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The Society's events are mainly centred on Lectures, Conferences and Exhibitions. However, they occasionally hold other types of events either at the premises, or making visits to other locations. Archival material associated with these events are found within this catalogue.

Material for events held between 2011-2021:

2011
6 June: Visit by a Turkish Group.

• Three digital photographs.

10 July: Lunch with Cambridge University Press.

• Four digital photographs.

August: Visit by Oriental Club.

• Letter of thanks for the visit, 1 piece, dated 1 September 2011.

17 September: Open House, held at the Royal Asiatic Society, as part of Open City.

• Correspondence regarding participation, 2 pieces, dated 9 June 2011.
• 24 digital photographs.

2013
14 March: Dinner held in celebration of the 190th anniversary of the Society, at Sardo, Grafton Street, London.

• Publicity poster, electronic document.

29 May: Visit by the Royal Asiatic Society to Sezincote House.

• Publicity poster, 2 electronic documents. Booking form, electronic document.

2014
20-21 September: Open House.

• Open House London, Architectural information for the Royal Asiatic Society, 1 piece.
• Open House London Map for Marylebone to Bloomsbury, 1 piece.

14 November: Display of Byzantine Bookbinding,

• 77 digital photographs.

2015
17 July: Visit of the Royal Asiatic Society to the South Asian Decorative Arts and Crafts Collection Trust, Norwich.

• Seven digital photographs.

25 September: Oud Concert by Joseph Tawadros.

• Publicity poster, 2 pieces.
• Five digital photographs.

20 November: 'Tea and Testimony', a creative writing workshop held as part of Explore your Archive Week, with tutor Emily Filtness.

• Publicity posters, 4 pieces.
• Report on the event by Nancy Charley, Archivist.

9 December: Sale of Kope Scarves.

• Publicity poster, electronic document.
• Four digital photographs.

2016
14 June: Oud Concert by Joseph Tawadros.

• Publicity poster, electronic document.
• Four digital photographs.

27 October: Oud concert by Baba Yetkin.

• Publicity poster, electronic document.
• Three digital photographs.

16 November: Diwali celebration at which Dr Menaka Bora performed Indian classical dance.

• Publicity poster, electronic document.

23 November: 'Writ in Water,' a creative writing workshop held as part of Explore your Archive Week, with tutor Emily Filtness.

• Publicity poster, electronic document.
• Creative writing prompts, electronic document.
• Report on the event by Nancy Charley, Archivist, electronic document.

2017
16 June: Celebration of 'Conversation Piece' a commissioned painting of five Presidents and the Director of the Society.

• Publicity poster, electronic document.
• Nine digital photographs.

16 October: Visit by Julie Chun, Royal Asiatic Society, China.

• Four digital photographs.

2018
9 October: A concert by Chalpasah, the only Japanese Afghan band.

• Publicity poster, electronic document.
• Three digital photographs.

2019
3 October: Evening to celebrate the conservation of the braid of a Burmese manuscript.

• Ten digital photographs.

2021
28 September: Visit to the Royal Asiatic Society by the Travellers Club with dinner.

• Menu card, 1 piece.
• Fifteen digital photographs.

Material from events between 2001 and 2010:

2001
26 November: The Society for South Asian Studies Annual General Meeting, held at the premises of the Royal Asiatic Society.

• Invitation poster for the event, 1 piece. Agenda for the AGM, 1 piece.
• Administrative correspondence, 4 pieces, dated 12 July - 13 December 2001.

2004
22 April: Potential visit by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Association.

• Letter from Mayella Figgis, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Association, to Alison Ohta, Curator, Royal Asiatic Society, to confirm that after their Charman, Roger Westbrook's visit to the Society, the Association would be keen to arrange a group visit. This has been annotated with 'Nov 2004' suggesting the visit took place in November of that year. Typed, 1 piece, dated 22 April 2004.

17 November: Visit of the Nichi-ei Otomodachi Kai Arts & Antiques Group to the Royal Asiatic Society.

• Letter from Judith A. Colegate to Alison Ohta, Curator, Royal Asiatic Society to confirm the group's visit and to finalise the arrangements. Typed,1 piece, dated 3 August 2004.

2005
22 February: Visit of the Kensington and Chelsea National Trust Association.

• Letter confirming the date of the Trust's visit to the Society, 1 piece, dated 2 November 2004.

2006
27 July and 5 October: Receptions to celebrate the opening of the new premises of the Society at 14 Stephenson Way.

• Invitation card with reply form, printed card, 2 pieces.
• Letter from the President, Anthony Stockwell, to the Fellows informing of the event, 1 piece, dated 12 July 2006.
• List of attendees to the reception on 27 July, 6 pieces.

Undated: Celebration of the 80th birthday of Professor A.D.H. Bivar hosted by The Circle of Inner Asian Art and Brepols Academic Publishers, held at the Royal Asiatic Society's premises.

• Invitation card, printed card, 1 piece.

2007
2 July: Concert of Kazakh Music held at the Royal Asiatic Society's premises.

• Programme for the event, 1 piece.

13 August: School Visit to the Royal Asiatic Society.

• 44 digital images.

2008
21 February: Concert of Kazakh Classical Music held at the Royal Asiatic Society's premises.

• Admission ticket, 1 piece.

15 May: Concert of Chinese, Japanese and Mongolian Folk Melodies held at the Royal Asiatic Society's premises.

• Admission ticket, 1 piece.
• Programme for the event, 1 piece.

2009
30 April: Celebration of the completion of the conservation of two Persian manuscripts made possible by a grant from the Don Baker Memorial Fund.

• Invitation card, 1 piece.

12 June: 'A Composer on the Throne: the Music of Sultan Selim III and his Court', a talk and concert held at the Royal Asiatic Society.

• Concert programme, pamphlet.

2010
18 September: The Royal Asiatic Society opened as part of Open House.

• Letter from Jeni Hoskin, Project Manager, Open City, to Alison Ohta, Curator, Royal Asiatic Society, to confirm the Society's participation in Open House London 2010. With the letter are the Final Fact Check List, Publicity Material and Insurance information. Typed and printed, 4 pieces, dated 3 June 2010.
• Handout sheets for artworks hanging in the Society's premises, 4 electronic documents.
• 'Open House London, Archifacts' sheet, 1 piece.
• 'Royal Asiatic Society Open House Statistics – Saturday 18th September 2010', electronic document.
• Report on Open house of 18th of September 2010, 2 versions, 3 pieces.

Material from events in the 1991-2000:

1998-1999
Visit of the Chinese Ambassador to the Society's premises on 10 July 1998 to see some of the Society's treasures. This was followed by the Ambassador giving a lecture at the Society on 11 November 1999.

• Correspondence concerning the Chinese Ambassador's visit, 6 pieces, dated 2 June -13 July 1998.
• 'Chinese Ambassador's Visit to the Royal Asiatic Society', report on the event, 1 piece.
• Photographs - 23 colour images taken at the visit.
• Correspondence concerning the Ambassador's lecture, 9 pieces, dated 4 November 1998 - 15 November 1999.

2000
2 March: The Friends of Hadhramaut held an evening of traditional Uzbek and Sufi Music and Song, at the premises of the Royal Asiatic Society.

• Notice of the event, with application form and information about the musicians, typed, 2 pieces.

Cocktail parties and dinners continued through the 1970s and into the early 1980s. The material associated from these events, and from a concert held at the Southbank centre, is:

1974
9 May: Cocktail party held at the Society's premises.

• Application form for tickets for the Cocktail party, printed paper, 1 piece.

1975
4 April: 'Oriental Musical Instruments' with John Leach and the London Oriental Ensemble, held at the Purcell Room, Southbank Centre, London.

• Letter to Fellows informing of the event with application form for tickets, 1 piece, typed, dated February 1975.
• 'Music on the Southbank, April 1975' advertising brochure with event listings, printed pamphlet.
• Advertising poster with programme on reverse, printed paper. Programme, printed paper, 2 copies.
• Administrative correspondence including the Agreement contract for the event, 25 pieces, handwritten, typed and printed, dated 19 September 1974 - 2 September 1975.
• Brochures and programmes for previous event in which John Leach had performed, printed paper, 4 items, dated April - November 1973.

8 May: Cocktail Party held at the Society's premises.

• Application form for tickets for the Cocktail party, printed paper, 1 piece.

1976
27 October: The Society's Triennial Dinner, held at the Oriental Club, Stratford Place, London.

• Notification of the event with application form for tickets, printed paper, 1 piece.
• Menu card with toasts listed, printed card, 1 piece.
• Newspaper cuttings, glued onto a sheet of paper, from the Times and the Daily Telegraph reporting on the event, 1 piece, dated 28 October 1976.
• List of dinners held between 1962 and 1976, with dates and locations, handwritten, 1 piece.

1979
23 October: The Society's Triennial Dinner, held at the Oriental Club, Stratford Place, London.

• Menu card with toasts listed, printed card, 1 piece.
• Newspaper cutting, glued onto a sheet of paper, from the Daily Telegraph reporting on the event, 1 piece, dated 24 October 1979.

1982
27 October: The Society's Triennial Dinner, held at the Oriental Club, Stratford Place, London.

• Menu card with toasts listed, printed card, 1 piece.
• Newspaper cuttings from the Times and the Daily Telegraph reporting on the event, 2 pieces, dated 28 October 1982.

During the 1960s the Society held a number of Cocktail Parties and Dinners. Some of these were associated with the Anniversary General Meeting. The material from these events is:

1963
29 March: Royal Asiatic Society Dinner held at Connaught Hall, Tavistock Square, London.

• Notice of dinner with application form for attendance, 1 piece, printed.
• Seating plan for high table and seating list for other tables, typed, 2 pieces.
• Newspaper cutting from The Times reporting on the dinner, dated 30 March 1963.

17 July: Afternoon Party, Hurlingham Club, Fulham, London.

• Application form to attend the Afternoon Party, printed, 1 piece, dated 1 May 1963.
• Letter from the Secretary of the Royal Central Asian Society, to Mrs Davies, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, concerning the logistics of the party, 1 piece, typed, dated 26 April 1963.

1964
14 May: Cocktail Party held at the Society's premises after the Anniversary General Meeting. Letters of apologies from:

• High Commissioner for Pakistan, 1 piece dated 4 May 1964.
• Korean Ambassador, 1 piece, dated 5 May 1964.
• Nepalese Ambassador, 1 piece, dated 6 May 1964.
• Israel Ambassador, 1 piece, dated 6 May 1964.
• Iranian Ambassador, 1 piece, dated 7 May 1964.
• The High Commissioner for India, 1 piece, dated 7 May 1964.
• The High Commissioner for Malaysia, 1 piece, dated 12 May 1964.

15 July: Afternoon Party, Hurlingham Club, Fulham, London. This was the party of the Royal Central Asian Society in association with the Royal Asiatic Society, the Anglo-Arab Association (1961). the China Society, the Iran Society and the Middle East Association.

• Notice of the Afternoon Party and need to apply for tickets, printed, 1 piece.
• List of guests from each of the Societies, printed pamphlet.
• Correspondence concerning the administration of the event, 2 pieces, dated 9 March - 4 June 1964.

1965
13 May: Cocktail Party at the Society's premises after the Anniversary General Meeting.

• Admittance card, typed, 1 piece.

1967
11 May 1967: Cocktail party at the Society's premises after the Anniversary General Meeting. The material comprises of a list of invited guests and letters of apology from:

• Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia, 1 piece, dated 25 April 1967.
• Burmese Ambassador, 1 piece, dated 25 April 1967.
• High Commissioner for Pakistan, 1 piece, dated 26 April 1967.
• Japanese Ambassador, 1 piece, dated 26 April 1967.
• High Commissioner for Malaysia, 1 piece, dated 26 April 1967.
• High Commissioner for Ceylon (Sri Lanka), 1 piece, dated 27 April 1967.
• High Commissioner for India, but Mr A.J. Kidwai will represent him, 1 piece, dated 27 April 1967.
• Thai Ambassador, 1 piece, dated 28 April 1967.
• Soviet Ambassador, 1 piece, dated 28 April 1967.
• Ambassador of Saudi Arabia, 1 piece, dated 1 May 1967.
• Israel Ambassador, 1 piece, undated.

23 November 1967: Dinner, held at the House of Lords, by the kind invitation of The Earl of Scarborough, Vice-President of the Royal Asiatic Society.

• Menu card for the dinner listing the food served and toasts to be offered, printed card, 2 copies.
• Application form for the dinner, printed paper, 1 piece. List of Dinner Guests, typed with annotations, 1 piece.
• Administrative correspondence and notes concerning the dinner, 12 pieces, dated 26 April 1966 - 24 November 1967.
• Newspaper cuttings from The Times and the Telegraph reporting on the dinner.

1968
9 May 1968: Cocktail Party held at the Society's premises after the Anniversary General Meeting.

• List of Guests, typed with handwritten annotations.

1969
8 May 1969: Cocktail Party held at the Society's premises after the Anniversary General Meeting.

• List of Guests, typed with handwritten annotations.
• Letter from the Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to the News Editor, The Times, to ask for a report of the Anniversary General Meeting and the cocktail party to be entered into the paper, 1 piece, typed, dated 6 May 1969.

1970
14 May: Cocktail Party held at the Society's premises after the Anniversary General Meeting. List of Guests, typed with handwritten annotations; application form for tickets, printed paper; and letters of apologies from:

• Israel Ambassador, 1 piece, dated 4 May 1970.
• Japanese Ambassador, 1 piece, dated 5 May 1970.
• High Commissioner of India, 1 piece, dated 5 May 1970.
• Jordan Ambassador, 1 piece, dated 6 May 1970.
• Saudi Arabian Ambassador, 1 piece, dated 6 May 1970.
• High Commissioner for Malaysia, 1 piece, dated 6 May 1970.
• Iranian Ambassador, 1 piece, dated 7 May 1970.

26 November: Dinner, held at Butchers Hall, 87 Bartholomew Close, London.

• Application form to purchase tickets for the dinner, printed paper, 1 piece.
• Minutes of the meeting of the RAS Dinner Committee for 4 May 1970, typed with annotations, 1 piece.
• Lists of Guests, typed, 2 pieces.
• Press release to the Editor, Daily Telegraph, concerning the dinner, typed, 1 piece, dated 25 November 1970.
• Newspaper cuttings from the Times and the Daily Telegraph reporting on the dinner, dated 27 November 1970.
• Letter from Roy Strong, National Portrait Gallery, to B.W. Robinson, Royal Asiatic Society, to thank for the dinner and his particular delight in being seated next to Agatha Christie, 1 piece, typed with printed letterhead, dated 7 December 1970.

Material from events held between 1921 and 1960:

1928
On 8 May 1928 a luncheon was held in honour of Sir George Grierson's completion of the Linguistic Survey of India.

• Invitation from the President and Council of the Royal Asiatic Society to attend the luncheon, printed on headed notepaper.
• Menu card for the luncheon held at The Criterion Restaurant, Piccadilly Circus.

1934

• Invitation card from the Royal Asiatic Society to meet His Excellency the Persian Minister on the occasion of the Thousandth Anniversary of the Persian Poet, Firdausi, 1 November 1934, printed card, 2 copies.
• Invitation card from the Royal Asiatic Society to honour the 150th Anniversary of the birth of Alexander Csoma de Koros, at which Sir Denison Ross lectured on 'The Foundation of Tibetan Studies in India', 13 December 1934, printed card.

1936
On 15 October 1936, the Royal Asiatic Society held a Reception at The London Museum, Lancaster House, to honour the 1000th Anniversary of Mutanabbi.

• Invitation card to meet Their Excellencies, The Ministers of the Arabic Speaking States, at the Reception when Professor R.A. Nicholson lectured on 'Mutanabbi: the Man and the Poet', printed card.
• Order of events for the Reception, printed paper.

1937

• Invitation from the President and Council of the Royal Asiatic Society to a reception at India House, Aldwych, to meet The Most Honourable the Marquess of Zetland, Secretary of State for India, on the occasion of the Coronation of George VI, 6 May 1937, printed card.

Undated

• Black and white photograph showing a party sat at tables. The napkin identifies the venue as Young's Chinese Restaurant, 178-180 Wardour Street, Soho. The photograph was produced by Rawood Limited who were active from the 1930s to 1950s.
• Unmarked seating plan for the Imperial Restaurant, printed by Wormalds, Printers, Church Street, Soho, London.

Material from events held between 1900 and 1920:

1902
In 1902 the Royal Asiatic Society hosted a reception and dinner, at the Whitehall Rooms, for the Indian Princes who had come to London for the coronation of Edward VII.

• Coronation Banquet Menu, 17 June 1902, printed card listing the members of the Banquet Committee, the Menu and Vins, and Toasts to be given.
• Table Plan for Coronation Banquet, printed card showing the position of the tables.
• 'Tables' - printed leaflet to show seating of individual guests
  *. Telegram from Windsor Castle to Lord Reay, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to send the King's thanks for the loyal congratulations sent by the Society, the Indian Princes and other Indian representatives, dated 18 June 1902.
• Black and white photograph of the dinner.
• Newspaper cuttings from The Standard, 18 June; Morning Post, 18 June; Daily News, 18 June; Chronicle, undated; 'The Coronation: The Duke of Connaught and the Indian Guests', unidentified paper, undated.
• Original copies of the cartoons from The Daily Graphic, 19 June 1902. This is mounted and framed on archival board.
• Photocopies of cartoons from The Daily Graphic, and the Sketch 19 June 1902, 2 versions of same cartoons.
• Photocopy of 'The Graphic' for Saturday 28 June 1902, which ran a special edition for the Coronation.

1905

• Menu Card for the Dinner of the Heads of Departments of the London County Council, Torcadero Restaurant, Piccadilly Circus, 5 May 1905. It is uncertain whether the Royal Asiatic Society was represented at this dinner. The card is of interest because its owner added the list of wines that were served for each course.

1919-1920
In 1920 the Royal Asiatic Society moved premises from 22 Albemarle Street to 74 Grosvenor Street. There are two cards for associated events:

• Notice of the final meeting at Albemarle Street with the presentation to Mr Henry Cousins of the Pinhay Memorial Medal, and the presentation of the Public School Gold Medal and Prizes, 11 November 1919, printed card.
• Invitation from the President and Council of the Royal Asiatic Society to a Reception on the opening of the Society's new premises, 30 March 1920, printed card.