Showing 288 results

The correspondence created in this time period is:

• Letter from Secretary of the East India Company to Richard Clarke, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to send a communication to the Society to accompany a letter from Mr Frere, Commissioner of 'Sattara' giving an account of Arabic manuscripts in the 'City of Beejapore' as well as the building in which they are contained. Handwritten, 1 piece, dated 9 May 1850 (Mr Frere's letter is not with this one).
• Letter from Secretary of the East India Company to Richard Clarke, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to acknowledge receipt of Clarke's letter and thank the Society for the accompanying 'Copy of a Persian Work by the Nawab Suraj ool Moolk'. The Society had also sent a memorandum from Dr Nicholson regarding remains recently discovered at 'the Ancient City of Vamilepoora in Gujerat' which the Company will forward to Bombay (Mumbai), 1 piece, handwritten, dated 21 May 1857.
• Correspondence concerning the creation of a Professorship of Sanskrit at the University of Cambridge. These include three letters from John Muir to Edwin Norris, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, dated 19-23 July 1858; a memorial to the Rt. Honourable Lord Stanley, the Rt. Reverend the Lord Bishop of Chester and the Commissioners regarding the professorship, signed by several member of the Royal Asiatic Society, dated July 1858; and a letter from Edward A. Bunbury, Secretary, Cambridge University Commissioners, to inform that the matter would be brought under the consideration of the commissioners, dated 2 August 1858. All the correspondence is handwritten.
• A letter from the Royal Asiatic Society to the University Commissioners regarding the desirability of making some provision for the teaching of the 'more recondite Dead Languages of the East'. The letter continues to explain which languages they consider important. Printed, 2 pieces, dated February 1878.

• Report of the Committee appointed to consider the advisability of compiling a list of persons willing to give instruction in Oriental languages. The report is headed Royal Asiatic Society and details the results of a meeting held on 28 June 1905. The signatures are George A. Grierson, F.W. Thomas, J.F. Blumhardt, A.G. Ellis and J. Kennedy. Printed, 1 piece.

  There is also correspondence dating 1898-1904 concerning the 'Restoration of Ancient Monuments at Anuradhuapura, Ceylon'. These are:
  Letter from C.P. Lucas, The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office, to Lord Reay, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to acknowledge receipt of his letter concerning the preservation of 'Abhayagiriya and Miriswetiya Dagobas at Anuradhapura', typed, 1 piece, dated 15 June 1898. Letter from C.P. Lucas, The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office, to Lord Reay, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to state that he has received a report on the condition of some of the monuments and the decision to be made from this report. Typed, 1 piece, dated 16 August 1898. Letter to T.W. Rhys Davids, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, from Lord Stanmore to express his despair at persuading the Colonial Office to act, handwritten, 1 piece, dated 18 March [1899]. Telegram to Lord Stanmore from Governor, Colombo, to inform the '8th colony will pay half', 1 piece, handwritten, dated 18 September 1900. Two letters from F.O. Oertel to T.W. Rhys Davids, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, concerning him going to Sri Lanka to make an official report on behalf of the Royal Asiatic Society. These are annotated by Rhys Davids. Two pieces, handwritten, dated 19 September 1900. Two letters from Lord Stanmore, one to T.W. Rhys Davids and the other to the Honorary Treasurer, Royal Asiatic Society, concerning financing Mr Oertel's expedition, 2 pieces, handwritten, dated 20 September 1900. Telegram from Lord Reay to the Royal Asiatic Society giving consent to guarantee the money, 1 piece, handwritten, dated 1 October 1900. Letter from R.S. Antrobus, Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office, to Lord Stanmore to inform that the Government of India will allow Mr Oertel to spend three months visiting Sri Lanka, 1 piece, typed, dated 15 October 1900. Letter from F.O. Oertel to T.W. Rhys Davids to organise a meeting to discuss plans for the proposed trip, handwritten, 1 piece, dated 25 October 1900. Letter from F.O. Oertel to Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, concerning payment of his subscription prior to his departure, handwritten, 1 piece, dated 20 November 1900. Letter from the Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to the Colonial Secretary, Ceylon, to inform of the forthcoming visit of Mr Oertel to assess the monuments, typed, 3 pages, dated 20 November 1900. Letter from T.W. Rhys Davids to F.O. Oertel to inform him of the current state of communication with the Ceylon Government and requesting he proceeds to Colombo to create his report, 1 piece, handwritten, dated 20 November 1900. Letter from Lord Stanmore to T.W. Rhys Davids to inform he would be happy to see Mr Oertel, handwritten, 1 piece, dated 7 April 1901. Letter from Lord Stanmore to enclose a Colonial Office letter and inform of his reply, 1 piece, handwritten, dated 13 November 1901. Letter from C.P. Lucas, The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office, to Lord Stanmore to resend a letter regarding Mr Oertel, typed, 1 piece, dated 22 November 1901. Letter from Lord Stanmore to enclose a further Colonial Office letter and inform of his reply, 1 piece, handwritten, dated 23 November 1901. Letter from C.P. Lucas, The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office, to Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, regarding the finances of Mr Oertel's trip, 1 piece, typed, dated 19 December 1901. Letter from C.P. Lucas, The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office, to Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, regarding the finances of Mr Oertel's trip and the whereabouts of his report, 1 piece, typed, dated 25 February 1902. Letter from C.P. Lucas, The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office, to Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to request again for the report by Mr Oertel, 1 piece, typed, dated 15 July 1902. Letter from C.P. Lucas, The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office, to Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to inform that Mr Oertel's report is now with the printers, 1 piece, typed, dated 4 September 1902. Letter from F.O. Oertel to T.W. Rhys Davids to inform that he is returning to England and to remind the Society of their debts to him, handwritten, 1 piece, dated 14 July 1903. Minutes of a Meeting of the Finance Committee, Royal Asiatic Society, regarding the payments due to Mr Oertel, handwritten, 2 pieces, dated 22 October 1903. Letter from J. Kennedy, Honorary Treasurer, Royal Asiatic Society, to F.O. Oertel concerning the money which Oertel is claiming from the Society. There is a further piece with this letter concerning Oertel's original instructions, 3 pieces, typed, dated November 1903. Letter from F.O. Oertel to T.W. Rhys Davids to discuss the matter of the money and that the Honourable Munshi Madho Lal be appointed a life member of the Society, handwritten, 1 piece, dated 31 December 1903. Letter from F.O. Oertel to James Kennedy, Honorary Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to ask whether the Council would reconsider their decisions, typed, 2 pieces, dated 31 December 1903. 'Report on the Restoration of Ancient Monuments at Anuradhapura, Ceylon. By F.O. Oertel, F.R.I.B.A., Indian Public Works Department', printed in Colombo, 1903. Letter from James Kennedy to Sir Raymond West regarding the outcome of the Finance Committee, handwritten, 1 piece, dated 1 February 1904. Letter from Raymond West to James Kennedy in response to Kennedy's letter, 1 piece, handwritten, dated 2 February 1904. Letter from Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to Lord Stanmore to send all the papers relating to Mr Oertel's expenses, typed, 2 pieces, dated March 1904. Letter from Lord Stanmore to acknowledge receipt of the Secretary's letter, handwritten, 1 piece, dated 25 March 1904. Letter from Honorary Treasurer, Royal Asiatic Society, to F.O. Oertel to inform him of the Council's deliberations, 2 versions, handwritten, 1 piece, dated 4 May 1904. Lists relating to the correspondence, handwritten, 5 pieces.

The correspondence created in this time period is:

• Correspondence between the Under-Secretary for Sates for India and the Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, concerning the proposal for the establishment of an Oriental Research Institute at Delhi, Two letters, typed, 7 pieces, dated 25 July 1912 and undated.
• Correspondence between the Under-Secretary for Sates for India and the Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, concerning a proposed survey of the languages of Burma (Myanmar). Three letters, typed, 7 pieces, dated 8 November 1916, 5 June 1917 and undated.
• Correspondence between Sir George Grierson, the Linguistic Survey of India, the American Oriental Society and George B. Danton, concerning tones in various Indo-Chinese languages and their representation in writing. Typed, 6 pieces, dated 9 October 1920 - 3 April 1921.
• Letter to Colonel Hoysted, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society concerning some matter in Saudi Arabia, One piece, handwritten, dated 11 May 1938.

The correspondence created in this time period is:

• Letter from Lord Zetland to Sir Richard Winstedt regarding the establishment of a Centre of Oriental Culture. One piece, typed, dated 11 November 1943.
• Letter from Lord Zetland to Sir Richard Winstedt concerning the progress into the investigation for a Centre of Oriental Culture. One piece, typed, dated 6 April 1944.
• 'Inter-departmental Commission of Inquiry into Existing Facilities for Oriental, Slavonic, East European and African Studies' undertaken for the Foreign Office by Sir Richard Winstedt and Sir Atul Chatterjee of the Royal Asiatic Society. Twenty pieces, typed, dated 5 April 1945.
• Letter from Harbans Singh, The High Commission of India, to the Royal Asiatic Society concerning the setting up of a library in India after the name of General Sir William H. Sleeman. With the letter is a photocopy of books and periodicals required. Typed, 5 pieces, dated 14 May 1964.
• Letter from G.P. Malalasekera, Ceylon High Commission and accompanying documents concerning the Society sending a representative for the Enshrinement of the Holy Relic of Gautama Buddha in London. Typed and printed, 4 pieces, dated 24 September 1964.
• Correspondence from Sheila Kimber to invite the Secretary and the President of the Society to attend her art exhibitions, Typed and printed, 3 pieces, dated 30 August 1966 - 10 October 1970.
• Letter from B.H. Farmer, Centre of South Asian Studies, Cambridge to Diana Crawford, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to thank the Society for their support to Sir Arthur Dash in proposing the centre collects archival material and provides proper bibliographical material. Typed, 1 piece, dated 9 August 1967.
• Correspondence between Rupert George and the Royal Asiatic Society concerning possible support for Pope's College in Sawyerpuram, India. Typed, 2 pieces, dated 26 February -11 March 1968.
• Letter from Samuel L. Lewis to Royal Asiatic Society concerning the state of artefacts in Indian and Pakistan. Typed, 1 piece, dated 25 September 1968.
• Correspondence with Charles Mason Remey concerning his invitation for members to come to his Italian villa to learn more about the Bahai faith. With the correspondence is a photograph of Remey and articles written by him. Typed, handwritten + black and white photograph, 7 pieces, dated 29 June -14 July 1971.
• Correspondence with Shankar A Aiyar concerning his forthcoming exhibition of photographs of Indian temple architecture, Typed, 2 pieces, dated 26 February-11 April 1973.
• Correspondence with the Royal Academy of Arts concerning a representative of the Royal Asiatic Society being on the exhibition committee for a Japanese Exhibition. Typed, 3 pieces, dated 20 June - 25 July 1979.

The correspondence preserved for this period is:

• Correspondence concerning a subpoena issued by the Union of India. Typed, 19 pieces, dated 5 June 1986-25 February 1987.
• Correspondence concerning an international colloquium to mark the bicentenary of a permanent Ottoman embassy in London. Typed and photocopy, 2 pieces, dated 5-12 June 1991.
• Letter from Geoffrey King to Ralph Pinder-Wilson, Director, Royal Asiatic Society, concerning excavations at Julfar, typed, 1 piece, dated 21 July 1991.
• Letter from Robert Hillenbrand concerning a Festschrift for Basil Robinson, typed, 1 piece, undated [1992].
• Correspondence concerning the restoration of the monument to Sir William Jones in the University Church of St. Mary's, Oxford. Typed and handwritten, 9 pieces, dated 3 February 1996 - 10 February 1997.
• Correspondence with the Institut Catala de la Mediterrania concerning nomination of a candidate for their Premi Internacional Catalunya. Typed, 5 pieces, dated 20 June 1997 - 20 April 1998.
• Correspondence concerning support for the Centenary Seminar on Central Asia to mark the centenary of the Royal Society for Asian Affairs. Handwritten and typed, 13 pieces, dated 28 February 2001 - 2 November 2001.
• Correspondence concerning the nomination received for the Order of Australia. Typed, three pieces, dated 24 May - 15 June 2006.
• Correspondence concerning the departure of the Ambassador of Kazakhstan from London, Typed, 2 pieces, dated 24 July 2007.
• Letter from Alison Ohta, Director, Royal Asiatic Society, to British Embassy Seoul regarding a recommendation for the Queen's birthday honours. Typed, one letter, dated 11 December 2014.

Early correspondence connected to the governance of the Society. These are:

• Letter from James Tod, Librarian, Royal Asiatic Society, to William Huttman, Secretary to the Committee for Correspondence, Royal Asiatic Society, concerning the contacts he had made with European oriental Societies with the letters of introduction he had taken. Handwritten, 6 sides, dated 3 March 1827.
• 'The Memorial of the President, Director, Vice-Presidents, and Council of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland' to 'The Right Honourable Sir Robert Peel, Bart. M.P. First Lord of the Treasury, Chancellor of the Exchequer' to request that the Government might grant them use of a Public Building and in particular the recently vacated premises of the Royal Academy of Painting, dated 28 March 1835, printed material, 2 copies.
• Letter from Henry St George Tucker (1771–1851) to Sir George Staunton (1781-1859) concerning an Agricultural branch for the interchange of useful plants between England and India, and concerning Staunton's application for a House, offering space in "this great House... if the Society could migrate so far east". Address, East India House. Dated 9th February 1839, handwritten.
• "Anno Sexto & Septimo Victoriae Reginae. Cap. XXXVI An Act to exempt from County, Borough, Parochial and other local Rates, Land and Buildings occupied by Scientific and Literary Societies, 28th July 1843", printed pamphlet.
• Letter from Victor [Houlton], Private Secretary, Office of Works, to H.H Wilson, Director, Royal Asiatic Society, to state that Sir William Molesworth would be happy to receive a deputation from the Society. Handwritten, dated 31 July 1854.
• Letter from Colonel Sykes to Mr Norris, regarding Presidentship of the Society. Handwritten, 4 sides, dated 15 May 1858.
• Letter from Ian Reynold to a newly appointed official at the Society to explain that for the first time in 28 years he is too unwell to attend the meeting and therefore would the recipient act on his behalf. Handwritten, 4 sides, dated 12 January 1864.

The additional items of correspondence are:

• Letter from Alex H. Wilson, T.L. Wilson & Co., Solicitors, to Ella Sykes, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to give his advice concerning the appointment of a further trustee for the Society and the right of the Society to sell its possessions. Typed, 2 pieces, dated 14 February 1923.
• Postcard from Professor S. Langdon to Col Hoysted, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to inform that he would represent the Society on the Council of Bell School, dated 18 June 1935.
• Copy of a letter to Miss Kennedy from British Council, Colonial Office, regarding the possibility of absorbing the Royal Asiatic Society, 1 piece, dated 20 November 1940.
• Letter from B. Chatterjee, Military Secretary to the President of India, to Sir Richard Winstedt, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to inform the Society that the President graciously consents to be a Vice-Patron of the Society, dated 5 May 1952. With the letter is a a certificate stating Dr Rajendra Prasad, President of the Republic of India, is pleased to be Vice-Patron of the Royal Asiatic Society.

Administrative material for the Congress. These are:

• Letter from Edwin Yamauchi, Rutgers University, to Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to ask for details of the time and place of the next International Congress of Orientalists and to ask regarding details of the Lidzbarski Medal. Typed, dated 28 November 1965.
• Letter from Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to Edwin Yamauchi, Rutgers University, to inform him that the next Congress would be held at the University of Michigan on 13 August 1967 for which the Secretary-General is Professor R.H. Fifield. Particulars for the medal could be obtained from Professor A.J. Arberry. Typed, dated 6 December 1965.
• "XXVII International Congress of Orientalists" invitation and first announcement. Printed, dated January 1966.
• Letter from O.W. Wolters to Richard Winstedt to ask it he would be willing to present a paper at the 27th Congress. Typed, dated 1 June 1966.
• Letter from Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society to O.W. Wolters to inform him of the death of Sir Richard Winstedt. Typed, dated 16 June 1966.
• Letter from Russell H. Fifield, Secretary-General, Organising Committee, to Royal Asiatic Society to invite the Society to be officially represented at the Congress. Typed, dated 7 October 1966.
• Letter from Jean Filliozat, Societé Asiatique, to Norman Brown, President, XXVIIth International Congress, to report on the discussion with his colleagues of the proposals to revise the statutes of the congress. Typed, dated 9 May 1967.
• Letter from Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to Secretary-General, XXVIIth International Congress, to inform of the Society's official representatives. Typed, dated 15 June 1967.
• Correspondence between Professor D.C. Twitchett and Royal Asiatic Society regarding him being an official representative of the Society at the Congress. Three letters, typed, dated 15 June - 14 July 1967.
• Letters to John Burton-Page and R.J. Loewe from Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to enclose the delegate form for the Congress. Two letters, typed, dated 14 July 1967.
• Delegate certificate for V.L. Ménage from the Royal Asiatic Society for the XXVIIth International Congress. Printed with typed inserts, undated.

Correspondence and administrative documents connected with lectures:

• Correspondence with Dr Martina Deuchler, 1 item, dated 22 May 1990.
• Correspondence with Jamie James, 1 item, dated 5 September 1990.
• Correspondence with John Hansman, 1 item, dated 21 February 1991.
• Administrative documents and news cuttings concerning the memorial lecture in memory of W.B. Henning, 9 May 1991, 4 items, dated 7-9 May 1991.
• Correspondence with Giles Tillotson, 1 item, dated 2 June 1991.
• Correspondence with N.F. Howard, 1 items, dated 18 December 1991.
• Correspondence with Dr S.N. Lieu, 1 item, dated 25 February 1992.
• Correspondence with Beth McKillop, 1 item, dated 22 February 1993.
• Correspondence with Dr M.J. Morris, 1 item, dated 5 December 1993.
• Correspondence with Lilla Russell-Smith, 1 item, dated 15 November 1994.
• Correspondence with J.P. Losty, 1 item, dated 29 September 1995.
• Correspondence with Dr James Dickie, 1 item, dated 5 January 1996.
• Correspondence with Hongxing Zhang, 1 item, dated 21 January 1996.
• Correspondence with Professor G.M. Bongard-Levin, 1 item, dated 21 February 1997.
• Correspondence with Professor Claudes Jacques, 2 items, dated 23 July 1997 - 4 March 1999.
• Correspondence with Professor Christopher Shackle, 2 items, dated 19-26 August 1997.
• Correspondence with Dr Elizabeth Moore, 2 items, dated 26-28 August 1997.
• Correspondence with Raymond Head, 1 item, dated 27 August 1997.
• Correspondence with Dr Vesta Curtis, 2 items, dated 1 -2 September 1997.
• Correspondence with Peter R.E. Willey, 4 items, dated 6 November 1997 - 26 February 1998.
• Correspondence with John Leach, 2 items, dated, 27 November - 17 December 1997.
• Correspondence with Professor G. Rex Smith, 3 items, dated 27 January - 29 September 1998.
• Correspondence with Mushirul Hasan, 2 items, dated 29 January - 11 March 1998.
• Correspondence concerning a letter by G.S.P. Freeman-Grenville, 3 items, dated 13-24 February 1998.
• Correspondence with Professor Michael Rogers, 2 items, dated 1 May - 26 June 1998.
• Correspondence with Simon Digby, 3 items, dated 23 May - 29 September 1998.
• Correspondence with Julian Sherrier, 2 items, dated 11 June - 13 July 1998.
• Correspondence with Dr Jenny Balfour-Paul, 2 items, dated 18 June - 22 September 1998.
• Correspondence with Dr R.K. de Silva, 1 item, dated 19 June 1998.
• Correspondence with Dr A. Walls, 1 item, dated 13 July 1998.
• Correspondence with Dr C. William Radice, 2 items, dated 4 - 8 September 1998.
• Correspondence with Professor Robert B. Betts, 1 item, dated 24 September 1998 and a map of the Syrian area needed for his lecture of 8 April 1999.
• Correspondence concerning the possibility of the Society hosting a book launch for William Dalrymple's 'The Age of Kali: Travels and Encounters in India', 2 items, dated 7 - 16 October 1998.
• Correspondence with Farrokh Vajifdar, 3 items, dated 15 -19 April 1999.

There is also a set of correspondence specifically about the Summer Lecture Series of 1998, These include correspondence with Fenella Goddard, Romila Thapar, Claudes Jacques, Karl Phillips, Philip Scott, Keith Whitlam, David Hawkins, and Maurizio Tozzi, 35 items, dated 9 July 1997 - 5 May 1998.

Administrative documents concerned with Lectures and General Meetings:

• Advertising documents and correspondence concerned with the Royal Asiatic Society's celebration of the bicentenary of the Asiatic Society of Bengal which took place at the General Meeting of 12 January 1984 with Sir Cyril Philips lecturing on 'The Young Wellington in India'. There was also a lecture held at the British Library, given by Garland Cannon, on 14 March 1984, in connection with their exhibition, 'Sir William Jones and the Asiatic Society of Bengal', which ran from 20 January - 29 April 1984. 14 items, dated 16 March 1978 - 3 July 1984.
• 'Fabric of History', a newspaper article from the Evening Standard about the home of Philippa Scott. The article was kept as she pulled out of giving a lecture at short notice. Dated 21 December 1988.
• Correspondence with Walid Arafat concerning his lecture, 2 items, dated 31 December 1988.
• Letter from Helen Ballhatchett concerning her forthcoming lecture, 1 item, dated 4 March 1989.
• Letter from Dr I. Raeside concerning his forthcoming lecture, 1 item, dated 24 October 1989.
• Biographical Notes for Christopher Aslet, 3 items, dated 11 December 1989.

A revised transcript of the Professor Ann Lambton Memorial Lecture, 'Ann K.S. Lambton (1912-2008) and Persian Studies' presented by Professor David Morgan, 15 October 2009. This is an electronic document.

A small amount of correspondence concerning the organisation of lectures. At present this is all closed.