Fonds QW - Papers of Horace Geoffrey Quaritch Wales

Identity area

Reference code

GB 891 QW

Title

Papers of Horace Geoffrey Quaritch Wales

Date(s)

  • 1914 - 1994 (Creation)
  • [1770 - 1820] (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

9 archival boxes 7 small object boxes + 4 items of furniture

Context area

Name of creator

Wales Horace Geoffrey Quaritch 1900-1981 Archaeologist

Biographical history

Horace Geoffrey Quaritch Wales was born in 1900 and educated at Charterhouse and Queen's College Cambridge. In 1924 he entered the service of the Siamese government and from 1924-1928 acted as an adviser to King Rama VI and King Rama VII. This led to the publication of Siamese State Ceremonies (1931), and Ancient Siamese Government and Administration (1934), this volume being translated into Thai in the same year. He married and with his wife, Dorothy, began extensive travel particularly in south and southeast Asia. During 1934-6 he served as field-director for the Greater India Research Committee, directing archaeological work on early Buddhist sites in Thailand. From 1937-1940 he and his wife undertook surveys and excavations in Malaya, particularly in the Kedah region. He published The Making of Greater India (1951) and continued to publish books, articles and reviews throughout his career. He died in 1981.

Repository

Royal Asiatic Society Archives

Archival history

The material was the property of Horace Geoffrey Quaritch Wales and his wife Dorothy Wales and remained in their possession until the death of Dorothy Wales in 1994.

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The Papers form part of the bequest of Dorothy Wales which was given to the Society in 1994.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

The Papers of Horace Geoffrey Quaritch Wales contain papers relating to his archaeological work in southeast Asia including expedition notes, personal notebooks, diaries, manuscript proofs, correspondence, newspaper cuttings and maps. Listed within this catalogue are objects and items of furniture which were also part of the bequest of Quaritch Wales' wife, Dorothy, to the Royal Asiatic Society.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

The material was arranged according to its type thus:

  • QW/1 - Archaeology Expedition Notes
  • QW/2 - Personal Notebooks
  • QW/3 - Diaries
  • QW/4 - Manuscript Proofs
  • QW/5 - Photograph catalogue
  • QW/6 - Correspondence
  • QW/7 - Itineraries
  • QW/8 - Printed Materials
  • QW/9 - Newspaper Cuttings
  • QW/10 - Programmes
  • QW/11 - Stamps
  • QW/12 - Maps
  • QW/13 - Objects
  • QW/14 - Furniture

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. 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
  • French
  • Hindi
  • Thai

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 bequest also contained a large number of photographs (Photo.70), and a number of slides and glass slides (Glass Slide.03). There were also additional items of furniture which had to be sold when the Royal Asiatic Society moved to its current premises. The Library Collections also contains most of the publications of Quaritch Wales.

    Related descriptions

    Notes area

    Alternative identifier(s)

    Access points

    Subject access points

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    Name access points

    Genre access points

    Description control area

    Description identifier

    gb891-qw

    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 2018 with help from SOAS Alphawood Interns, Pawinna Phetluan (2017) and Praphaphan Chuenkaek (2018).

        Accession area