- Guide to the use of the Collection
Access to the resources in the Sugden Collection is available by appointment: - Address: Queen’s College Library
1-17 College Crescent
Parkville, Victoria 3052,
Australia - Phone: + 61(0)3 9349 0741; or +61(0)3 9349 0789
- Fax: +61(0)3 9349 0525
- Email: library@queens.unimelb.edu.au
- Catalogue: Bibliographic records for these collections are in the National Bibliographic Database accessible through Libraries Australia and also in MCDCat. Periodical holdings are listed in the Australasian Union List of Serials in Theological Collections (AULOTS).
- Access: By appointment only, usually Monday – Wednesday
- Study areas: Study carrels with power points are available in the library.
- Restrictions: Access to unique, rare or fragile material for original research is subject to approval.
- Borrowing: Some material may be made available on Interlibrary Loan, with the restriction of ‘In-library-use only’ at the borrowing library. Standard interlibrary loan rates apply. Some material may also be lent for exhibitions.
- Photocopies: No 18th or 19th century material may be photocopied. Permission to copy later material will depend on the condition.
- Research: The College would normally expect a copy of any written research that is based on the use of these resources, with reimbursement to cover expenses.
- Due acknowledgement should be made in the writing of theses or published works to the Queen’s College Library for the use of library resources.
A Sugden Collections Fund has been established by Queen’s College to support the development, cataloguing and conservation of the Heritage Collections. Donations are tax-deductible and cheques should be made out to the Queen’s College Sugden Collections Fund. Payments can also be made by credit card. Bequests will be of great benefit in developing and preserving these important collections. Queen’s College is registered under the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program.
The Sugden Heritage Collections are named in honour of Dr E.H. Sugden, the first Master of Queen’s College, who guided the development of the Library for over 40 years. A bibliophile, scholar, theologian and leading figure in Australian Methodism, Dr Sugden donated his own substantial collection of 18th century editions of John and Charles Wesley’s works to the college. These include twenty-four signed manuscript letters by John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, as well as other outstanding gifts of Wesley realia. This collection is of international importance and the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
An extensive Methodist Collection of books, pamphlets, serials and manuscripts document the history and theology of Methodism in Australasia and Britain from the earliest years until the inception of The Uniting Church in Australia. This collection is still being actively developed. Donations of books, pamphlets, letters and other associated material are gratefully welcomed.
In addition, the library holds several hundred rare books dating from 1495 to the 19th century, including a remarkable collection of early Bibles from the 16th century onwards. More that 160 volumes from the 17th century and almost 300 volumes from the 18th century provide an important background to the life and work of the Wesleys.
These items of lasting value acquired for the College Library by Dr Sugden have been augmented by notable bequests, including the Dodgson Collection of Egyptian Antiquities. Digital images of these antiquities and Coptic textiles are now available to researchers.
The Sugden Heritage Collections are a valuable and varied resource for study and research. Their importance was recognized in successive years by Community Heritage Grants from the National Library of Australia, resulting in a Preservation Management Plan to guide conservation work, which is undertaken as funds permit. The collections are housed in a temperature and humidity controlled environment to ensure long-term preservation.
