Special Collections Blog at Queen's University Belfast

The Special Collections Blog brings you news of developments, exhibitions and events in Special Collections. Treasures from our collections are also highlighted.

A selection of items from the MS 88/2 Alderdice 1985-1992 Collection.

Alderdice 1985–1992 Collection MS 88/2

Posted on 24th September 2026 by Eva Isherwood Wallace

Special Collections is pleased to announce that a new section of the Alderdice Collection (MS 88/2) is now available for consultation.

MS 108 Irish Electoral Ephemera 1922–1948

Posted on 23rd September 2026 by Eva Isherwood Wallace

Special Collections is pleased to announce that the MS 108 Irish Electoral Ephemera 1922–1948 Collection is now available for consultation.

Celebrating the Centenary of the Musgrave Chair in Spanish at Queen’s (1926-2026)

Posted on 23rd September 202623rd September 2026 by admin

Guest blog by Dr Fiona Clark. Dr Clark is Senior Lecturer in Latin American Studies at Queen’s University Belfast. The

Document titled "NIWC Statement on Proposals for Decommissioning" in a display case with accompanying label.

Exhibition: Modern Political Collections

Posted on 2nd June 20262nd June 2026 by Eva Isherwood Wallace

An exhibition highlighting material from our Modern Political Collections is on display on the first floor of the McClay Library until 22nd June 2026.

Molly St George. Lyrics in Gaelic script. Collected by Patrick Lynch.

Exhibition: Molly St George – Lacemaking and Irish Traditional Music

Posted on 26th May 20262nd June 2026 by admin

We are pleased to announce our exhibition, Molly St George: Lacemaking and Irish Traditional Music – a collaboration between Headford Lace

Photograph of archival boxes labelled "MS 86 Trimble Collection".

Trimble Collection MS 86/1-12

Posted on 30th March 202624th September 2026 by Eva Isherwood Wallace

Special Collections is pleased to announce that Boxes 1-12 of the Trimble Collection (MS 86) is now available for consultation.

Photograph of archival boxes and photo albums labelled "MS 88 Alderdice Collection". An open archival album shows photographs of Lord Alderdice's visit to South Africa in May 1997, including images of wildlife and a meeting with Nelson Mandela.

Alderdice Photograph Collection MS 88/1

Posted on 30th March 202624th September 2026 by Eva Isherwood Wallace

Special Collections is pleased to announce that the Alderdice Photograph Collection (MS 88/1) is now available for consultation.

McWilliams Collection Part 1 MS 87

Posted on 30th March 202624th September 2026 by Conor Kerr

Special Collections is pleased to announce that Part 1 of the McWilliams Collection (MS 87) is now available for consultation.

Archaeology at Special Collections & Archives

Posted on 26th March 2026 by Keira Dobbin

Exhibition curated and blog post written by Jack Tubman A selection of materials relating to the study of archaeology across

A History of Knowing: Encyclopedias Through the Ages

Posted on 26th March 2026 by Kath Stevenson

As the library celebrates Dr Moses Li’s extraordinarily generous donation of the Siku Quanshu—the monumental eighteenth‑century compendium of Chinese scholarship—to the