Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 23rd Jan 1861 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
2 pieces 8 sides handwritten
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Anton Tien was born in Beirut, Syria, in 1834. He studied theology in Rome for several years but then converted to Anglicanism. He came to England with letters of introduction to William Gladstone who advised him to go to theological college. Therefore he entered St Augustine's College, Canterbury. During the Crimean War he was Oriental Secretary on Lord Baglan's staff. In 1860 he travelled to Constantinople as a priest where his knowledge of Middle Eastern languages enabled him to tutor both at missions schools and privately.
Tien acted as interpreter between a visiting Omani dignitary and representatives of Queen Victoria in 1886 and, in 1896, he was appointed Professor of Turkish at King's College, London, a position he held until 1913. He was a member of the Royal Asiatic Society. He died in 1920 in Sussex.
Repository
Archival history
The letter was written by Anton Tien and sent to Edwin Norris, Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
The material was acquired from Anton Tien.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
These papers consist of a letter from Rev Anton Tien, in Constantinople, to Edwin Norris to send him a copy of a letter sent by Sheikh Ahmed of Mecca to some of his principal co-religionists to be distributed to all "Musselmans", as Tien thought the letter would be of interest to Norris. The copy of Sheikh Ahmed's letter is in Arabic with an English translation.
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
- Arabic
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
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Tien Anton 1834-1920 Rev. Prof. (Subject)
- Norris Edwin 1795-1872 (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
This material was catalogued by Nancy Charley, RAS Archivist, in 2022.