The collection does, however, include a number of early works from the 16th and 17th centuries, of which can be found some particularly fine bindings. Notable items include a 1546 edition of the Marsilius Ficinus translation of Plato and four folio volumes of Aristotle's complete works, c 1728. The collection also includes a few additional items of more recent date (19th century) acquired by Smith's descendants.

Collection Level Description

In addition to items on theology, philosophy and religion, the collection is notable for its material on the classics, civil and ecclesiastical history and politics. The majority of these titles date from before 1800. Items of later date (19th century) include mainly published sermons and addresses produced locally.

Collection Level Description

The Cardinal Daly Seminar Room on the First Floor of the McClay Library also contains a bust of Cardinal Daly and four Charles McAuley oil paintings also kindly donated by him. 

Included can be found general works and early editions of titles concering the classics, history, religion and the Church (both Protestant and Roman Catholics), politics, law and government. Of particular interest are the titles acquired by the University under the British Library's Background Materials Scheme for the periods 1625-34 and (latterly) 1650-59. Pamphlets and other titles dealing with and commenting on personalities and events leading up to the civil war (1645-49) and during the interregnum are therefore prominent. Works of Irish interest from this period can also be found with materials concerning, for example, the Siege of Derry, 1690, the Irish Parliament and the 1641 rebellion, well represented. The collection also includes a comprehensive series of facsimilies taken from 'The English Experience, its Record in Early Printed Books.'

One particular collection of note concerns the series of pamphlets maintained by the Irish politician and statesman, John Foster (1740-1828), best known as the last Speaker of the Irish House of Commons. These pamphlets convey a unique sense of the political life, arguments and events that shaped eighteenth century Ireland, in particular leading up to the Act of Union between Great Britain and Ireland in 1801. The collection is also strong in titles by the poet Allan Ramsay (1686-1758) formerly collected by Andrew Gibson (fl. 1904-27) of Belfast, a former Governor of the Belfast Library and Society for Promoting Knowledge.

The main focus of the collection concerns the major political pre-occupations of the day, including Parliamentary Reform, Catholic Relief, trade and manufacture, the Act of Union and the state of the Irish nation. Economic affairs is, however, a particular strength of the collection reflecting Foster's own political priorities and interests (he saw economic prosperity as a cure for Irish discontent) with material on the relief of the poor, banking and coinage, agriculture and industry, taxation and tithes all well represented. In addition to political affairs in Ireland, commentary is also provided on the debates concerning the progress of the American War of Independence, the French Revolution and British politics in general. Social matters are also touched on with examples of 18th century poetry, satire and drama to be found throughout the collection. Primarily published in English and from printing houses across the British Isles, the pamphlets are bound into volumes and classified under such general headings as 'Politics', 'Agriculture', 'American States', 'Sermons', 'Tythes and Popery', 'Regency 1789' etc etc, as originally arranged by Foster during his lifetime. 

Collection Level Description

Officially established in 1929 with a deposit of 1000 volumes from the personal library of R.M. Henry (Professor of Latin at Queen's, 1908-38), the collection is constantly growing and now represents the largest single subject division in Special Collections. It includes such treasures as the 3 Irish Bog Reports, a full set of Griffith's Valuations and comprehensive series of major Irish periodicals such as Irish Historical Studies, Irish Ecclesiastical Record and the James Joyce Quarterly. All subjects relating to Ireland and Northern Ireland are covered including, in particular, history, politics, literature, philology, economics, society and culture. 

The collection includes material relating to Classical, Eastern and Middle Eastern languages, and comparative philology, principally from the first half of the 19th century. 

The collection also includes examples of tradtional folk talkes and ballads from a variety of countries, and numerous dictionaries, primers and other general works. 

Collection Level Description

The texts are in Irish and English, many in old Irish script. There is also a focus on the history of Ireland, it's poetry and song, and ancient Irish folklore.

Scots Gaelic, Welsh and Breton are also featured in the collection. Topics in these books again range from ancient folklore, poetry and song to the study of these languages.

Authors include: T. F. O'Rahilly, James Hardiman, Rev. John Healy, Dr. Douglas Hyde, Tomás Ó Máille, Philip Bocht O Huigginn and Duncan MacIntyre. 

The collection contains monographs, bound volumes of pamphlets and some manuscripts relating principally to English Literature (especially 16th and 17th century verse, Shakespearean controversies, ballad poetry), Gaelic and northern poetr and antiquities, and popular metrical and prose romances of Europe. 

The collection also reflects Percy's membership of Samuel Johnson's 'Literary Club' by including association or presentation copies from Johnson himself, Oliver Goldsmith, Edmond Malone, George Steevens, et al. Percy annotated his books extensively, one of the most interesting of which is a copy of the 3rd edition (1775) of his own work, 'The Reliques of Ancient English Poetry.' A unique item in the library is the earliest known English Gesta Romanorum (Deeds of the Romans), printed by Wynkyn de Worde during the early 16th century. 

Collection Level Description

It comprises a few 17th century medial texts, first and early editions of 18th, 19th and 20th century texts and monographs, in addition to works on the history of medicine and medical biography. Many of the titles included in the collection can be found listed in the Garrison and Morton Medical Bibliography (1983).

Click here to view the digital exhibition 'Samuel Simms Collection of Medical Texts'.

Collection Level Description 

Also included is a copy of Wright's biography of Sir Robert Hart, 'Hart and the Chinese Customs' (Belfast, 1950).

A number of pamphlets from the Wright Collection have been digitised. Click here to access digitised Wright Collection pamphlets.