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Correspondence concerning the inauguration of the Burton Memorial Fund and the production of the medal.

Administrative documents, correspondence and printed materials pertaining to the foundation of the Richard Burton Memorial Fund and inauguration of the giving of the Burton Medal. There are also some examples of the Medal.

Letter from F. Grenfell-Baker (Honorary Secretary) to Reginald Campbell-Thompson to send a cheque for five guineas to be given to the Memorial Fund. He confirms Kipling as a committee member and writes about the number of people who have joined the Committee. He writes about his friendship with Richard Burton and that he was there at Burton's death in Trieste.

Letter from F Grenfell-Baker to Campbell-Thompson, typed, with additional typed note in which he recounts small successes of publicity campaign for the Fund. He re-emphasises the need for "well-known names" to support the cause and casts doubt on the worth or likelihood of lecturing at the Reading Literary and Scientific Society.

Letter from F. Grenfell Baker to R. Campbell-Thompson in which he expresses gladness to hear that the fund is healthier than he had feared. He is concerned, however, by a lack of efficient publicity. He is keen to get household names to champion the cause of the fund in the press, re-emphasising Rudyard Kipling as the best candidate.

The Sir Richard Burton Medal – On 12 April 1921 the Council of the RAS agreed to found a Richard Burton memorial lecture in commemoration, that year, of the 100th anniversary of Burton's birth. A fund was established to finance the lecture and by 1923, £60 had been subscribed. It was decided in March 1923 that part of this would be used to fund the Burton Medal. This would be awarded to the person chosen to deliver the lecture, which was to deal with Burton, his travels or some suitable subject of exploration. The presentation and the lecture would take place triennially. The medal was designed in 1924 by Pinches, to be cast in silver and gilded. In practice those chosen to give the Burton lecture were expected to have undertaken exploration and research in the East, and more particularly in close association with local people, or in difficult circumstances. A fund was established to finance the lecture and by 1923, £60 had been subscribed. It was decided in March 1923 that part of this would be used to fund the Burton Medal.
This archive contains papers pertaining to the inauguration and awarding of the Sir Richard Burton Medal

The Papers includes:

• Correspondence
• Administrative documents
• Printed materials including newspaper articles
• Examples of the Medal
• Photographs