Material concerned with the Sesquicentenary Reception held on 19 February 1972 with Her Majesty the Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in attendance.

Correspondence concerning the Sesquicentenary Reception. This falls into 6 categories:

• Letter from Ralph Tubbs, tenant at 56 Queen Anne Street, to state that he and his staff will have vacated the premises by 5.30pm on date of the reception, 1 item.
• Correspondence with Press, 2 items.
• Correspondence with City Hall concerning the Reception, 3 items.
• Letters of acceptance to the Reception, 49 items.
• Letters of regret concerning the Reception, 17 items.
• Letters of thanks after the Reception, 2 items.

18 black & white photographs documenting the Sesquicentenary Reception. Many show the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh being introduced to other guests. Some of these have been mounted on card. Also 20 small photographic negatives.

Material concerning the Royal Asiatic Society's Sesquicentenary Dinner held on 25th October 1973 at the Merchant Taylors' Hall.

Correspondence with Merchant Taylors' Hall concerning the hosting of the Sesquicenteary Dinner at the premises on Threadneedle Street. These are:

• Letter from B.W. Robinson, President of Royal Asiatic Society, to The Clerk, Merchant Taylors' Hall to ask whether the possibility of holding the Sesquicentenary Dinner at the Hall could be made official, dated 21 April 1972.
• Letter from the Clerk, Merchant Taylors' Hall, to B.W. Robinson, President of Royal Asiatic Society, to inform that the Master and Wardens have agreed in principle to the use of the Hall, dated 19 July 1972.
• Letter from the Clerk, Merchant Taylors' Hall, to B.W. Robinson, President of Royal Asiatic Society, to inform that the Master and Wardens have agreed with the terms and conditions concerning the Sesquicentenary Dinner and to stipulate some costs and their preferred caterer, dated 12 January 1973.
• Letter from B.W. Robinson, President of Royal Asiatic Society, to The Clerk, Merchant Taylors' Hall, regarding the terms and conditions, and to invite the Master to the Dinner, dated 15 January 1973.
• Letter from Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to The Clerk, Merchant Taylors' Hall, to confirm acceptance of use of the Hall, dated 29 June 1973. Letter from the Clerk, Merchant Taylors' Hall, to Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to enclose the Company's account for the Dinner, dated 29 October 1973.
• Letter from Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to The Clerk, Merchant Taylors' Hall, to enclose the cheque for the Society's Dinner, dated 12 November 1973.
• Letter from the Clerk, Merchant Taylors' Hall, to Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to enclose the receipt for the cheque, dated 23 November 1973.

Two versions of the seating plan for the Sesquicentenary Dinner, one dated 22 October and the other, amended 23 October.

16 black & white photographs of the Sesquicentenary Dinner with 3 further proof sheets.

Letter from Stuart Simmonds, President, Royal Asaitic Society, to Phil, School of Oriental and African Studies, to thank him for SOAS agreeing to host the Symposium and to ask whether they might also host a Sherry reception for the participants, dated 19 July 1973. Further correspondence accepting the invitation to the Sherry reception held at the Committee Room, School of Oriental and African Studies, on 24 July 1973. These are from Dr. R.D. Barnett, Mr G.A. Calver, Mr & Mrs J.T. Hooker, Professor and Mrs C.F. Beckingham, Sir Mortimer Wheeler, and Mrs J.M. Witt.

Organisational Lists for the Symposium.These are:

• List of Guests - 2 copies
• List of Speakers
• Partial List of Foreign Scholars expected to participate in the symposium 'The Undeciphered Languages' to be sponsored by the Royal Asiatic Society.
• Partial List of British Scholars expected to participate in the symposium 'The Undeciphered Languages' to be sponsored by the Royal Asiatic Society.
• "Symposium - Tickets & Advance Programme to:
  *" Royal Asiatic Society Sesquicentenary Symposium: Accommodation List- 2 copies
• Royal Asiatic Society Sesquicentenary Symposium: Advance Programme - 2 copies

Correspondence with other Official Bodies: These are:

• Correspondence with the British Academy concerning the giving of a grant from the British Academy to support the Sesquicentenary Symposium, 8 letters, dated 19 December 1972 - 7 June 1973.
• Correspondence with the Mayor of London, Mansion House, regarding the possibility of holding a Reception at Mansion House. This was not possible, 4 letters dated 19 March 1973 - 29 March 1973.
• Correspondence with the Corporation of London regarding the possibility of them hosting a Reception. This was not possible. 2 letters, dated 6 April 1973 - 23 May 1973.