Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1780 - 1916 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
2 large archival boxes
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Edward William West was the eldest of twelve siblings born in 1824 to William West, owner of West's Patent Press Company Ltd, and Margaret Anderson. In May 1844 at the age of 20, he travelled to Mumbai as a superintendent of the machinery and buildings… read more
Name of creator
Name of creator
Name of creator
Name of creator
Name of creator
Repository
Archival history
The papers were created by the five brothers between 1845 and 1866, with annotations added up until 1888. As a complete collection they appear to have been been in the custody of Edward William West until his death in 1905. Following his death the the… read more
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
These papers were gifted to the Royal Asiatic Society by Mrs. Burgess in late 1916, following the death of her husband, James Burgess, on the 3rd of October of the same year.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This collection consists of seven leather bound portfolios containing topographical drawings, maps, floor plans, notes and papers that the West brothers had created when working in the Maharashtra region of India in the mid to late 1800's. The main focus… read more
System of arrangement
The material is arranged following the order in which it arrived at the Royal Asiatic Society. It is divided into seven leather bound portfolios, each containing sub-folders, pertaining to different sites or regions, or different themes of the same site.… read more
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Open. Please contact the archivist using the email address given here . 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.… read more
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
- Pahlavi
Allied materials area
Related units of description
The Royal Asiatic Society hold the personal paper's of Edward William West (GB 891 EWW). Reflecting his interest in Pahlavi language and Zoroastrianism, the majority are handwritten notebooks and manuscripts, with some loose handwritten notes,… read more
Access points
Name access points
- West Edward William 1824-1905 Orientalist, engineer (Subject)
- Burgess James 1832-1916 Orientalist, archaeologist (Subject)
- West Henry d 1858 Engineer (Subject)
- West Arthur Anderson Engineer (Subject)
- West Clement Engineer (Subject)
- West Walter (Subject) … read more
Description control area
Description identifier
Archivist's note
These papers were catalogued by Lily Colgan, Archive Volunteer, under the supervision of Nancy Charley, RAS Archivist, in 2019.