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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.

Publications correspondence covering the time period 1944-1941.

Papers and correspondence concerning the publications of the Gibb Memorial Trust.

The Gibb Memorial Trust was established in 1902 in memory of Elias John Wilkinson Gibb, a largely self-taught Arabic, Persian, and, above all, of Ottoman Turkish, died age 45 in 1901 and his mother established the Trust. These papers mainly cover the period 1927-1951 and consists of governance, finance and publication documents, produced mainly as a result of Charles Ambrose Storey's involvement as a Trustee of the Trust.

This 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.

Letter from Dr Arthur John Arberry to Col. Hoysted in which he agrees with Mr Oldham that the Haram of Ali Riza has been described elsewhere. He writes that the copy of the "Ziyārat-nāmah" was not a very accurate one and had already been published in Iran. He suggests, "that Major Cunningham be thanked for his kindness in transmitting the copy of the pamphlet which will be placed in the Society's Library".

Letter from A.J. Arberry to Sir Richard Winstedt to suggest some possible titles for the essay. Handwritten, 1 sided, dated 3 January 1939.

Letter from A.J. Arberry to C.A. Storey to thank for his letter and to express his relief that Luzac's account had been exaggerated. He also asks whether Storey had seen the report in a Persian magazine that A.A. Semonov had discovered a manuscript of the Khamsa of Amīr Khusran Dihlawī dated 756 in the Library of Tashkent. He will lend Storey his copy if he is interested in seeing the article.

Letter from A.J. Arberry to C.A. Storey to state that when he, Gibb and Levy happened to meet the previous week he had reported to them concerning Luzac's complaint at being unable to fulfil orders for Gibb Memorial Volumes worth approximately £1000 and that the lack of binding work could lead to the deterioration of the stock. He asks Storey if he could go to Heffer to see what their condition actually is and whether there is chance of progress. He is also writing to Raynes to ask if he will write to the British Council to expedite the material to Heffer that is necessary.

Letter from A.J. Arberry to C.A. Storey to state that he had been asked by Taqizadeh whether the Gibb Trustees would be willing to present some of their publications to the Persian Embassy. He sends the form to get those printed that are no longer in print, and asks that Storey sign if he is in agreement. Arberry also writes of Nicholson's retirement from the Trust and his hope they may be able to have a meeting of the trustees at some time this year.