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'Unto us a Child is Born' - a manuscript documenting the story of the rise and fall of a supposed miracle or holy child in a village near the Indo-Afghan border. The narrator describes himself as a junior officer serving in an administrative capacity. The story is of interest to him for its potential disruption to the area as people took sides believing or negating the child, who showed his holiness by wanting his father rather than his mother. The incident occurred a little while after Halley's comet had been visible in the night sky which some took to be a portent. The matter died down once the child started preferring its mother.

The story would seem to be related by somebody in the nineteenth century, but the document is from the mid-twentieth century. There are no identifiers as to the author or the narrator, so it is possibly a transcription of an earlier text or a work of fiction.

The fourth Anglo-American Conference of Historians was held at Senate House, the University of London, from 6-11 July 1936. These papers consist of correspondence and documentation in connection with this Conference. These are:

Letter from the Vice-Chancellor, University of London, Institute of Historical Research, to the President, Royal Asiatic Society, to inform concerning the fourth Anglo-American Conference of Historians for the discussion of the problems of historical research which are of interest to the English-speaking world. He asks for the Royal Asiatic Society to send a representative. Typed letter with printed letterhead, dated 14 December 1935. With this letter is a printed Revised Provisional Programme for the Conference stating the Organising Committee, the Sections and the Time-Table for the Conference.

Letter from Col. Hoysted, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to H.L. Eason, University of London, to state that the Council had appointed Sir William Foster to be their delegate at the conference. Typed, dated 14 January 1936.

Letter from Margery Fletcher, Assistant-Secretary, Anglo-American Conference of Historians, to Col. Hoysted, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to thank for the letter informing of the Society's delegate. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 15 January 1936.

Letter from Guy Parsloe, Secretary, Anglo-American Conference of Historians, to the President, Royal Asiatic Society, to inform him that the letter saying delegate should have read representatives and asking whether the Royal Asiatic Society wished to nominate further representatives. Typed, with printed letterhead, dated 13 February 1936.

Letter from Col. Hoysted, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to Guy Parsloe, Secretary, Anglo-American Conference of Historians, to state that Sir Richard Burn would also represent the Society. Typed, dated 13 March 1936.

Letter from Margery Fletcher, Assistant-Secretary, Anglo-American Conference of Historians, to Col. Hoysted, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to thank for the letter informing of the Society's further delegate. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 16 March 1936.

Correspondence connected with the Archaeological Joint Committee and its interactions with the Royal Asiatic Society. These are:

Letter from C.J. Gadd, Honorary Secretary, Archaeological Joint Committee, to the Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to send a copy of a letter which has been sent to the Colonial Office, and to ask for its consideration at the next meeting of the Society's Council. Typed, dated 8 April 1832. With this letter is a copy of the letter sent by the Archaeological Joint Committee to the Colonial Office to ask for formal recognition of the Committee. Typed, dated April 1932.

Letter from Col. Hoysted, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to the Honorary Secretary, Archaeological Joint Committee, to state that the letter received would be brought before the Council at its next meeting. Typed, dated 13 April 1932.

Letter from Col. Hoysted, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to the Honorary Secretary, Archaeological Joint Committee, to state that the Council approve of all the suggestions made in the letter of the Archaeological Joint Committee to the Colonial Office. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 20 April 1932.

Letter from C.J. Gadd, Honorary Secretary, Archaeological Joint Committee, to the Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to ask the Society to inform the Committee of the name of the Society's representative on the Committee. Typed with handwritten list of names of previous representatives, dated April 1943.

Agenda for the Royal Asiatic Society Council Meeting for 13 May 1943. Point 6 is for discussion of representatives for the Archaeological Joint Committee and delegates to attend the Conference on the Future of Archaeology. Typed.

Letter from Leonard Woolley to Richard Winstedt to express his honour in being nominated the Society's representative on the Archaeological Joint Committee. Handwritten with printed letterhead, dated 17 May 19443.

Letter from Edward S.M. Perowne, Solicitor, to Mrs Davis, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to ask of the outcome of the discussions at the Council Meeting regarding the Archaeological Joint Committee so he can inform the Institute of Archaeology. Handwritten with printed letterhead, dated 27 May 1943.

"University of London, Institute of Archaeology, Conference on the Future of Archaeology". Letter from Kathleen M. Kenyon, Acting Director, to inform of the upcoming conference to be held from 6-8 August 1943. Printed material with handwritten annotations.

Letter from President, Royal Asiatic Society, to Kathleen Kenyon to note that the geographical range of the forthcoming conference extends only from Britain to the Middle East, and therefore neglects that of India and the Far East. Typed, dated 11 June 1943.

Letter from Kathleen M. Kenyon, Acting Director, to Richard Winstedt, President, Royal Asiatic Society to inform of the reasons for not covering the Far East. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 18 June 1943.

Information and correspondence concerning the setting up, running and programme of Asia House and its interaction with the Royal Asiatic Society. These are:

"Opening the Doors to Asia" - a copy of an article by Michael Simmons from 'Director', June 1976, concerning the possibility of setting up an Asia centre in London.

"Editorial" from 'Oriental Art Magazine' , Autumn 1976, concerning the possibility of an Asia House for London.

"Asia House (London) Newsletter: March 1977" to announce the setting up of a working committee to co-ordinate the work for establishing an Asia House in London, similar to that in New York.

"An Asia House for London" - a typed document detailing the aims in establishing Asia House, London. Typed, undated.

Letter from A.D.H. Bivar, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to Professor John Carswell, Sotheby's, to state that the Society would be keen to be kept informed of progress in the establishing of Asia House. Typed, dated 27 July 1993.

Letter from Professor John Carswell, Director, Islamic Department, Sotheby's, to A.D.H. Bivar, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to thank for his letter of which he has sent a copy to Sir Peter Wakefield. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 9 August 1993.

Letter from Sir Peter Wakefield to A.D.H. Bivar, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to thank for his letter and ask if he would agree to form part of the U.K. Advisory Council in his capacity as President of the Royal Asiatic Society. Typed, dated 1 September 1993. With the letter is a paper "An Asia House for London" concerned with the reasons for establishing an Asia House.

Letter from Sir Peter Wakefield to A.D.H. Bivar, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to invite him to a reception at the Travellers Club for those involved in the establishment of an Asia House in London. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 29 September 1993. With the letter is a draft of the Asia House prospectus and a list of the Advisory Panel.

Letter from Sir Peter Wakefield to A.D.H. Bivar, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to invite to the Asia House Reception at St. James's Palace. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 9 November 1993. With the letter is a brochure setting out the aims of Asia House. Printed material.

Letter from Sir Peter Wakefield to A.D.H. Bivar, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to inform him of the continuing developments in the growth of the Advisory Council and the Executive Committee. He informs concerning the Asia House dinner party and that he is about to embark on a fundraising trip to several countries in Asia. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 21 March 1994.

Letter from A.D.H. Bivar, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to Sir Peter Wakefield to thank for his letter and inform that it would be laid before the Council at its next meeting. He writes that it unlikely that the Society will be able to give pecuniary aid as the Society is currently running at a deficit but they would be happy to provide non-financial or academic assistance. Typed, dated 28 March 1994.

Letter from A.D.H. Bivar, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to Sir Peter Wakefield to inform him that the Council of the Society were keen to hear of the progress of the Asia House project. He also informs that his term of office as President has come to an end and he will be replaced by Dr. D.W. MacDowall. Typed, dated 23 June 1994.

Letter from Sir Peter Wakefield to Dr D.W. MacDowall to ask that he will become a member of the Advisory Council on assuming the Presidency of the Royal Asiatic Society. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 19 August 1994.

Letter from Sir Peter Wakefield to Dr D.W. MacDowall to inform of continued progress in the establishment of Asia House particularly in the expansion of the Advisory Council to include Asian members, and in the continued aspects of the fundraising campaign. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 12 September 1994.

Letter from D.W. MacDowall, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to Sir Peter Wakefield to express his willingness to serve on the Advisory Council. Typed, dated 15 September 1994.

Letter from Sir Peter Wakefield to Dr D.W. MacDowall to advise of the changes in the Advisory Council and the continued fundraising. He also informs that a programme of events will commence with an exhibition of Chenghua porcelain at Sotheby's. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 26 April 1995.

Letter from D.W. MacDowall, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to Sir Peter Wakefield to express his pleasure at hearing of the continuing progress and of the exhibition. He stresses again the willingness of support from the Royal Asiatic Society. Typed, dated 18 May 1995.

Letter from Sir Peter Wakefield to Lydia Collins, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society to inform of the creation of Asia House as a new institution. He asks for Asia House to be added to the Society's mailing list and to receive its newsletter or publications. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 20 July 1995.

Letter from Dr. D.W. MacDowall, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to Sir Peter Wakefield to thank for his letter and to explain about the Royal Asiatic Society and to express the Society's support in drawing the activities of Asia House to the Society's members. Typed, dated 26 July 1995.

Letter from Sir Peter Wakefield to Dr D.W. MacDowall to inform of the official launch of Asia House at a reception at the Foreign and Commonwealth House. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 31 January 1996. With the letter is an official invitation to the launch on 14 March 1996.

Note from Asia House to send a list of sponsors omitted from Sir Peter Wakefield's letter of 31 January 1996. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 1 February 1996.

Letter from Sir Peter Wakefield to Dr. D.W. MacDowall, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to share the press release from the launch of Asia House. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 19 March 1996. With the letter is the press release notice.

Letter from Ann Mytton to Philippa Vaughan to send a summary of the meeting at Asia House on 10 January 1997. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 13 January 1997. With the letter are the Minutes of the Meeting held on 10 January 1997.

Letter from Sir Peter Wakefield to Dr. D.W. MacDowall, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to inform of the progress from Asia House in building membership and arranging a cultural programme. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 20 March 1997.

Letter from Betty Lao, Head, Members Cultural Programme, Asia House, to Adrian Thomas, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society to inform of events that may be of interest to the members of the Royal Asiatic Society. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 21 August 2002. With the letter is a flyer for a lecture by William Dalrymple on his book "White Mughals", and the Asia House newsletter for November 2002. Typed with printed letterhead, dated 21 August 2002.

Material concerned with the Asiatic Society (formerly Asiatic Society of Bengal) and their interaction with the Royal Asiatic Society.

Copies of emails between Shahryar Z.R. Iqbal, Council Member, Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, and Adrian Thomas, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, concerning the payment of Iqbal's membership fees and his publications on the history of Bangladesh. Three emails, dated April 2002.

This material was collated in the interactions between the Asiatic Society of Japan and the Royal Asiatic Society.

The Asiatic Society of Mumbai, for some part of its history, was affiliated to the Royal Asiatic Society. This material dates from that time and is:

• "Four Important Reprints on South East Asia" from Kraus Reprint, Liechtenstein. An advertising pamphlet for reprints of Asian material including for the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, Bombay Branch, for 1841-1923. Printed, dated 1969.
• Letter from the Librarian, Asiatic Society of Bombay, to the Royal Asiatic Society to thank them for the gift of the publication, "The Royal Asiatic Society - Its History and Treasures". Typed, dated 20 November 1980.

These Papers include conference material, promotional material, and correspondence with the Royal Asiatic Society.

• 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.