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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.

Letter from Sir Edward Maclagan, Chair of the Gold Medal Committee, to Colonel Hoysted, Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society, to inform him that according to the regulations that notification of the members of the Committee, nominated by the President, should be passed to the Council members before the Committee meets. Handwritten with printed letterhead, dated 7 February 1935.

Letter from Sir Edward Maclagan, Chair of Gold Medal Committee, to Colonel Hoysted, Secretary of Royal Asiatic Society, to ask him to send on to the President the enclosed letter regarding their choice of candidate for the Gold Medal. Handwritten with printed letterhead, dated 22 February 1935. With this is a letter with their recommendation of Sir Denison Ross as the recipient. Handwritten with printed letterhead and signed by the 3 members of the Committee, undated.

Letter from R.E. Enthoven, member of the Universities Prize Essay Committee, to E Maclagan, Chair of the Committee, to express his disappointment at the lack of entries and their standard, and to state, that after careful perusal, he considered No.3 as the best. Handwritten with printed letterhead, dated 21 October 1936. With his letter is a note from E. Maclagan to Col. Hoysted to state that he is sending him Enthoven's letter. Handwritten with printed letterhead, dated 5 November 1936.

Letter from E Maclagan to D.S. Margoliouth to state that he would be pleased to present the Prize Medal. Handwritten, with printed letterhead, dated 24 November 1937.

Letter from E. Maclagan to Col. Hoysted, RAS Secretary, to inform that the Committee for selecting the subject for the Universities Prize Essay had met and suggest two different titles. Handwritten, 1 side, dated 10 December 1936.

Letter from D.S. Margoliouth to E. Maclagan to ask if he will present the Prize medal. On the reverse is a note from Maclagan to Col. Hoysted to write that he had suggested that [ ] does the presentation and could Hoysted provide him with the necessary information. Both handwritten, 2 sides, dated 23 November 1937.

The four items in this subseries are concerned with the administration regarding the conferment of the Gold Medal.

This sub-series contains material concerned with the administration of the Universities Prize Essay for 1937.

The series contains administrative material, correspondence with and concerning the prize winners, a copy of the first prize essay, and newspaper cuttings.