Françoise Henry Reading Room
Besides the facilities of the Main Library at UCD the School of Art History and Cultural Policy possesses a reference and reading room based upon the collection of the first Head of the Department of the History of Art, the renowned scholar Dr. Françoise Henry (1902 - 1982). This collection has been supplemented by further bequests among them that of Dr Donal Byrne, a graduate of the College and a distinguished historian of medieval art. Additional gifts by former students and occasional purchases have added to this important collection.
In 2010 the collection was enriched with the bequest of a large number of books from the estate of the late Michael J. McCarthy, Professor of Art History at UCD between 1994 and his retirement in 2004. There are about 1200 volumes in total and are concentrated in the areas of British and Irish architectural history of the 18th and early 19th centuries, architectural theory and taste, the Grand Tour and cultural tourism, and British cultural and social history. The bequest represents only part of Professor McCarthy’s library; prior to his death he made similar donations to the Irish Architectural Archive and to the Chester Beatty Library. The School is most grateful to Michael’s family for facilitating this legacy. A reception was held in the School on the 1st March, 2011, the first anniversary of his passing, to mark this generous bequest and to honour his memory. For an obituary of Professor McCarthy, please see Professor Michael J. McCarthy Obituary .
Limitations of space oblige us to confine full-time use of the reference library to Stage 2 (3rd Year) Art History majors and postgraduate students. A part-time Reading Room assistant oversees a system of supervised access for Stage 2 (2nd Year) Art History majors.
The Slide Curator, Carla Briggs, has care of the School Reading Room, and enquiries may be directed to her at - Tel: +353 1 716 8403
