Fonds SC13 - Catalogues and Lists of Asiatic Material

Identity area

Reference code

GB 891 SC13

Title

Catalogues and Lists of Asiatic Material

Date(s)

  • 2005 (Creation)
  • 1792 - 1954 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

2 archival folders, handwritten and photocopy

Context area

Name of creator

Name of creator

Name of creator

Biographical history

Name of creator

Biographical history

Name of creator

Biographical history

Name of creator

Administrative history

Name of creator

Biographical history

Name of creator

Biographical history

Petrus Voorhoeve was born in December 1899 in Vlissengen. In 1919 he became a student at the University of Leiden, first studying theology before switching to Indonesian languages continuing his studies to complete a PhD in Batak Folk Tales. In 1927 he was appointed government linguist at Balai Pushtaka, the Bureau of Popular Literature in Jakarta. He was granted leave in 1933 but on his return in 1934 he became a librarian at the Royal Batavia Society of Arts and Science. In 1937 he became linguist in the service of the Self-governing Districts of North Sumatra charged with creating a Simalungen dictionary. He was interned by the Japanese Army in 1942 and separated from his wife and children until after the War when, in 1946, they returned to the Netherlands. Voorhoeve then took up an appointment at the University Library in Leiden but returned to Indonesia in 1947 to complete his 20 years of service necessary for a full pension. He worked for the Institute of Linguistic and Cultural Research before returning to Leiden in 1949 to take up his position again of Curator. He catalogued many Malay manuscripts working at institutions around the world. He died in 1996.

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

These were donated from various sources to the Royal Asiatic Society.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Within the Royal Asiatic Society collections are several lists and catalogues relating to Asiatic material which are not part of the Society's own collections. These have been gathered within this catalogue. They are:

  • 'A Catalogue of Indian Idols, Indian Paintings, Drawings, &c. which were collected by Mr. Simpson, during a long Residence in India in the Company's Service. Which will be Sold by Auction by Mr. Christie, at his Great Room, in Pall Mall, On Saturday, May the 26th, 1792, at Twelve O'clock.' This is a photocopy of the original document.
  • 'List of Oriental Works purchased at Erzerum, translated from the St Petersburg Journal of Dec 20 1829/ Jan 9 1830' - handwritten list.
  • 'Catalogue of moghrebine arabic Manuscripts in the possession of Jakob Graberg of Hemso' - handwritten, dated Florence, 26 April 1830.
  • 'Sale of Dr. A. Clarke's Library: Desirable for the R.A.S.' - handwritten list, undated.
  • 'Catalogue of Malayan Book's by Thomas Beighton - handwritten list, undated.
  • 'List of the Principal Budhistical works from the Pali in Chinese character by Mt Gutzlaff' - handwritten, dated 1845.
  • 'A List of the Oriental Coins preserved in the British Museum, B. Dorn' - handwritten list, undated.
  • 'Catalogue of Malay books the property of Inchi Mahomed' - handwritten list, undated.
  • 'Catalogue of the Chinese Library of University College, London' - handwritten volume, dated to 1885.
  • 'List of lithographed Malay texts in the alphabetical catalogue of Leiden University Library under Kikayat and Shair' - handwritten list, 2 sides, undated, post 1900.
  • Lists of Indonesian Manuscripts compiled by Petrus Voorhoeve between 1950 and 1954. These are: 'Some notes on Indonesian MSS in the Bodleian Library, Oxford'; 'List of Indonesian Manuscripts in the University Library, Cambridge'; 'List of Indonesian manuscripts in India Office Library, Commonwealth Relations Office, London'; List of Indonesian Manuscripts in the Library of the School of Oriental and African Studies, London'; 'Indonesian Manuscripts in the British Museum'. These are typed with some handwritten annotations, 51 pieces.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open. Please contact the archivist. Details can be found here : https://royalasiaticarchives.org/. The archive is open on Tuesdays and Fridays 10-5, and Thursdays 2-5. Access is to any researcher without appointment but it will help if an appointment is made via phone or email. Please bring photo ID.

Conditions governing reproduction

Digital photography (without flash) for research purposes may be permitted upon completion of a copyright declaration form, and with respect to current UK copyright law.

Language of material

  • Arabic
  • Chinese
  • English
  • Malay

Script of material

    Language and script notes

    Physical characteristics and technical requirements

    Finding aids

    Allied materials area

    Existence and location of originals

    Existence and location of copies

    Related units of description

    Related descriptions

    Notes area

    Alternative identifier(s)

    Access points

    Genre access points

    Description control area

    Description identifier

    gb891-sc13

    Institution identifier

    Rules and/or conventions used

    Status

    Level of detail

    Dates of creation revision deletion

    Language(s)

      Script(s)

        Sources

        Archivist's note

        This material was catalogued by Nancy Charley, RAS Archivist, in 2022.

        Accession area