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Material Collections
Our collection areas include: Canadiana, rare books, history of science, children’s literature, maps, broadsides, posters, newspapers, pamphlets, and sheet music. Highlights from the collection include John Buchan's library, Robertson Davies' library, the Edith and Lorne Pierce Collection of Canadiana, the Riche-Covington radio astronomy collection, and the Schulich-Woolf Rare Book Collection. The following is a list of our collections organized by area with our two largest areas listed first: Canadiana and Rare Books. Other areas are listed alphabetically. Enteries include links to a finding aid or digital collection when available.
Canadiana
- Edith and Lorne Pierce Collection of Canadiana
The Edith and Lorne Pierce Collection of Canadiana is the centerpiece of our library and is intended to preserve Canadian literature and history. - Canadian Pamphlets
This broad collection includes early settlers' guides, social documents, and other small press items related to Canada's history. - Canadian Programme Collection
A collection of art openings, plays, and other cultural event programs across Canada. View the collection finding aid. - Canadian Sample Journal Collection
The library holds a small collection of sample journals, ranging from items with a local interest, to national. View the collection finding aid. - Canadian Sheet Music & Non-Canadian Sheet Music
A large collection of sheet music by Canadian composers and a complementry collection of non-Canadian sheet music. - Cartwright Collection
The Cartwright Collection is an example of a typical 19th century gentleman's library. The content relates to history, politics, literature, law, philosophy, religion. - McGill-Queen's University Press
A collection of McGill-Queen's University Press imprints. - F.R. Scott Canadian Poetry Magazine Collection
The collection was purchased in 1969 and includes over 200 "little magazines". View the collection finding aid. - Queens College Library
Queen’s College Library reflects the original holdings of Queen’s University Library based on the 1853 checklist. - Albert Ruddell
The Albert Ruddell Collection contains numerous works of Canadian and local history, dating from the 17th-20th centuries
We hold several Canadian authors' libraries or collections of their complete works. Please see Author's Collections for a full list.
Rare Books
- Schulich-Woolf Rare Book Collection
The Schulich-Woolf Rare Book Collection focuses on history and culture of the16th through 18th centuries. There are also fine examples of books on other topics including Canadiana, travel and exploration, and more modern publications. Many works in the Schulich-Woolf Rare Book Collection are also notable for their illustrations and maps. View the collection online. - Dated Collection
Books in this collection pre-date 1700. - Rare Book Collection
Complementing the Dated Collection, these books are printed after 1700 and include many examples of contemporary bindings and prominent printers. - Bible Collection
This collection contains a number of versions printed from 1491 to present in large and small formats. - Mitchell Gift
The original six volumes donated to Queen's in 1840 by Judge James Mitchell, M.A. are still in the Jordan Library collection. - St. Mary's Cathedral Library Collection
The St. Mary’s Cathedral Library numbers around 6,000 volumes, and contains a rich variety of Catholic religious texts and secular titles. - Vogelzang/Fore-edge Paintings Collection
We hold almost 40 examples of fore-edge paintings. The majority of this collection was donated by Peter J. Vogelzang. - Alexander Watt Collection
The Watt Collection consists of books about theosophy, occult, and related topics. This material was originally collected by Alexander Watt.
Author's Collections
- John Buchan Collection
The collection includes the bound manuscripts of many of Buchan's published writings plus his entire private library. View the collection finding aid. - Robertson Davies Collection
The Robertson Davies Library has been preserved in its original order and is comprised of more than 5000 volumes, theatre prints, and ephemera. View the collection finding aid. - James De Mille
A comprehensive collection of early editions of James De Mille's works. - John Glassco Collection
The personal and working collection of John Glassco. - Frederick Philip Grove Collection
The collection includes Frederick Philip Grove's (1879-1948) literary works, works edited by him in variant editions, and critical works on Grove. View the collection finding aid. - Ralph Gustafson Collection
Personal library of Ralph Gustafson, Canadian poet and professor at Bishop's University. View the collection finding aid. - Mazo de la Roche
Contains various editions and dozens translations of her works, as well as other items from her personal collection.
British and Anglo-Irish Collections
- Cuala Press
The Cuala Press was founded in 1903 by Elizabeth and Lily Yeats. The Press published works by W.B. Yeats, J.M Synge and Katharine Tynan, among others. - Dickens Collection
A comprehensive collection of Dickens' works in novel and serial format. - Macdonell Collection
The Macdonell Collection contains Bishop Alexander's Library. The main areas are religion, Irish history, classics, literature, world history, & travel. - Macgillivray Collection
The collection is mostly 19th-century Scottish history, including the study of heraldry, tartans, clans, costumes and military history.
Broadsides and Posters
- Broadside/Poster Collection
Thousands of broadsides and posters covering a variety of topics and time periods. - Chinese Posters
The Chinese Poster collection includes numerous posters from the Chinese Culutral Revolution.
Children's Literature
- Children's Literature Collection
More than 2,000 volumes of children's books from predominantly the 19th century. - Canadian School Textbooks
A collection of 19th century Ontario textbooks. View the collection finding aid.
Maps
Special Collections has a large map collection. Our rare and historical maps include Kingston, Canada, North America and the world.
- Charles N. Bell Collection
- Fyfe Maps Finding Aid
- Ruddell Collection of Early Maps
- Fire Insurance Plans
Music and Culture
- Architectural Guidebook Collection
Collected guidebooks to various architecturally interesting sites across England. - Canadian Programme Collection
A collection of art openings, plays, and other cultural event programs across Canada. View the collection finding aid. - Canadian Sheet Music & Non-Canadian Sheet Music
A large collection of sheet music by Canadian composers and a complementry collection of non-Canadian sheet music.
Newspapers
Special Collections holds a comprehensive collection of Canadian, particularly Kingstonian, newspapers, journals, and almanacks.
Pamphlets
- 18th Century British Political Pamphlet Collection
These ephemeral documents cover a variety of social topics from 1642 to the Reform Bill of 1832. - Canadian Pamphlets
This broad collection includes early settlers' guides, social documents, and other small press items related to Canada's history. - Non-Canadian Pamphlets
Social documents covering a number of political issues outside of Canada.
Science
- Riche-Covington Collection
A pioneer in radio astronomy, Arthur Covington’s library and collection cover radio astronomy, the history of optics, and the scientific method. - McNicol Collection
The collection contains books, pamphlets, journals and archival resources on the experimental history and development of the telegraphic, telephonic and radio sciences. - Jeannie and Vero Wynne-Edwards Collection
The Jeannie and Vero Wynne-Edwards Collection consists of over 1800 books, pamphlets, periodical, and ephemeral pieces in the field of natural history.
Other collections
- Ephemera
Other non-book publications, objects, and furniture held in Special Collections. - Reference
Special Collections holds an extensive reference collection that supports bibliographic study and genealogy research.