerably both in reputation and stature reflecting its status as one of the oldest universities in the UK. Now catering to some 1,300 academics and 17,000 full and part-time students, the University offers courses and research opportunities in Agriculture & Food Science, Arts, Economics & Social Sciences, Medicine & Health Sciences, Science, Engineering, Education, Law and Theology based in centres within several miles of the original site, as well as a Marine Laboratory at Portaferry, a campus at Armagh City and outreach centres in Omagh and Newcastle and a nursing campus at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry. Notable persons to have come through Queen’s doors include Seamus Heaney, a recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Mary McAleese, the current President of Ireland and a former senior officer at Queen's, David Trimble, a former member of teaching staff and a joint recipient of the Nobel Prize for Peace and superstar actor Liam Neeson.

Location
Name	Queen's University Belfast
Address	The McClay Library 10 College Park Belfast United Kingdom BT7 1LP
County	Antrim
Website	http://www.qub.ac.uk/lib
Access Control	The McClay Library operates a controlled entry system. Members are required to use their Queen’s staff, student or library card to obtain admission. Information for visitor access to The McClay Library is available from the Library website.
Role	Librarian
Phone	00442890976333
Email	rascal@qub.ac.uk