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.
Sans titreThe 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.
The material in this catalogue was formed in the administration of the Governance of the Royal Asiatic Society. They include Reports and Statements, Correspondence concerned with both internal and external business, Attendance Books, Records of use of the Society's Seal, examples of emblems and seals, and some other ephemera.
Sans titreThis material contains a letter from major Cunningham describing the "Haram of Ali Raza" at Mashhad and a copy of the "Ziarat Nameh" said at the shrine. There is also further Royal Asiatic Society correspondence concerning what to do with this donated material.
Sans titreTwo handwritten manuscripts by Maurice Patrick O'Connor Tandy, two allied letters, and some provenance information.
Sans titre"Notes on Cudapah" (Kadapa), "Read July 17/30" "Ordered not to be printed Nov 13/30" with label "Catalogue of English MSS. II No 5, Cuddapah, Presented by Mrs Skinner and read before the Society on 17 July 1830. Three anecdotes concerning traditions:
- The self-devotion of a headman of the village of Chitwail
- An account of the "Assaree Shereef" - a building erected to contain a hair from the beard of Muhammad
- The behaviour of a fakir Handwritten, 3 pages + label.
This manuscript and details concerning it are found in the Society's "Catalogue of English Manuscripts in the R.A.S.", p.20.
Sans titreThis archive consists of lists and correspondence concerned with the disposal of items in the Collections of the Society. The Society has not kept comprehensive records throughout its history. Further information pertaining to Disposals of the Society may be found in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society and in the Minute books for the Council and General Meetings. Disposals may continue in the life of the Society. More recent ones are held in the Society's records management system and will be transferred to the archive in due course.
Sans titreThe International Union of Orientalists was founded in September 1951 in Istanbul at the International Congress of Orientalists. It was renamed in 1973 as the International Union for Oriental and Asian Studies. This material covers the interaction of the Royal Asiatic Society with the Union in the time period 1951-1977.
Sans titreThe Royal Asiatic Society has operated as a membership organisation since its founding. This collection contains records relating to the Society's membership, including administrative and financial documents such as membership lists and subscriptions ledgers, papers relating to membership application and election, as well as other textual and visual material which came into the Society's holdings as a result of its interaction with members. The relationship between the Society and its members is further documented in this collection through letters, notices and other communications such as newsletters.
Sans titreThe Royal Asiatic Society leased the premises at 5 New Burlington Street from 1848 to 1869. There is no original archival material for this period. These papers consist of copies of a perspective drawing executed from Regent Street. There are 2 copies of this view with an explanatory note. And a further copy of numbers 78-86.
Sans titre