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In 1973 the Royal Asiatic Society celebrated its Sesquicentenary (150 years). The archival material includes Planning committee administration; material connected with the various events held, exhibitions put on and publications produced in celebration of the occasion; and material concerned with fundraising for the Society.

This volume contains copies of, or extracts from, letters sent to the Royal Asiatic Society between 1846 and 1852. They are written into a leather-bound volume with the title 'Extracts' on its front cover. Besides the letters which cover 93 pages, there are subsequently some rough pencil notes and a diagram in a different hand (possibly a child's) followed by blank pages and an index at the end of the manuscript.

From 1904-1929 the Royal Asiatic Society awarded a Gold Medal to a schoolboy writing on a chosen essay title. However, as entrants dwindled and few schools seemed interested in teaching Indian history, it was decided that the competition should be changed to one for undergraduate students. The change was finalised on 15th December 1931. Regulations for the University Prize Essay Fund were drawn up in 1932 and the first prize was awarded in 1933. In 1939, Professor Perceval Yetts designed a certificate to be presented with the prize (an example of this can be found in these papers). The prize was initially awarded annually but then became biennial. The prize money also increased at various intervals.
The records of the Universities Prize Essay cover the conversion from the Public School Medal to the Universities Prize Essay Fund, governance of the award and the conferment of the Honour in subsequent years. They include Rules, correspondence, and winning essays. However there are not records for all instances of the presentation of the award. Researchers are advised to also examine the Council Minutes and the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society (both held in the RAS Collections) when researching concerning the Universities Prize Essay and its recipients.

Since its initiation in 1823, the Royal Asiatic Society has held an annual Anniversary General Meeting. This is partly a business meeting where the accounts are presented, and a report given of the Society's affairs for the preceding year. It is also a celebration of the Society's achievements and activities. A lecture is usually given as part of the proceedings and the meeting has, in its history, been followed by a reception or meal. Due to the business side of the activities, relevant material will also be found within the Governance records and within the General Meeting Minutes.

The material identified in this catalogue include agendas, reports, invitations, press cuttings and photographs.

At irregular intervals a Special General Meeting is called by the Council. These are to discuss and vote upon major changes within the Society such as a change in the Charter or Byelaws, the sale of some part of the collections, or the necessity of moving premises. Much of the discussion concerning these Meetings will be minuted in the Council Minutes and the meetings minuted in the General Meeting Minutes. This archive contains the supplementary material that has been collected concerned with Special General Meetings.

The Society's collections have always been open for researchers to come and use. This in turn has generated additional information concerning the collections both formally through articles and research papers and informally through correspondence. The Society has also sought to promote its collections through both events and articles. The papers within this series concern these activities. Though much of the administration of these activities does not create items of archival value, the ones kept were deemed to be of use for future researchers.

A bound volume containing copies of letters sent in the administration of the Society between the years 1823-1835 and 1846-1861. The earlier ones, covering 1823-1835, are all concerned with the finances of the Society. There is then a break in the letters until 1846, after which the correspondence covers a broader spectrum of activities.

The signed Minutes and associated correspondence of the Meetings of the Royal Asiatic Society's Events and House Committee.

The 17th International Congress of Orientalists, fixed to be held in Oxford in 1915, was abandoned due to the First World War. In September 1919, Orientalists, principally from the Royal Asiatic Society, Société Asiatique, American Oriental Society and Scuolà Orientale - R. Università di Roma, with representatives from other nations, gathered to discuss the future of Oriental Studies. This was hosted by the Royal Asiatic Society and included a series of lectures, various receptions including a visit to the British Museum and to Kew Gardens, and culminated with a Banquet held at the Imperial Restaurant, Regent Street, on Saturday 6 September. The allied papers iconsist of printed material and newspaper cuttings concerned with the Joint Session of the Royal Asiatic Society, the Société Asiatique, American Oriental Society and the Scuola Orientale-R. Università di Roma hosted by the Royal Asiatic Society, 3-6 September 1919.

The first minutes for the Committee of Correspondence are for 19 May 1831. However before this time items communicated to the Society were being recorded. Thus these two volumes are both connected with the administration of correspondence. These are:

Register of Communications, April 1823 To February 1846
This volume lists papers and correspondence sent to the Society, including their date and correspondent. Many of the entries also detail the outcome of the correspondence at the Society - whether read at a General Meeting or published within the Society's Transactions or Journal.

Minutes of the Committee of Correspondence May 1831 To July 1842
The Minutes for the Committee of Correspondence cover the time period 19 May 1831 - 9 July 1942 when the 'Committee resolved themselves into a Meeting of the Council'. In the meetings correspondence to the Society was read and decisions made how best to respond. This volume also contains a copy of the 'Memorandum on the Babylonian Inscriptions forwarded by Mr. Norris to Professor Wilson for transmission to Major Rawlinson. Dated, 15th May 1846'. The copy fills 5.5 pages of the book.