Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1886 - 1892 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 item 8 sheets handwritten
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
James Burgess was an architectural historian. He was born on 14 August 1832 in Kirkmahoe, Dumfriesshire and subsequently educated at Dumfries, the University of Glasgow and the University of Edinburgh. He undertook educational work in Calcutta, 1856, and Bombay, 1861, and was Secretary of the Bombay Geographical Society 1868-73. He was Head of the Archaeological Survey, Western India, 1873, and of South India, 1881. From 1886-89 he was Director General, Archaeological Survey of India. In 1881 the University of Edinburgh awarded him an honorary Doctor of Letters (LLD). He died on 3 October 1916, in Edinburgh.
Name of creator
Administrative history
Repository
Archival history
The originator of the list is unknown. Presumably it was sent to James Burgess with the copies of the inscriptions.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
It is unknown how the list came to be part of the Society's collections. It is possible that it came with the Papers of Arthur Anderson, Clement, Edward William, Henry, and Walter West which were given to the Society by Burgess' widow in 1917.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
"List of Inscriptions from Northern India sent to Dr. Jas. Burgess, C.I.G., Edinburgh Scotland". An alphabetical list of inscriptions dated to November 1886. A different hand notes that these were sent through "Messrs. Grindlay [Gr ] & Co" and shipped aboard the SS Thames on 13th Feb 1892. Several of the pages bear the stamp of James Burgess. L.L.D., Archaeological Survey.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open. Please contact the archivist. Details can be found here : https://royalasiaticarchives.org/. The archive is open on Tuesdays and Fridays 10-5, and Thursdays 2-5. Access is to any researcher without appointment but it will help if an appointment is made via phone or email. Please bring photo ID.
Conditions governing reproduction
Digital photography (without flash) for research purposes may be permitted upon completion of a copyright declaration form, and with respect to current UK copyright law.
Language of material
- English
- Sanskrit
- Pali
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
The Society's collections hold many books authored by James Burgess. Details can be found in the Library catalogue: https://ras.koha-ptfs.co.uk/.
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Grindlay & Co. banker (Subject)
- Burgess James 1832-1916 (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
The material was catalogued by Nancy Charley, RAS Archivist, in 2022.