Special Collections & Archives at the McClay Library, Queen’s University Belfast, has been developing collections on Jewish history in Ireland, with a particular focus on Northern Ireland..

Archive Description

At Special Collections, our Irish Jewish heritage collections comprise manuscript collections, book collections and digitised material, such as historic journals and an oral history collection.

Reaching back to 1897, the Belfast Hebrew Congregation archive (MS 61) covers nearly a century’s worth of minutes and records.

The Ross-Rosenzweig Collection was a 1957 bequest by John Ross (formerly Rabbi Jacob Rosenzweig) of his collection of monographs, periodicals and facsimiles relating to a variety of Hebrew and Jewish subjects and studies. It was believed at the time to be the most complete collection of books about the Dead Sea Scrolls in Northern Ireland.

The Rosenfield Collection comprises articles, scripts and other miscellaneous material belonging to Judith and Rachel Rosenfield – two Jewish Belfast sisters who were journalists, writers and critics of art, drama and literature.

We have published two Jewish Irish journals online. The Jewish Gazette (Jan – Dec 1933 and Feb 1934), and Belfast Jewish Record (1954 – 2019), are incredible resources for anyone interested in the Jewish community in Northern Ireland during the 20th century and onwards. They provide content as wide-ranging as spiritual guidance, political concerns, Rosh Hashanah recipes, children’s interest, theological discussions, and a variety of fundraising and social events.

The Jewish Oral History Archive was a project undertaken by Dr David Warm during the 1990s and early 2000s. The interviewees were a range of Jews who were living or had lived in Northern Ireland. Many were refugees who had arrived on the Kindertransport. These interviews have been digitally preserved and can be accessed on campus.

We also have a wide range of modern books on the Irish Jewish community in our Hibernica Collection.

Access Information

The archive is open to members of the public. Non-digital collections and the oral histories are available for reference only under supervised access in the Special Collections Reading Room at The McClay Library. An appointment must be made with specialcollections@qub.ac.uk to request access with at least one working day’s notice.

The archive can be visited Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm. New users are required to provide photographic identification and proof of access.

Digital Accessibility

The archive holds digitised copies of the Jewish Gazette and the Belfast Jewish Record which are available to browse online for free.

Street Address

Special Collections
Queen’s University Belfast
University Road, Belfast
BT7 1NN
Northern Ireland