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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.

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 1942', 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.

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.