Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1942 - 1997 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 archival box
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Professor E.H.S. Simmonds was born in 1919 at Littlehampton, Sussex. He was educated at Lord Weymouth's school, Warminster. He was enrolled into a course that sponsored by the Institute of Bankers in 1937 because his father want him to be a distributor of agricultural machinery and farming supplies. But Simmonds enlisted in the ranks of the Royal House Artillery and was commissioned in 1940. He was involved in the Malayan Campaign and the surrender of Singapore. He spend four years as a prisoner of war in Singapore and Thai camps. After returning to England, he went to Keble College Oxford in 1946 to study English Language and Literature. However Simmonds continued to be interested in the Thai people and their culture, thus, leading to him teaching linguistics at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London, from 1948. He remained at SOAS until his retirement in 1982 from the position of Professor of the Languages and Literatures of South East Asia.
Simmonds played also a major role in the Royal Asiatic Society. He became a Fellow in 1954 and served as Director (1965-68), Vice-President (1968-72 & 1976-80) and President (1973-76). He was married to Patricia Simmonds, actress and artist. He died in 1994.
Repository
Archival history
These papers was owned by Mr & Mrs. Simmonds.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
This papers were given to Royal Asiatic Society by Greg Day, nephew of Patricia Simmonds on 23 July 2019
Content and structure area
Scope and content
These Papers contain:
- Letters of condolence
- Obituaries and Biographies
- Cremation Information
- Donation Correspondence
- Memorial Service details
- Memorial lecture details
- Photographs
- Plan of N.M. Gregory Medical Departments, Sime Road Internment Camp, Singapore
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
This paper divided into series
- SS/1 - Letters of Condolence
- SS/2 - Obituaries and Biographies
- SS/3 - Cremation
- SS/4 - Donations
- SS/5 - Memorial Service
- SS/6 - Memorial Lecture
- SS/7 - Photographs
- SS/8 - Plan
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Please contact the archivist using the email address givenej@royalasiaticsociety.org. The archive is open on Tuesday and Friday 10am-5pm, and Thursday 2-5pm. Access is to any researcher without appointment but it will help if an appointment is made via phone and 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
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
This Society has several publications by Simmonds. Details can be found in the Library Catalogue: https://ras.koha-ptfs.co.uk/.
The Society also has a portrait of Professor E.M.S. Simmonds, painted by his wife, donated by Greg Day in May 2019.
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Simmonds Edward Harold Stuart 1919-1994 (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 catalogue was prepared by Vuthyneath Khut, SOAS Alphawood Intern, under the supervision of Nancy Charley, RAS archivist, in 2019.