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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 Professor D.S. Margoliouth, Director of Royal Asiatic Society, to Colonel Hoysted, Secretary of Royal Asiatic Society, to ask him to release the announcement of the Medal to the Press and to ask him to ask Lord Hailey to present the Medal or choose someone else. Handwritten with printed letterhead, dated 16 March 1938.

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.

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.