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The 23rd International Congress of Orientalists was held in Cambridge in 1954. The material connected with this Congress includes correspondence concerning organising and finance of the Congress, correspondence regarding attendance, General programme, correspondence regarding the publication of the Proceedings of the Conference and a further research enquiry.

These papers consist predominantly of correspondence with Henry Thomas Silcock concerning the administration of the China Society in 1931.

Congratulatory certificates and correspondence to the Royal Asiatic Society from other organisations and societies.

Correspondence regarding arrangements for China Society Dinner held on the 11th June 1931 at the Trocadero restaurant. There are seven letters concerning guests, their placement at the dinner, and the toasts. There is also a menu card for the Dinner and a printed copy of the Chinese National Anthem.

Correspondence concerned with the finance and organisation of the 23rd Congress. These are:

• Letter from Ralph Turner to Richard Winstedt to state that at the Istanbul Congress the invitation was made for the next Congress to be held in Great Britain. It has been suggested by Harold Bailey that the Congress might be hosted in Cambridge. He asks for Winstedt's help as President of the Royal Asiatic Society. Typed, dated 5 October 1951.
• Statement of assent for the next Congress to be held in Cambridge. Sent out by Mrs Davis, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, and assented by C.R. Boxer. Typed, dated 14 December 1951.
• Letter from Richard Winstedt, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to Professor Sir Lionel Whitby, Vice-Chancellor, University of Cambridge to enquire whether the university would be willing to sponsor the next Congress. Typed, dated 1 January 1952.
• Letter from W.W. Grave, The University Registry, to Richard Winstedt to express the University's concern regarding organising the Congress but suggesting a collaboration with the Royal Asiatic Society. Typed, dated 5 March 1952.
• Letter from Harold Bailey to Richard Winstedt to offer himself as Chairman of the Organising Committee and to suggest a budget needed to the organisation. Typed, dated 16 March 1952.
• Letter from Mrs Davis, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to the Secretary, School of Oriental and African Studies, to ask whether £100 from the Fund of the late James Forlong may be advanced for use of the organizers of the Congress. Typed, dated 18 April 1952.
• Letter from J.R. Bracken, Assistant Secretary, School of Oriental and African Studies, to Mrs Davis, Royal Asiatic Society, to inform her that the Academic Board have agreed to forward the money. Typed, dated 2 May 1952.
• Letter from Denis Sinor, Honorary Secretary, 23rd International Congress, to President, Royal Asiatic Society, to state that a Lloyd's Bank Account has been opened by the Organising Committee and would the Royal Asiatic Society deposit its promised money into this account. Typed, dated 16 May 1952.
• Letter from Denis Sinor, Honorary Secretary, 23rd International Congress, to Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to acknowledge receipt of the money. Typed, dated 26 May 1952.
• Letter to Mrs Davis, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to enclose letters concerning the possibility of re-establishing the International Committee of the Lidzbarski Foundation in order to decide whether to offer a prize at the forthcoming Congress. Typed, dated 24 August 1952.
• Letter from Denis Sinor, Honorary Secretary, 23rd International Congress, to Sir Richard Winstedt, to return the sum advanced by the Royal Asiatic Society. Typed, dated 23 September 1954.

Letter from [Edward Denison Ross] Director, School of Oriental Studies, to Silcock to send a letter from Blackett and to ask for suggestions regarding a replacement.

Letter from the Sir J.P. Hewett of the School of Oriental Studies to offer congratulations on the Royal Asiatic Society Centenary. Undated.

In 1923 the Royal Asiatic Society celebrated its Centenary. This archival material contains a scrapbook with Centenary correspondence and invitations, further congratulatory correspondence, material concerning the Centenary Events, and correspondence concerning the publication of a Centenary Volume.

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.