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Archival description
Subscription to Journal
GB 891 RAS SESQ-RAS SESQ/13-RAS SESQ/13/6 · File · 1972
Part of Royal Asiatic Society: Sesquicentenary

Letter from Royal Asiatic Society Director, A.D.H. Bivar, to libraries to suggest recipients subscribe to the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society.

Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland 1823-
Shagdaryn Bira
GB 891 RAS DSM-RAS DSM/5 · Series · 2001-2002
Part of Royal Asiatic Society: The Denis Sinor Medal

The Denis Sinor Medal was awarded to Shagdaryn Bira in 2002. This material contains correspondence and administrative documents concerning the presentation of the award. There are also some colour photographs of the presentation event:

  • 'Royal Asiatic Society Denis Sinor Medal for Inner Asian Studies' - notification of the award. Typed,1 piece, dated February 2001.
  • Letter from Dr Susan Whitfield, British Library, to Giles Tillotson, Director, Royal Asiatic Society, to agree to serve on the Sinor Medal committee. Typed, 1 piece, dated 6 March 2001.
  • 'Denis Sinor Medal for Inner Asian Studies - Sh. Bira' - a curriculum vitae for Shagdaryn Bira. Typed, 3 pieces, undated.
  • Copy of an email from Dr Judith Kolbas to Adrian Thomas, Secretary, RAS, to inform that at the Society's Council meeting they had agreed to elect Shagdaryn Bira to receive the Sinor medal. Typed,1 piece, dated 12 October 2001.
  • Copy of an email from Dr Judith Kolbas to Adrian Thomas, to enclose a note she had received from Bira on her telling him of the award. Typed, 1 piece, dated 16 October 2001.
  • Letter from Adrian Thomas to Shagdaryn Bira, General Secretary, International Association for Mongol Studies, to inform of the Council's decision to award him the Denis Sinor Medal. Typed, 1 piece, dated 22 November 2001.
  • Copy of an email from Adrian Thomas to Judith Kolbas to inform that he had written to Shagdaryn Bira. Typed, 1 piece, dated 22 November 2001.
  • Copy of an email from Judith Kolbas to Adrian Thomas to give a postal address for Shagdaryn Bira. Typed, 1 piece, dated 25 November 2011.
  • Letter from Professor Denis Sinor to Adrian Thomas to inform of the death of certain members of the Society and to enquire regarding a committee for the award of the medal. Typed, 1 piece, dated 18 December 200.
  • Copies of emails between Adrian Thomas and Anthony Stockwell, President, RAS, concerning Thomas' reply to Denis Sinor regarding the medal. Typed, 2 pieces, dated 16 - 17 January 2002.
  • Copies of emails between Adrian Thomas and Denis Sinor regarding the presentation of the medal to Shagdaryn Bira. Typed, 2 pieces, dated 21 January 2002.
  • Copies of emails between Adrian Thomas, Judith Kolbas, Giles Tillotson and Shagdaryn Bira regarding setting a date for the presentation of the Medal. Typed, 4 pieces, dated 21 February - 7 March 2002.
  • Letter from Giles Tillotson to Shagdaryn Bira to give official notification of the award and to ask if he is free for it to be presented to him on 10 October 2002. Typed, 1 piece, dated 11 March 2002.
  • Letter from Adrian Thomas to H.E. the Ambassador, Embassy of Mongolia, to ask him to forward the letter regarding his award to Shagdaryn Bira. Typed, 1 piece 13 March 2002.
  • Copy of email from Adrian Thomas to Shagdaryn Bira to express his regret at the failure of a previous letter to reach him. He has attached it to the email and also sent it to the Embassy. Typed, 1 piece 13 March 2002.
  • Copies of emails between Adrian Thomas, Giles Tillotson and Shagdaryn Bira confirming the date of 10 October and the title of Bira's lecture. Typed, 1 piece, dated 28 March 2002.
  • Copies of emails between Adrian Thomas and Denis Sinor concerning the possibility of Sinor attending the presentation to Shagdaryn Bira. Typed, 1 piece, dated 9 April 2002.
  • Copy of email from Judith Kolbas to Adrian Thomas to suggest inviting the Ambassador of Mongolia and the council and secretary. Typed, 1 piece, dated 8 July 2002.
  • Letter from Adrian Thomas to Philip Clapworthy, Royal Mint, to confirm the inscription to be engraved on the Medal. Typed, 1 piece, dated 10 July 2002.
  • Copies of emails between Judith Kolbas and Adrian Thomas concerning arrangements for the presentation of the medal. Typed,, 1 piece, dated 11 -12 July 2002.
  • Letter from Professor Anthony Stockwell to H.E. Mr D Davaasambuu, Embassy of Mongolia to invite him and his staff members to the presentation of the medal n 10th October 2002. Typed, 1 piece, dated 17 July 2002.
  • Copies of emails between Judith Kolbas, Adrian Thomas and Shagdaryn Bira concerning arrangements for his flight and stay in London. Typed, 2 pieces, dated 19 - 22 July 2002.
  • Copy of an email from Denis Sinor to Adrian Thomas to send his regrets that he will probably be unable to come to the presentation of the award. Typed, 1 piece, dated 22 July 2002.
  • Letter from Adrian Thomas to H.E. Mr D Davaasambuu to ask if they can pass a message to Bira as he is not answering his emails. The letter is with this one and gives details of arrangements for the award. Typed, 2 pieces, dated 31 July 2002.
  • Copy of a fax from Shagdaryn Bira to Adrian Thomas to give details of his arrangements and ask if the society can send an invitation to Bira's son. Handwritten, 1 piece, dated 16 August 2002.
  • Copies of emails between Shagdaryn Bira and Adrian Thomas with further details of his arrangements for coming to London. Typed, 1 piece, dated 3 September 2002.
  • Letter from Adrian Thomas to Philip Clapworthy, Royal Mint, to confirm the inscription to be engraved on the medal. Typed, 1 piece, dated 10 September 2002.
  • Letter from Philip Clatworthy, Royal Mint, to Adrian Thomas to give the charges for engraving the medal and to inform there are 2 medals still in reserve. Typed, 1 piece, dated 10 September 2002.
  • Copy of an email from Shagdaryn Bira to Adrian Thomas to inform of a change of plan concerning his itinerary in which he will return to Mongolia after his visit. Typed, 1 piece, dated 16 September 2002.
  • Notification of issue of medal from the Royal Mint. Printed with handwritten insertions, 1 piece, dated 23 September 2002.
  • Copy of email from Denis Sinor to Adrian Thomas to inform that he will be unable to attend the presentation. Typed, 1 piece, dated 25 September 2002.
  • Copies of emails between Adrian Thomas and Shagdaryn Bira with details of flight times. Typed 1 piece, dated 26 -30 September 2002.
  • Copies of emails between Adrian Thomas, Judith Kolbas and David Bivar concerning meeting Bira from the airport. Typed, 1 piece, dated 27 September 2002.
  • Letter from Adrian Thomas to the Blakemore Hotel to reserve a room for Shagdaryn Bira from 9-13 October. Typed, 1 piece, dated 1 October 2002.
  • Letter from Adrian Thomas to Dr Judith Nordby, Department of East Asian Studies, University of Leeds to invite her and members of her department to the presentation of the Sinor Medal. Typed, dated 1 October 2002.
  • Copy of an email from Anthony Stockwell to Judith Kolbas to give the itinerary for Shagdaryn Bira's time in London. Typed, 1 piece, dated 2 October 2002.
  • Receipt signed by M. Purev for services in accompanying Shagdaryn Bira while in London. Handwritten, 1 piece, dated 4 October 2002.
  • Copy of an email from Adrian Thomas to Shagdaryn Bira to inform that all the arrangements are in place and to give details of them. Typed, 1 piece, dated 5 October 2002.
  • Letter from Adrian Thomas to Professor Charles Bawden to invite him to the presentation of the medal to Shagdaryn Bira. Typed, 1 piece, dated 7 October 2002.
  • Copies of emails between Adrian Thomas and A.D.H. Bivar to invite Bivar to the presentation of the medal. Typed, 1 piece, dated 7 October 2002.
  • Copy of an email from Adrian Thomas to Anthony Stockwell to give details of Denis Sinor's career. Typed, 2 pieces, undated.
  • Letter from Charles Bawden to Adrian Thomas to inform, due to his wife's ill-health, he will be unable to attend the presentation. He asks that his letter of congratulations be passed to Dr Bira. Typed, 1 piece, dated 8 October 2002.
  • Letter from Dr Judith Nordby, Head of Mongolian Studies, University of Leeds, to Adrian Thomas to inform that she will be unable to attend the presentation. Typed. 1 piece, dated 8 October 2002.
  • Letter from Alan J.K Sanders, Mongolist, to Adrian Thomas to thank him for the invitation to the presentation of the medal which he enjoyed attending. and to explain his reasons for not becoming a fellow of the Society. Typed, 1 piece, dated 16 October 2002.
  • Letter from Adrian Thomas to Dr Frances Wood, Chinese Section, British Library, to thank her for giving Shagdaryn Bira the opportunity of viewing Mongolian and Tibetan manuscripts at the British Library on 10th October. Typed,1 piece, dated 23 October 2002.
  • Letter from Adrian Thomas to Dr Susan Whitfield, International Dunhuang Project, British Library, to thank her for organising the visit of Shagdaryn Bira to the Library on 10th October. Typed, 1 piece, dated 23 October 2002.
  • Copies of emails between Adrian Thomas, Judith Kolbas and Shagdaryn Bira concerning Bira's visit to the Society to receive his medal, the opportunity to meet the Society's patron, Prince Charles (King Charles III) the following day, his safe return home, and people who needed to be thanked for their involvement in the organisation of the visit Typed, 4 pieces, dated 21 October - 4 November 2002.
  • Letter of recommendation from Adrian Thomas for the services of Ms Mugi Purev in her capacity as guide to Shagdaryn Bira. Typed, 1 piece, dated 6 November 2002.
  • Letter from Adrian Thomas to Shagdaryn Bira to send photographs from his presentation of the medal and from Prince Charles' visit to the Society. Typed, 1 piece, dated 7 November 2002,
  • Copy of an email from Shagdaryn Bira to Adrian Thomas to confirm receipt of the photographs. Typed, 1 piece, dated 19 November 2002.
  • Ten colour photographs of the presentation of the Denis Sinor Medal to Shagdaryn Bira and his accompanying lecture on 10 October 2002.
Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland 1823-
Robert Irwin
GB 891 RASM-RASM/8 · Series · 2021-2023
Part of Royal Asiatic Society Medal

Robert Irwin was initially nominated for the Society's Richard Burton Medal but it was decided to honour him with the Royal Asiatic Society Medal in 2023, the Society's bicentenary year. The archival material associated with this award is:

  • Letters in support of the nomination of Robert Irwin, typed, 4 pieces, dated 22 September 2021.
  • Publicity poster for the award of the medal and Irwin's lecture Tales from the Mamluk Crypt: Predecessors of Modern Horror, held on 4 May 2023.
  • Six photographs from the award presentation, 4 May 2023.
Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland 1823-
Presidential Letter
GB 891 RAS SESQ-RAS SESQ/13-RAS SESQ/13/2 · File · 1972
Part of Royal Asiatic Society: Sesquicentenary

Letter from Royal Asiatic Society President, B.W. Robinson, to all Fellows of the Royal Asiatic Society to send the appeal brochure and ask for support.

Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland 1823-
Persian manuscripts
GB 891 RAS COLL7-RAS COLL7/8-RAS COLL7/8/1 · Subseries · 1946 - present
Part of Royal Asiatic Society Collections Loans

The Society has within its collections three Persian manuscripts: the Shahnamah of Muhammad Juki (RAS Persian 239), the Gulistan of Sa‘di (RAS Persian 258), and the Masnavi of Zafar Khan (RAS Persian 310). These are both fragile and of great value. Therefore since 1946 they have been housed at other institutions which are able to provide the necessary care for them, firstly with the British Museum, then the British Library, and currently at the Cambridge University Library.
The material in this subseries concerns the care of these manuscripts:

  • Correspondence and documentation concerning the loan of the manuscripts to the British Museum. Typed and printed, 11 pieces, dated 15 April 1946 - 30 December 1965.
  • Correspondence between the British Library and the Royal Asiatic Society concerning the conservation of the Shahnamah of Muhammad Juki manuscript, Typed, 13 pieces, dated 18 June 1992 - 29 September 1993.
  • Correspondence between the British Library and the Royal Asiatic Society concerning the making of microfilm copies of the manuscripts. Typed, 5 pieces, dated 19 October 1993 - 4 November 1993.
  • 'RAS Manuscript. Shahnama. Persian MS 239 Conservation Report and Estimate 31 May 1994' - conservation report. Typed, 9 pieces.
  • Correspondence between the British Library and the Royal Asiatic Society concerning the further care of the manuscripts, Typed, 2 pieces, 4 November 1994 -10 August 1999.
  • Correspondence, indemnity certificates and valuations for the documents for 1999 and 2002. Typed, printed and handwritten, 14 pieces, dated 7 September 1999 - 12 December 2002.
  • Correspondence and documentation between the British Library and the Royal Asiatic Society concerning the loan of the manuscripts to other exhibitions. Typed, 8 pieces, dated 28 October 2010 - 7 February 2011.
  • Loan documentation, indemnity certificate and valuations for the manuscripts for 2014. Typed and printed, 28 pieces.
Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland 1823-