| Special Collections & Archives | Queen's University Belfast |
|---|---|
| Collection | |
|---|---|
Description |
Established in 1849, the Library of Queen's University Belfast comprises one of the largest collections of books, periodicals and pamphlets held in Northern Ireland. One of the Library's great strengths lies in its department of Special Collections & Archives, containing approximately 100,000 volumes, including some 20 incunabula, 267 STC and 1,430 Wing items, material held in the department is divided into three main categories of date, subject and personal library collections. There are three main collections grouped by date. These include Early Printed Books (Pre-1701), 18th Century Books and Pamphlets (including the Foster Pamphlet Collection) and 19th and 20th Century book collection of first editions and other rarities. The subject-based collections consist of the Hibernica Collection of books relating to and/or published in Ireland, the MacDouall Collection of early 19th Century philology, the Early Economics Collection, the Ross-Rosenzweig Collection of Jewish theology and literature, and the Gibson-Massie Moore Collection of books relating to the 19th century composer and satirist, Thomas Moore. Special Collections also includes the contents of a number of personal libraries either bought or deposited (in whole or in part) by the Library. These include the libraries of the author and antiquarian, Bishop Thomas Percy (1729-1811), the Antrim Presbytery Library and books from the library of the 18th century economist and political thinker, Adam Smith (1723-90). Special Collections also contains a number of archival and manuscript collections providing a valuable supplement to the book collections. Originally catalogued in an in-house 'Calendar of Manuscripts Western and Oriental,' most collection listings are now accessible online through Special Collections & Archives at http://www.qub.ac.uk/specialcollections Significant collections include the Edward Bunting (1773-1843) Manuscript Collection, papers of Sir Robert Hart (1835-1911), the Hamilton Harty (1879-1941) Manuscript Collection and papers of Sir John Newport (1756-1843). Literary materials are a particular strongpoint of the collection with original manuscripts of William Allingham (1824-89), Shan F. Bullock (1865-1935), Arthur O'Shaughnessy (1844-81), Herbert Moore Pim (1883-?), Somerville & Ross, Helen Waddell (1889-1965) and Thomas Carnduff (1886-1956) available for consultation. The papers of former academics and students of the university are also well represented. These include the papers of Judge James J. Shaw (1845-1910), Stanley Wright (1873-1953) and Professors R.M. Henry (1873-1950), Charles MacDouall (1818-83), Thomas Andrews (1813-85), and James Thomson (1822-92). Small collections of Oriental and Gaelic manuscripts can also be found in addition to a collection of historic maps compiled by Lavens Ewart of Belfast (1845-98) and dated c. 1567-1900. |
Strengths |
History. Ireland. Language and Literature. Economics. Theology. Music. Books & Printing. Politics. |
Physical Characteristics |
Approx. 100,000 volumes and 14,000 documents comprising correspondence, reports, literary manuscripts, photographs, maps etc. |
Languages |
Arabic;Aramaic;Chinese;English;French;German;Greek;Hebrew;Hindi;Irish;Italian;Latin;Persian;Portuguese;Sanskrit;Spanish;Welsh |
Collection Temporal Date Range |
1200 - to date |
Accumulation Date Range |
1849 - to date |
Contents Date Range |
1200 - to date |
Collection Type |
Collection.Library.Text.Special |
Accrual |
Policy: Active
Method: Purchase
Periodicity: Periodic |
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 |
Legal Status |
Queen's University Belfast has legal ownership or formal agreements in place for materials in Special Collections & Archives. |
Custodial History |
Materials in Special Collections & Archives have been acquired through donation, bequest and purchase. |
Description or Catalogue |
Books and pamphlets are catalogued on the Library catalogue QCAT http://www.qub.ac.uk/lib |
Publications Note |
TBC |
| Collector | |
|---|---|
Name |
The Library |
Organisation |
Queen's University Belfast |
Role |
Academic Institution |
History |
The Library at Queen’s was established in 1849 following the foundation of the original college in 1845. Based initially in the Great Hall, and, from 1869, in its own separate accomodation, the Library catered to the needs of all students enrolled in the college before future growth and expansion dictated otherwise. Today the Library is dispersed across a number of departmental libraries throughout Northern Ireland each providing access to what has become one of the largest collections of books, periodicals and pamphlets in the province with over one million items noted in the official library catalogue. Principal centres include The McClay Library situated on the main campus site, the Medical Library at RVH, the Agriculture and Food Science Library at Newforge Lane (1970s), the Biomedical libraries in the City Hospital and in the Medical Biology Centre (Lisburn Rd), the Veterinary Research Library and a number of medical outlier libraries. Although largely adminstered as a separate unit for most of its history, the Library was amalgamated with the University’s Computer Services department to form a new Information Services Directorate in 2000. |
| Owner | |
|---|---|
Name |
Queen's University Belfast |
Organisation |
Queen's University Belfast |
Role |
Academic Institution |
Telephone |
00442890245133 |
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 & Humanities; 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, 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, former President of Ireland and senior officer at Queen's, David Trimble, a former member of teaching staff and a joint recipient of the Nobel Prize for Peace and actor Liam Neeson. |
| Location | |
|---|---|
Name |
Queen's University Belfast |
Address |
The McClay Library |
County |
Antrim |
Website |
|
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. |
Role |
Librarian |
Phone |
00442890976333 |