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Correspondence regarding the in-house conservator and conservation at the Royal Asiatic Society:

Correspondence with Camberwell School of Art and Crafts

• Letter from Gillian Roy, Senior Lecturer in Conservation Studies, Camberwell School of Art and Crafts, to Godfrey Goodwin, Royal Asiatic Society, to thank for their meeting and explain arrangements for the School helping the Society by Graeme Gardiner initiating a programme of conservation with a group of students. Typed, 1 piece, dated 12 December 1988.
• Letter from Michael Pollock, Librarian and the Adviser to the Library [Godfrey Goodwin], Royal Asiatic Society, to Robert Acres, Head, Department of Paper Conservation, Camberwell School of Art, concerning conservation work undertaken by Camberwell students. With the letter is a list of items taken to Camberwell for conservation. Typed and handwritten, 2 pieces, dated 31 October 1989.
• Letter from Godfrey Goodwin, Librarian and Curator, Royal Asiatic Society, to Robert Acres, Camberwell School of Art and Crafts, concerning care of items going to Camberwell for conservation. Typed, 1 piece, dated 16 March 1989.
• Letter from Robert Acres to Godfrey Goodwin to thank Goodwin for arranging a visit for conservation students and to praise Graeme Gardiner's progress. Typed, 1 piece, dated 12 February 1991.
• Letter from Godfrey Goodwin to Gillian Roy to send a calendar of the relationship between Camberwell and the Royal Asiatic Society and to confirm the appointment of Graeme Gardiner as conservator. The calendar is with the letter. Photocopy of handwritten and typed, 2 pieces, dated 5 December 1990.

Correspondence regarding the the Shahnamah of Muhammad Juki manuscript (RAS Persian 239)
During this time, the manuscript was housed at the British Library.

• Letter from Don Baker, Conservator, to Michael Pollock, Librarian, Royal Asiatic Society concerning the condition of the manuscript. Typed, 1 piece, dated 15 July 1992.
• Letter from M.I. Waley, Curator for Persian and Turkish, British Library concerning allowing access for James Brockman to view the manuscript. Typed, 1 piece, dated 29 September 1993.
• Memo from the Librarian to the President, concerning James Brockman. Typed, 1 piece, dated 6 October 1993.
• Letter from G.W. Shaw, Deputy Director, British Library, to Professor A.D.H. Bivar, President, Royal Asiatic Society, again concerning access for James Brockman. Typed, 1 piece, dated 5 October 1993.
• Letter from Michael Pollock, Librarian, to James Brockman to send a copy of Don Baker's comments upon the manuscript and to ask him to make arrangements to see the manuscript. Typed, 1 piece, dated 6 October 1993.
• Letter from James Brockman, Book Structures, to Michael Pollock to given his condition report upon the manuscript. Typed, 1 piece, dated 13 October 1993.
• Letter from Michael Pollock to James Brockman to inform that the Society has decided not to proceed with conservation of the manuscript. Typed, dated 15 March 1995.

Other Correspondence

• Letter from A.D.H. Bivar, President, to [Graeme Gardiner] to congratulate him on the successful conclusion of first stage of the work. Typed, 1 piece, dated 7 September 1993.
• Letter from A.D.H. Bivar, President, to Marina Sacalis to thank her for her donation to enable rebinding of Gazetteers relating to India. Typed, 1 piece, dated 7 October 1993.
• Letter from Godfrey Goodwin to David [Bivar] concerning a collapsed bookcase and the need to consider the Library furniture. With the letter are lists concerning rehanging the Society's pictures and moving items to accommodate the new furniture. Handwritten and typed, 4 pieces, dated 3 October 1994.
• Correspondence with Julian E. Reade, Assistant Keeper, British Museum, discussing his concern over the care of some of the Society's collections. Typed, 6 pieces, dated 18 July 1994 - 15 February 1995.
• Correspondence from E.M.B. King, British Library, and Donald W. Insall and Associates, Chartered Architects, concerning plans to build a strongroom. Typed, 7 pieces, dated 23 February - 13 September 1995.
• Letter from Diana Hainsworth to Graeme Gardiner concerning valuation of photographs. Handwritten, 2 pieces, dated 16 January 1997.
• Correspondence from Graeme Gardiner to Helen Cordell, Honorary Librarian, concerning the purchase of protective masks and temporary relocation of the elephant volumes. Typed, 3 pieces, dated 29 March 1999.
• Copy of email from Michael Pollock, Librarian, to Giles Tillotson, Director, concerning the work that Graeme Gardiner had undertaken. Typed, 1 piece, dated 14 November 2000.
• Correspondence from Helen Cordell concerning the remit of work undertaken by the conservator. Typed, 3 pieces, dated 26 June - 29 July 2002.

When books have needed rebinding or journals bound together, the Society has outsourced this to binderies. This series contains correspondence and invoices concerning this:

• Green Street Bindery, Oxford - correspondence and invoices between Green Street Bindery and the Royal Asiatic Society concerning the rebinding of books. Typed and handwritten, 6 pieces, dated 28 February 1985 - 19 November 1987.
• Correspondence between Michael Pollock, Librarian, Dennis Duncanson and David MacDowell concerning the proceeds of a sale of Duncanson's books and periodicals be used for rebinding of books. Typed and handwritten, 2 pieces, December 19[9]6 to 7 May 1997.
• Anthony Wessely Bookbinder, Bracknell, Berkshire - correspondence and invoices between Anthony Wessely and the Royal Asiatic Society regarding rebinding of books. Typed and handwritten, 7 pieces, dated 11 November 1988 -2 May 1990.
• The Wyvern Bindery, London - correspondence, reports and invoices between the Wyvern Bindery and the Royal Asiatic Society concerning the rebinding of books and journals. These also include correspondence with Clare Prince, book conservator, and C.M. Edmondson, Paper Conservator, concerning a survey of the damaged volumes of the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society. Typed and printed, 83 pieces, dated 20 July 1993 - 17 January 2012.

This archive consists of correspondence, documentation, reports and allied material concerned with the conservation of the Collections of the Society. The Society has not kept comprehensive records throughout its history. Further information pertaining to the conservation of the collections may be found in the Minutes for the meetings of the Council and Library Committees. Conservation continues in the life of the Society. More recent records are held in the Society's records management system and will be transferred to the archive in due course.

Correspondence concerned with conservation of the Society's collections within this time period:

• Correspondence and instructions re cleaning marble using Sepiolite, 2 pieces, typed, dated 22 March 1968.
• Correspondence with British Museum regarding creating stands for sculptures, 8 pieces, handwritten and typed, dated 1 April 1969 - 13 October 1969.
• Correspondence with E. Panetta, V & A Museum concerning the restoration of a teak stool, 5 pieces, typed, dated 12 March 1969 - 15 April 1969.
• Correspondence with the India Office Library concerning the laminating of a manuscript, 1 piece, typed, dated 20 December 1973.
• Letter from Valery (Gibson), Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to Dennis (Duncanson), President. to give a report on Mr Cox's opinion of the condition of the portrait of William Havell (RAS Cat.01.011) and of a further watercolour, unnamed, and whether to undertake their conservation. Handwritten, dated 26 January 1982.
• Correspondence with the Armouries, Tower of London concerning the restoration of a mail shirt, 12 pieces, handwritten and typed, dated 24 September 1975 - 22 August 1983.
• Correspondence concerning the conservation of James Wales' painting of Madhu Rao Narayan, the Maratha Peshwa (RAS Head Cat. 01.014), 5 pieces, handwritten and typed, dated 25 August 1982 - 14 December 1982.
• Correspondence concerning insurance for the portraits of Jamsetjee Boman Jee and Nowrojee Jamset jee and the painting of the Judicial enquiry at Canton while they were undergoing conservation, typed, 2 pieces, dated 17 January 1983 - 7 February 1983.
• Letter from A.D.H. Bivar to Dennis Duncanson concerning the storage of collections in a basement room, 1 piece, typed, dated 16 June 1983.
• Copy of a letter from Godfrey Goodwin to 'Neale; to express his appreciation for the quality of the conservation of two watercolour paintings, 1 piece, handwritten, dated 10 July 1989.

The possibility of having an in-house conservator was raised in the late 1980s. It was decided that some money would be set aside for this for an initial period of 3 years. Graeme Gardiner was employed from 1989. The initial employment was extended beyond the original period. The archival material consists of reports and correspondence concerned with this employment and the work undertaken.

Throughout its history conservation work has been carried out on items in the Society's collections. The material in this series consists of reports and correspondence connected to conservation projects. These are:

• 'The Conservation of Two Indian 18th century Botanical Watercolours from the Royal Asiatic Society by Neale Freeman' - a report of the conservation of two paintings from the William Jones' collection undertaken by Freeman for his BTEC Higher National Diploma in Paper Conservation final Assessment Project (January-March 1989). Typed, bound report.
• 'Higher National Diploma Conservation Project: The Conservation of Three Paintings Pasted Together: Graeme Gardiner, Summer 1990' - report of the conservation of the three paintings (Head Cat. 015.012). It also contains Conservation Reports on the Drawings, Prints and Watercolours, February 1989, and the Works of Art on Paper, Palm-leaf scrolls and Rare Books, November 1989. Typed and bound, 1990.
• 'The Conservation of a Persian Manuscript 1990, D. Meshiea' - report created by Doretta Meshiea for her BTEC Higher National Diploma in Paper Conservation Final Assessment Project on the conservation of a copy of the poetry by Najib Ud-Din. Typed and bound.
• Conservation of the manuscript RAS Malay 142 - correspondence between the Royal Asiatic Society, the conservator Don Baker, the British Library, and the National Manuscripts Conservation Trust re the funding for and the conservation of this manuscript. There is also the final conservation report. Typed, 20 pieces, dated 2 February 1991 - 22 February 1994.
• Schlagintweit's 'Scientific Mission to India and High Asia' - correspondence and report from from the conservator Kate Colleran concerning the condition of this volume and an article on its importance from the Indian Journal of History of Science, 24(1): 67-83 (1989), typed and printed, 9 pieces, dated 1989 -14 July 1991.
• Shahnamah of Firdausi, of Muhammad Juki (RAS Persian 239) - correspondence between the Royal Asiatic Society, Don Baker conservator, James Brockman conservator, David Jacobs conservator and Cheryl Porter conservator and reports concerning the conservation of this manuscript carried out by David Jacobs in 1996 with further conservation in 2000-2004. Typed with accompanying photographs, 34 pieces, dated 15 July 1992 - 9 November 2004.
• Qajar Painting of Two Girls (Head Cat. 01.002) - letter from Simon Gardiner, picture restorer concerning the condition of this painting and that of two others and the cost of conservation. Typed, 2 pieces, dated 17 January 1997.
• Correspondence and report from Anne Ablett, Conservator of Historic frames concerning conservation of the frame of the painting 'The Maratha Peshwa with Nana Fadnavis (RAS Cat.01.014) and a further report recommending the treatment by Michael Pollock, Royal Asiatic Society Librarian. Typed and handwritten, 6 pieces, dated 24 April - 2 June 1997.
• 'Cleaning and Repair of a 19th century Watercolour and two Accompanying Objects, Conservation of 19th Century Construction Plan and Label' by Kate Toyne undertaken for her BA (Hons) Paper Conservation, Camberwell College, 1997 - report of the conservation of a Plan and View for the laying-out of Darjeeling (Head Cat. 023.001). Typed and ringbound, 1997.
• Suit of Armour - copies of letters from Michael Pollock, Royal Asiatic Society to Alison Draper, Royal Armouries, Leeds, concerning the conservation of the suit of armour belonging to the Society. Typed, 27 pieces, dated 11 December 1997 - 13 September 2001.
• James Tod Collection of Paintings - correspondence between the Royal Asiatic Society and Graeme Gardiner, Preservation Solutions, concerning the conservation of the paintings in the Tod Collection. Typed, 7 pieces, dated 31 January 2000 - 29 December 2000.
• Letter from Clark Worswick, Consulting Curator of Photographs, Peabody Essex Museum, to Michael Pollock, Librarian, Royal Asiatic Society to express his concern at the condition of the Society's photographic collections. Typed, 1 piece, dated 8 January 2001.
• RAS Persian MS 278 - correspondence from Kathy Abbot, Conservation Department, Bernard Quaritch, and reports on the conservation of this manuscript needed for exhibition at the Asia Society Museum. Typed with accompanying photographs, 6 pieces, dated 31 July 2003 - 26 January 2004.
• Letter from John Mumford, book and paper conservator to Alison Ohta, Curator, Royal Asiatic Society, concerning the conservation needs of RAS Persian MS 211. Typed, 1 piece, dated 30 January 2004.
• Letter from Helen Cordell, Honorary Librarian, Royal Asiatic Society, to David Jacobs, conservator, to ask him to come to assess the Rajasthani scrolls of genealogies in the James Tod collection. Typed, 1 piece, dated 9 November 2004.
• Royal Asiatic Society Conservation Documentation Records for conservation work carried out by Alex Teoh. Typed, 20 pieces, dated 24 July 2007 - 5 September 2007.
• RAS Persian MS 251 (Sa'di Bustan) - an estimate for the conservation of this manuscript from David Jacobs. Typed with accompanying photographs, 6 pieces, dated 21 January 2008.
• RAS Burmese MS 86 - correspondence, reports and applications for funding concerning the conservation of this manuscript and its binding tape (sazigyo). Typed, 17 pieces, dated 14 June 2007 -3 April 2009.
• Portrait of Thomas Manning - conservation report for this painting by Bronwyn Leone, Accredited Paintings Conservator &Restorer, 1 piece, typed, dated September 2010
• Letter of thanks from Kathy Lazenbatt, Royal Asiatic Society Librarian to John Dunlop, The University of London Extra-Mural History of Art Society, for the donation towards the re-framing of some of the Society's pictures. Typed, 1 piece, 17 May 2012.
• Invoice for an acrylic screen for the Qajar ladies painting (RAS Cat.01.002) from Colin Jane Lindley. Typed, 1 piece, dated 22 March 2013.
• Kabuki concertina album (Head Cat. 077.011/89) - estimate from C.M. Edmondson, Conservator, for the conservation of this album. Typed, 1 piece, dated 4 April 2011. Further letter concerning the condition of the album from Hamish A Todd, Lead Curator, Japanese and Korean, British Library, typed, 1 piece, dated 13 October 2014.
• Jain Heritage Project - Project proposal, Memorandum of Understanding between the Jiv Daya Foundation and the Royal Asiatic Society, bi-monthly Progress Reports, timeline, correspondence, reports and invoices concerning the conservation of thrww items of Jaina heritage in the Society's collections (Head Cat. 065.001, Head Cat. 069.001, and Tod MS 34. Typed and handwritten, 38 pieces, dated 30 January 2012 - 7 February 2014.
• Latin-Chinese Dictionaries (Chinese MS 1) - application form, reports, correspondence between the Royal Asiatic Society, the National Manuscripts Conservation Trust and the Sino-British Fellowship concerned with the funding of the conservation of these dictionaries. Typed, 50 pieces, dated 25 September 2014 - 17 February 2016.
• Appeal advertisement to raise fund for the conservation of the manuscript RAS Burmese 86 and its sazigyo (woven braid). Computer printed, 1 piece, dated 1 May 2019.

The Society has a history of working with Camberwell College. This was renewed in 2016 and from 2016-2019 MA conservation students worked on some items in the Society's collections for their final projects. The archival material is:

2016

• RAS Persian Manuscripts 19 and 51 - work carried out by Jasdip Singh Dillon: Treatment proposals and work overview. Typed with accompanying photographs, 15 pieces.
• Paintings from the James Tod Collection (Cat. Nos. 061.002, 063.008 and 063.009) - work carried out by Bethia Grice. Proposal and condition reports, correspondence and Final Project report. Typed with accompanying photographs, 79 pieces.

2017

• The Canton Register Volumes 2 and 3 - work undertaken by Isana Skeete. Documentation of proposal and treatment. Digital file originally created in July 2017, archival document created in November 2024.
• Maps of Mount Hua and Putuo - work undertaken by Joey Shuker. Conservation Treatment Records for each map. Original digital documents created August 2017, archival documents created November 2024.
• “Squeeze Ink Impression” by Sir Alexander Cunningham - work undertaken by Laurent Cruveillier. Condition and Treatment report for the conservation of the positive and negative impressions and the historic label, and a copy of Cruveillier's dissertation, Conservation of Alexander Cunningham’s 1850s archaeological ink rubbing and inked squeeze of a stone inscription at Visvanatha temple in India. Digital files first created in June 2017, archival documents created November 2024.
• Painting of the Northern elevation of the Temple of Rana Mokal, Chitor (Cat. No. 037.174) - work carried out by Rebecca Snow. Condensed treatment report. Digital file originally created in June 2017, archival document created November 2024.

2018

• Pilgrimage scroll (artwork) - work carried out by Mathilde Renauld. Documentation and treatment proposal, and Renauld's dissertation, Conservation of a Shi’ite pilgrimage scroll from the Royal Asiatic Society. Digital documents originally created in 2018, archival documents created November 2024.

2019

• Pencil and ink drawings of the bridge and island of Sivasmudram (Cat. Nos. 073.001 - 073.004) - work carried out by Arantza Dobbels Busto. Treatment documentation for each of the maps. Typed with accompanying photographs, 8 pieces.
• Watercolour paintings of Genealogical trees from the James Tod Collections (Cat. Nos. 037.177 and 037.178) - work carried out by Rebekah Harbord. Conservation documentation, typed with accompanying photographs, 12 pieces.
• Double-sided miniature paintings depicting Layla (Cat. No. 058.001) with three birds on verso and Majnun with a Prince on a piebald horse on verso (Cat. No. 058.002) - work carried out by Rebekah Harbord. Conservation Treatment Proposal, Conservation documentations, and a copy of her dissertation, Stabilisation and re-housing of two double-sided Indo-Persian manuscript miniatures c.1550-1650 from the Persian manuscript collection of the Royal Asiatic Society. Typed with accompanying photographs, 61 pieces.

Reports created predominantly by the inhouse conservator:

• 'The Library' - report concerning the work being undertaken to improve the Library and the possibility of a conservator being employed. Handwritten, 2 pieces, undated.
• 'Preliminary Conservation Report on the Collection of Drawings, Prints and Watercolours belonging to the Royal Asiatic Society, February 1989 by Graeme Gardiner' - typed report, 12 pieces.
• 'Conservation Report on the Collection of Works of Art on Paper, Palm-leaf Scrolls and Rare Books belonging to the Royal Asiatic Society, November 1989, Graeme Gardiner', typed report, 6 pieces.
• 'The Royal Asiatic Society: Costing for a Conservation Studio' by F.F. Steele, President, typed report, 7 pieces, dated 6 June 1990.
• 'Paper by the President for the 14 June 1990 meeting of the Council: Proposal for an In-house Conservation Unit', typed report, 1 piece.
• 'Proposed In house Conservation Workshop for the Royal Asiatic Society', typed report, 5 pieces. [1990].
• 'The Royal Asiatic Society: Report for the Mounting Programme Instituted by the Royal Asiatic Society', typed report, 5 pieces, [1990].
• 'Conservation Report June 1992' detailing the work undertaken, typed, 4 pieces.
• 'Breakdown of Work undertaken by the Conservation Department, August 1990 - September 1992', typed report, 2 pieces.
• 'The Royal Asiatic Society Conservation Report for the First Three Years September 1992', typed report ,1 piece.
• 'Royal Asiatic Society Conservation Workshop Work Schedule', typed and handwritten monthly reports covering the period September 1992 - September 1993, and November 1993, 14 pieces.
• 'Conservation Report for the Library Committee, November 1992', typed report, 1 piece.
• 'Conservation Report for the Library Committee, January 1993', typed report, 1 piece.
• Conservation Report, 29th April 1993', typed report, 1 piece.
• 'Breakdown of Time Allocation for September 1992 - August 1993', typed report, 1 piece.
• 'Breakdown of Work Undertaken by the Conservation Department. August 1990 - September 1993', typed, 2 pieces.
• 'Conservation Report for the Library Committee, September 1993', typed report, 1 piece.
• 'Conservation Report for the Library Committee, January 1994', typed report, 2 pieces.
• Time Allocations for February - April 1994, typed lists, 2 pieces.
• 'Conservation Report for the Library Committee, April 1994', typed report, 1 piece.
• 'Conservation Report for the Library Committee of the Royal Asiatic Society, June 1994', summary of work being undertaken, 1 piece, typed.
• 'Summary of Conservation Work Sept 1993 - August 1994', typed report which also includes a summary of work undertaken between August 1990 and September 1994, typed with handwritten annotations, 3 pieces.
• 'Conservation Report for the Library Committee of the Royal Asiatic Society, November 1994', summary of work being undertaken, 1 piece, typed.
• 'Conservation Priorities: Report for the President, compiled by the Librarian and the Conservator, 17th January 1995', typed report, 2 pieces underlining collections requiring attention and time estimates, 2 pieces.
• 'Conservation Report for the Library Committee, February 1995', typed report, 1 piece.
• 'Conservation Report for the Library Committee, March 1995', typed report, 7 pieces.
• 'Possible Future Conservation Projects, 4 Oct 95', handwritten and photocopied reports, 2 pieces.
• 'To the President, From Graeme Gardiner, April 1996. Summary', typed report of the collection needs and allocation of space for a strong room, typed, 3 pieces.
• 'Strongroom Relocation June 1996', typed report, 3 pieces.
• 'Report by the Conservator, as to the various Recommendations regarding the Conservation Studio', photocopy of handwritten report, 3 pages, dated 8 October 1996.
• 'Estimate of time required for conservation and preservation of the RAS Collections', typed list identifying priorities, 1 piece, dated 27 October 1996.
• 'Conservator's Report September 1997', typed report, 3 pieces.
• 'Conservation Report for the Library Committee, 28.5.98', typed report, 2 pieces.
• 'Conservation Report for the Library Committee, 8.9.98', typed report, 2 pieces.
• 'Conservator's Report, September 1998', typed report, 2 pieces.
• 'Notes for Library Committee 8 May 2003' by Helen Cordell, Honorary Librarian, concerning conservation of photograph albums and building on the work of the conservator, typed, 2 pieces.
• 'Library of the Royal Asiatic Society: Storage for Manuscripts and Works of Art; Access and Future Use; Royal Asiatic Society, Conservation Workshop', typed report, 2 pieces, undated [early 1990s].
• 'Conservation Report for Library Committee', handwritten report, undated, 3 pieces.
• 'Royal Asiatic Society - 60 Queen's Gardens, Designation of Rooms', typed list, 1 piece, undated.
• 'Memo to the President, Director and Treasurer' concerning an increase in the hourly rate for the conservator, typed, 1 piece, undated.
• 'Principles of a programme for the re-hanging of pictures at 60 Queen's Garden W2', typed list, 1 piece, undated.
• Conservation reports for individual items or collections for which work was undertaken. some dated to 1990 and 1991, typed with handwritten annotations, 42 pieces.

At various times the Society has commissioned surveys of its collections or sought funding to do so in order to assess the care needed for them. The material in this series consists of these surveys and some allied correspondence.

Nicholas Pickwoad
In 1988, Nicholas Pickwoad, Bookbinder and Conservator, Adviser to the National Trust on Book Conservation, was commissioned by the Society to survey the Library.

• 'Conservation Report on the Library of the Royal Asiatic Society, Nicholas Pickwoad, 25 May 1988. Typed report detailing the current conditions of the library and making suggestions for improvements, 29 pieces.
• Letter from Jane McAusland, Conservator and Restorer of Art on Paper, to Godfrey Goodwin, Royal Asiatic Society, to give Nicholas Pickwoad's contact details and that of another book conservator. Typed, 1 piece, dated 4 December 1987.
• Correspondence from Nicholas Pickwoad to Godfrey Goodwin concerning undertaking the survey and providing the report. Typed, 6 letters, 7 pieces, dated 4 February 1988 - 13 July 1988.
• 'First draft of the Preliminary Report addressed to the Getty Foundation, L.A.' - a draft report seeking funding for care of the collections, produced after the Pickwoad survey. Typed, and copy of handwritten, 7 pieces.

Behar Profex Ltd.
Behar Profex Ltd. is a London-based specialist antique rug and carpet repair and conservation company. In 1996, they were commissioned to report on the state of the Society's Bidjar and Kashan Rugs and an embroidered wall-hanging.

• Report from Behar Profex Ltd. detailing conservation need and estimated costs. Typed, 2 pieces, dated 30 October 1996.

Jacqueline Filliozat
In 1997, Jacqueline Filliozat undertook a survey of the Society's Pali manuscripts both identifying them and examining their condition.

• 'Survey of the Pali manuscript Collection in the Royal Asiatic Society', detailed typed report, 33 pieces, dated 12 August 1997.
• Letter from Jacqueline Filliozat to the Royal Asiatic Society to send her report. Handwritten in French, 2 pieces, date 12 August 1997.

Application for Archival Funding

• 'Application for a grant for the sorting and minimum conservation of the Rawlinson and Hodgson papers. In addition, there is a separate application for the part funding of conservation work on six Islamic manuscripts which are urgently in need of attention.' - typed report to unknown funding body, 2 pieces, undated [1990s].

RAS Manuscript Survey
A survey of some of the RAS manuscripts was undertaken at some point. Unfortunately the report is undated with no named contributors. A 57 page report was produced divided into the following sections:

• Defining the Levels of Condition for the Manuscripts
• Explanation of the Database Terminology
• Analysis of the findings of the Condition Report on the Persian Manuscripts
• Analysis of the findings of the Condition Report on the Arabic Manuscripts
• Analysis of the findings of the Condition Report on the Turkish Manuscripts
• RAS Manuscript Survey - detailing the condition of each individual manuscript.

Photographic Collections
In 2002 Jane McAusland, Conservator, carried out a survey on the Society's photographs. The material associated with this is:

• 'The Collection of 19th Century Photographs in the Library of the Royal Asiatic Society... A Proposed Strategy to Conserve the Collection', typed report of her findings and suggestions for care, 8 pieces, dated February 2002.
• Letter from Jane McAusland to Helen Cordell, Royal Asiatic Society, to send the report and her invoice. Typed, 2 pieces, dated 10 February 2002.
• There is also a later letter from Alison Ohta, Director, Royal Asiatic Society, to Ms O'Connell, concerning seeking funding for the digitisation of the photograph collection. Typed, 2 pieces, dated 25 February 2011.

Coin Collections
A report concerning the state of the RAS coin collections including recommendation for specialist cleaning. Typed report, 3 pieces, dated 14 August 2002.

Preservation Audit Reports
In 2004, after taking advice from Caroline Bendix, conservator, the Society applied to Archives, Libraries and Museums, London (ALM), for a grant to undertake a preservation audit. This was successful and the audit was carried out. The material associated with this audit is:

• 'Notes on the meeting with book conservation expert Caroline Bendix, 5 May 2004' - typed report detailing possible ways to enhance the state of the collections, 1 piece.
• 'ALM Collections Care Funding Programme, 2004-2005, Application Form, Preservation Audit Visit and Report' - completed application form, electronic document, original content created 28 May 2004, archival document created 12 November 2004.
• Memorandum of Agreement between ALM London and the Royal Asiatic Society concerning the Preservation Audit. Typed, 2 pieces, dated 2 August 2004.
• 'Preservation Audit Report on the Books and Archives at the Royal Asiatic Society, Caroline Bendix and Jonathan Rhys-Lewis, November, 2004' - detailed report on the books by Caroline Bendix and the archives by Jonathan Rhys-Lewis created following the funding received by ALM. Softcover booklet, dated November -December 2004.
• 'Royal Asiatic Society Preservation Audit Visit and Report, November 2004' undertaken by Deidre Mulley, Conservation and Collection Care, funded by the ALM. Softcover booklet, dated November 2004.
• 'Action Plan for the RAS Collections', report created for the Library Committee 12 May 2005 after receiving the Preservation Audit Reports. Electronic document, first created 9 May 2005. Archival document created 12 November 2024.
• ALM feedback questionnaire for funding from 2003-2006. Electronic document first created in 23 February 2006. Archival document created 12 November 2024.

Royal Asiatic Society Archive Audit by Simon Fenwick
An audit and report carried out on the archival collections by Simon Fenwick, consultant archivist, detailing the archives found and the care needed. With the report is the invoice for his services. Typed, 16 pieces, dated 8 July 2007.

Computerised Cataloguing Project
Two draft applications for funding to finance a computer catalogue for the Society's collections. Funding was sought from the Mercers Company and the Foyle Foundation. The Mercer application is dated to 2009.