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In 1973 the Royal Asiatic Society celebrated its Sesquicentenary (150 years). The archival material includes Planning committee administration; material connected with the various events held, exhibitions put on and publications produced in celebration of the occasion; and material concerned with fundraising for the Society.

This 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.

Letter from Roderick Whitfield, Department of Oriental Antiquities, British Museum, to Raymond Head to give titles of reference books that maybe of help to Head. He writes that he found the Morrison prints most interesting and suggests they receive conservation treatment at the earliest opportunity. He also advises regarding "the painting on the wall in the hall".

In celebration of the Royal Asiatic Society's sesquicentenary various exhibitions of its collections were arranged. This series contains material concerned with organising and documenting those exhibitions.

Correspondence concerning the possibility of holding an exhibition ad the British Museum in connection with the Royal Asiatic Society sesquicentenary. These are:

• Letter from Ken Gardner, British Museum, to B.W. Robinson to express his warm welcome to the proposition of holding an exhibition and to give some suggestions, dated 28 September 1970.
• Letter from B.W. Robinson, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to K.B. Gardner, British Museum, to ask for more details and dates of the potential exhibition, dated 25 November 1971.
• Letter from Ken Gardner, British Museum, to B.W. Robinson, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to state that Martin Lings will be in contact regarding an exhibition in the Department of Oriental Printed Books and Manuscripts, dated 2 December 1971.
• Letter from B.W. Robinson, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to Martin Lings, British Museum, to ask whether a date had been fixed for the exhibition so it can be included in the Society's programme, dated 22 September 1972.
• Letter from G.E. Marrison, British Museum, to B.W. Robinson, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to suggest that they meet to discuss a way forward, dated 10 October 1972.
• Letter from B.W. Robinson, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to G.E. Marrison, British Museum, to arrange a date to meet, dated 17 October 1972.

• Letter from Samuel Phillips, Honorary Secretary, Assyrian Excavation Fund, to Richard Clarke, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to ask whether the enclosed circular concerning the aims of the Assyrian Excavation Fund might be sent to all the members of the Royal Asiatic Society. Handwritten, dated 16 November 1953.
• "Assyrian Excavation Fund: Society for Exploring the Ruins of Assyria and Babylonia with Especial Reference to Biblical Illustration". Printed list of the Committee and a letter to invite attendance at a meeting concerning the discoveries made by M. Botta, Mr. Layard and Colonel Rawlinson to be held in the Town Hall, Manchester, on 27 May 1854. The letter is dated 22 May 1854.
• Letter from Henry Ellis, principal librarian at the British Museum, to Samuel Phillips concerning the draft of a proposal from the King of Prussia to the Assyrian Fund Society (Assyrian Excavation Fund) which also asks whether the Authorities of the British Museum might give full authority to remove to England any such pieces of Sculpture not needed for their own collection. He reminds Phillips of a letter he wrote in 1852 to Colonel Rawlinson, concerning the position of the Trustees of the British Museum and their willingness to accept any Sculpture not deemed as necessary by the Society. Handwritten, dated 7 June 1854.

Information regarding conferences and study events held from 2007-2010. These are:

2007
17-18 May: The International Seminar, 'Britain and the Malay World' , organised by the Royal Asiatic Society in collaboration with the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society.

• Programme including abstracts for papers presented, spiral bound book, with 3 additional pages inserted regarding accommodation and Malaysian restaurants in London.
• Sample invitation for the reception to celebrate the symposium held in honour of the 50th anniversary of Malaysia's independence.
• Correspondence concerning the administration of the seminar, 10 pieces, dated 12 December 2006-11 September 2007.

27 July: A Workshop on ' Historiography, pedagogy and future histories of 1857', held at the Royal Asiatic Society with funding by the Society, the British Academy and the University of Edinburgh's 'Mutiny at the Margins' research project.

• Programme for the event with list of speakers and papers presented, 2 versions, 3 pieces.

2008
4 October: Study Day, 'A Journey through Kazakhstan', in association with The British Museum, the Royal Asiatic Society and the British-Kazakh Society, held at the BP Lecture Theatre, British Museum.

• Programmes for the study day, 4 versions of differing detail, the most detailed containing full abstracts for the papers, 21 pieces.
• Correspondence of congratulations on the success of the day, 1 piece, undated.
• CD-ROM produced by the British-Kazakh Society of the Kazakh Study Day.

Information regarding conferences and study events held from 2002-2004. These are: 2002
16-17 November: Farid Al-din 'Attar and the Persian Sufi Tradition Conference, held at the Brunei Gallery Auditorium, SOAS, organised by the Iran heritage Foundation, the centre for near and Middle Eastern Studies and the Institute of Ismaili Studies, with sponsorship from the British Academy, the British Council and the Royal Asiatic Society.

• Correspondence regarding the grant for the conference, 11 pieces, dated 18 March - 19 September 2002.

29 November: South Asia Archive and Library Group 68th Conference, held in the Royal Asiatic Society Library.

• Programme of events with list of speakers and the papers they presented, 1 piece.

2003
30 April: Photographs from the Royal Asiatic Collections held at the Royal Asiatic Society.

• Programme of events with list of speakers and the papers they presented, 1 piece.

2003-2004 Medieval Iraq Study Day to be held at the BP Lecture Theatre, British Museum, in association with the Royal Asiatic Society.

• Two drafts for the programme of a Medieval Iraq study day, dated 15 May 2003 and 7 February 2004, 3 pieces.
• Colour photographs from the event, 7 pieces, dated May 2004.
• 'Report to the Council: Medieval Iraq Study Day at the British Museum' - report prepared by Judith Kolbas, Honorary Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, with accompanying letter from Nicholas Badcott, Arab World Education Officer, British Museum, for the Council meeting of 10 June 2004.

2004
10 September: Charles Boxer Centenary Conference. This conference was held at King's College, London, followed by a reception at the Royal Asiatic Society.

• Letter from Paula Ridley, Director, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, to Alison Ohta, Curator, Royal Asiatic Society, to inform that the Foundation have offered a grant to the Society to help with costs of the conference. Typed, 2 pieces, dated 8 July 2004.
• Letters from Catherine Melia, Executive Officer, Royal Asiatic Society, to Jeff Johnson, Redwing Coaches, concerning the hire of a coach to transport people from King's College to the Society. Typed, 2 pieces, dated 6 August and 6 September 2004.
• Estimate of costs and programme for the reception at the Society. Typed, undated.

Correspondence, notes and lists covering disposals in this time period.

Correspondence, lists and catalogues concerning the disposals of material in this period