Series RAS UPE/2 - 1933 - Norman Richard Seddon

The 1933 prize was given to Norman Richard Seddon (Balliol College, Oxford) with a second book prize being awarded to Alexander Johnston Mackenzie (University of Edinburgh). Mr Seddon was unable to receive his prize and diploma in person, as by the time it was awarded, he had graduated from Oxford and was working in Baghdad. Norman Seddon went on to have an illustrious career with British Petroleum eventually becoming one of the company's executives. The material includes correspondence with a diploma maker and book-binders; correspondence with first and second prize winners; press notices and newspaper cuttings.

The material was arranged into sub-series thus:

• RAS UPE/2/1 - Correspondence with Universities
• RAS UPE/2/2 - Correspondence with H.J. Manwaring
• RAS UPE/2/3 - Correspondence with Book-binders
• RAS UPE/2/4 - Correspondence with Norman Richard Seddon
• RAS UPE/2/5 - Correspondence with Alexander Johnston Mackenzie
• RAS UPE/2/6 - Press Notices and Newspaper Cuttings

The RAS Council Minutes for 10 November 1932, reported that the Committee for the Universities Prize Essay did not consider the one entry for 1932 to be of a sufficiently high standard to be awarded the prize. A further Committee was established to deal with the Essays for the next session . The Minutes for the 12 January 1933 record that the subject of the Essay for 1933 would be "The Advantages derived by India and England from their Mutual relations". In the Minutes for 14 December 1933, it was recorded that both Essays submitted warranted recognition and the Prize and Diploma should go to Richard Norman Seddan and a book prize to Alexander Johnston Mackenzie. The Committee for the following year was also appointed. The Mintes for 8 March 1934, record that the books chosen by A.J. Mackenzie were sent to him as he was unable to receive them in person.

In the Report of the Anniversary General Meeting in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, 1934 (3), p.649-650, the winners of the 1933 Universities Prize Essay were recorded, along with the title of the Essay for 1934.