Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1947 - 1948 (Creation)
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Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Richard Olaf Winstedt was born in Oxford and graduated from New College, Oxford. In 1902 he became a cadet in the Federated Malay States Civil Service, and was posted to Perak where he studied Malay language and culture. In 1913 he was appointed District Officer in Kuala Pilah, and in 1916 appointed to the Education Department. In 1920 he received his DLitt degree from Oxford. He served as the first President of Raffles College, Singapore, 1928–1931. During his presidency, he also served as acting Secretary to the High Commissioner, 1923, Director of Education for Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States (FMS), as a member of Legislative Council, Straits Settlements, 1924–1931 and as a member of the FMS Federal Council, 1927–1931. He was president of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society in 1927, 1929 and 1931. After a term as General Adviser to Johore, 1931–1935, Winstedt retired from the Malayan Civil Service.
He returned to England and was appointed Lecturer, then Reader, and ultimately Honorary Fellow, in Malay, at the School of Oriental Studies in London, where he also served as a member of the Governing Body, 1939–1959. During World War II, he broadcast in Malay to Japanese-occupied Malaya. He retired from active teaching in 1946.
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There is a single letter from the Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society to John Pinches to ask them to cast a token Medal for Sir Richard Winstedt ready for the presentation on the 9th October. Typed letter, dated 9 September 1947. There is also a single sheet of paper with "Details of Sir Richard Winstedt's Triennial Gold Medal" which gives details of the inscription and a sketch of the design. This was probably created at a later date but is itself undated and therefore included here as relevant to this Series. For further information regarding the conferment of the Medal, see Related Material.
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Language of material
- English
Script of material
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Allied materials area
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Related units of description
In the Council Minutes for 24 April 1947, it is recorded that a sub-Committee was appointed to advise on the award of the Gold Medal. In the Minutes for 12 June 1947, it is recorded that Sir Richard Winstedt had been awarded the Medal. This is also recorded in the report of the Anniversary General Meeting in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, 1948, p. 202.