Archive Antoon Gerard Roos

Number of the collection: UBG 065

Callnumber: uklu 065 Roos

Description of the archive made by: Frida van Til, 2022

Brief overview

Name of the archive: A.G., Roos, (1877-1953), classicist and librarian.

Provenance: Donation

Dated: 1830-1953

Size: 4 boxes

Language of the materials: Dutch, German, Greek, Latin

Summary:

Archive of Antoon Gerard Roos (1877-1953), classicist and librarian of the University Library of Groningen from 1906-1917.

Number of the collection: UBG 065

Institute: University of Groningen

Retainer: University Library Groningen

Provenance and acquisition

Biography

Antoon Gerard Roos (Groningen, 1877 - Oldenzaal, 1953) studied Classical Languages in Groningen, obtained his PhD cum laude in 1904, and served as a curator there. From 1906, he was director of the University Library and from 1917, a  professor of Ancient History. He held the rectorship in 1932 and remained loyal to the university even after his resignation in 1947.

His interest in social problems played a significant role in his career alongside his academic work. He was President-Curator of the grammar school, Chairman of the Public Reading Room, and a member of the University Library Committee, while he had also taken charge of the University Museum.

In 1929, he was appointed a member of the Royal Academy of Sciences, where he delivered numerous lectures.

In his inaugural oration ‘De weg tot de kennis der Oude Geschiedenis’, he emphasized that written and monumental sources must complement each other in scientific practice, and that the ancient historian must master and understand them in their entirety. He was highly proficient in Greek and Latin, which greatly aided his research on non-literary texts, inscriptions, coins and papyri. He produced editions such as the Papyri Groninganae (1933), which included a description of the papyri and their texts, a table of contents, a translation, and a commentary.

His passion for librarianship—partly due to his extensive knowledge of literature in various fields of antiquity—led to the publication of his comprehensive work, Geschiedenis van de bibliotheek der Rijksuniversiteit te Groningen  (1914). This work details the library’s origins, development, challenges, and significance. His Catalogue of Incunabula and his speech “Het Groninger Universiteitsmuseum” (1934) also reflect his expertise in this area.

 Acquisition: Donation

Future additions: No future additions are expected.

Contents and collation: A collection of letters from Prof. Dr. P. Viereck (1865-1944) up to 1944, from Berlin; lecture notes from 1830-1833 written by E.H. Groenman; lecture notes by Sijmons and Van Hamel (Modern Languages) from 1898; two sets of text editions + other materials; in cupboard 3: register of persons, and lecture notes (including, amongst which, those by Heymans). Additionally, there are numerous notebooks containing original material on antiquity, as well as books, some of which are disbound with notes inserted by Roos. There is also a register of persons with names and years only, though its classification is unclear.

Instructions for users of the archive

Accessibility

First of all, the archive is accessible for research purposes; furthermore for everyone interested in the archives.

 Limitations to use

The materials in this archive are available for viewing only. They cannot be borrowed. When consulting these materials, the rules for use of library facilities apply. Copying is subject to the rules of copyright.

 Accessing the archive

An inventory of the archive is available.

The copyright is held by the University of Groningen.
The right of publication rests with the Library of the University of Groningen as owner of the collection.

Citations

When referencing (materials from) this archive, the following information must be provided in full at least once. After this, an abbreviated citation suffices.

Archive: University Library Antoon Gerard Roos

Individual items: Groningen UB 065

Requests

The materials in this archive can be requested through SmartCat or by sending an email to the Special Collections department.