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This archive consists of registers, lists and correspondence concerned with the acquisitions and accessions of the Collections of the Society. The Society has not kept comprehensive records throughout its history. Further information pertaining to the Acquisitions of the Society can be found in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society and in the Minute books for the Council and General Meetings. Accessions 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.

In 1923 the Royal Asiatic Society celebrated its Centenary. This archival material contains a scrapbook with Centenary correspondence and invitations, further congratulatory correspondence, material concerning the Centenary Events, and correspondence concerning the publication of a Centenary Volume.

In 1998, the Royal Asiatic Society celebrated its 175th anniversary with an exhibition, "Persian and Indian Manuscripts and Paintings from the Collection of the Royal Asiatic Society" at the British Museum, and a lecture, "The Book of Kings: The Juki Shahnama of the Royal Asiatic Society" by Dr Barbara Brend, held at the British Library. This material covers the planning, publicity and attendance at these events. Also in conjunction with the exhibition, the publication Persian Paintings in the Collection of the Royal Asiatic Society by B.W. Robinson was published.

In 1983 the Royal Asiatic Society celebrated its 160th Anniversary with a lecture, concert and Vin d'honnuer. There is a small amount of publicity material and correspondence related to this celebration.

Material produced by, or concerned with, the Royal Anthropological institute. These are:

• "Suggestions for a School of Applied Anthropology" by Sir Richard C. Temple. Report from "Man, No.102, 1913" of a discussion on the practical application of anthropological teaching in universities held in "Section H of the British Association, at Birmingham, Friday September 12th, 1913". There are also reports on statements by others including Mr T.C. Hodson, Secretary of the Royal Anthropological Institute. Printed material.
• Letter of invitation to the President, Royal Asiatic Society to be present at the conference convened by the "Joint Committee of the British Association for the Advancement of Science and the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland" to be held on 19 February 1914. With the letter is also a "Memorandum of Proceedings". Printed material with handwritten inserts, letter dated 15 January 1914.
• Letter from W.B. Fagg, Hon. Secretary, Joint Committee, Royal Anthropological Institute, to the Royal Asiatic Society to inform them that their quinquennial revision of membership is overdue and to ask them to appoint a representative to serve on the committee from 1943 to 1947. They inform that the previous representative was R.E. Enthoven. Typed, dated 14 July 1943.

Sheet of blue card with the dedication: "To the Right Honorable C.W.W.Wynne, President, and to the Members of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain, This Representation of a Magnificent Indian Golden Medal or Coin (of 70 oz wt), Taken from a richly Gilt Copper Facsimile of the Original is most respectfully Inscribed by their obedient servant Wm Yule, Major E.I.C." The card measures 56cm by 44cm and is dated Edinburgh, 1st May, 1834. Besides the dedication the card bears details of the inscriptions on both observe and reverse sides of the coin, with equivalent English translation and Romanised Arabic. The coin was cast in the reign of Shah Jahan I, A.H. 1064 (1653).

Please note, the card has suffered water damage and is in a fragile condition.

This is a leather bound volume with pages numbered from 143 to 300 containing handwritten commentaries relating to India and Russia in 1830, described on the introductory pages as follows:

• Sir John McDonald's observations of Col. Evans work on The Invasion of India pp 143-216.
• Sir John Malcolm's notes on Col. Evans and Sir John McDonald's remarks, pp 217-230.
• Memoir of the NW Frontier taken from Public records by Capt/now Major/ Bonamy showing the Importance of the River Indus as connected with its defence, pp 231-300.
• Included in the volume is a newspaper cutting, dated April 1840, about a Russian expedition against China.

'A copy of the Report from the Madras Government to the Court of Directors on the importance of the Study of Sanscrit (Sanskrit) and the vernacular languages of the South of India to their civil servants. Dated January 1812. Also other documents relating to the same object.' This description is written on the internal front cover. Documents include:

• 'Extract Public Letter from Fort St George, Dated 10th January 1812'
• 'Extract Fort St. George Consultations in the General, Commercial and Law Departments dated the 10th December 1811'

These reports include findings of the committee set up to investigate the effectiveness of the teaching of languages and include letters from W. Thackeray, D. Hill and named Committee members.

Correspondence concerning the identification of the portrait, The reception of Lord Amherst by Rup Lal Mallick, by William Henry Florio Hutchisson. The painting, at the time of the correspondence, was owned by Major-General Sir George McKenzie Franks. The material consists of:

• A photograph of the painting mounted on brown card.
• Letter from Major V. Hodson to Sir Patrick Cadell to give his opinion on who might be present in the painting. He recognises Colonel Duncan Macleod and names other possibilities. With the letter is a pencil sketch of some of the figures and his identification of those numbered. He also writes of a possible date and occasion. Typed letter, dated 13 July, 1947.
• Letter from Sir Patrick Cadell to Sir Richard Winstedt to write of the information he has obtained from Major Hodson. The letter records that the photo was sent to Winstedt by a Mr Sheppard. He also adds thoughts from other sources, but admits beyond the information he's provided he cannot help further. He suggests contacting C.E.A.W. Oldham or W. Foster. Handwritten letter, 7 sides, dated 18 July 1947.
• Note from Sir Richard Winstedt to Sir William Foster to ask him if he might be interested in the material and be able to identify the painter. Handwritten on Royal Asiatic Society headed paper, dated 30 August 1947.
• Letter from Sir William Foster to Sir Richard Winstedt in which he suggests that the artist might be William Henry Florio Hutchisson. Typed letter, dated 1 August 1947 (Probably 1 September 1947).
• Letter from Major-General Sir George McKenzie Franks to Major Sheppard in which he writes of new information that he acquired about the picture from a book he had been lent by a Mrs Brabazon with reminiscences of her ancestor, General Sir George Bell. In the book is an account of an event in 1827 in Calcutta which fits with the details of the painting. This dates also fits with the time that Franks' great-grandfather was in India. The description gives clues to other people present and that the event was hosted by Rup Lal Mallick. With the letter is a typed copy of the appropriate section from Bell's memoirs. Typed, 4 sides, dated 16 September 1947.
• Letter from Major-General Sir George McKenzie Franks to Sir Richard Winstedt to update him on the material that has been found describing the events of the painting. He invites Winstedt to view the painting if ever in Ireland. With his letter he sends a list entitled 'Notes on colour of uniforms, etc, with reference to numbers on tracing'. Typed, dated 22 September 1947.

At different times proposals were made and considered for branches of the Royal Asiatic Society. This material covers proposals for Australia, Burma (Myanmar), Indonesia and Taiwan.