Fonds AS - Papers of Sir Aurel Stein

Identity area

Reference code

GB 891 AS

Title

Papers of Sir Aurel Stein

Date(s)

  • 1909 - 1939 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

1 large archival box

Context area

Name of creator

Stein Marc Aurel 1862-1943 Knight Scholar Explorer Archaeologist

Biographical history

Marc Aurel Stein was born in Budapest in 1862. He first studied Sanskrit with Roth and Geldner in Tübingen and subsequently came to London in 1883 to continue his study of oriental languages. He went as Registrar to Lahore University in 1887 and became Principal of the Oriental College in 1888. He was interested in Central Asia both in its geography, archaeology and strategic position. Stein is renowned for his archaeological exploration in Eastern Central Asia (1900-01, 1906-08, 1913-16, 1930-31), India, Iran, Iraq and Jordan, and for his pioneering work on the early civilizations of the Silk Road. He is especially famous for the discovery of the hidden library of documents and Buddhist paintings at the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas (Qianfodong) at Dunhuang, Gansu province, China.
He became a British national in 1904. Stein received a number of honours throughout his career. This Collection reveals some of them. He was conferred with the Gold Medal of the Royal Asiatic Society in 1943. Stein wrote extensively about his travels and within the RAS Collections are original photographs from which the plates were taken for his many publications. Stein died in Kabul on 26 October 1943 and is buried in Kabul's British Cemetery.

Repository

Royal Asiatic Society Archives

Archival history

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The photographs belonging to Aurel Stein were donated to the Royal Asiatic Society on 13th October 1949 by Frederick Henry Andrews, artist and educator, who had accompanied Aurel Stein on many of his expeditions. It is probable that the certificates were donated at the same time.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

This small collection consists of seven certificates of membership of organisations or Honorary conferment of degrees. Thus:

  • Certificate of Honorary Membership of Die Geographische Gesellschaft in Munchen, 1909
  • Confirmation of Degree of Doctor of Science, Cambridge, 1910
  • Certificate of Honorary Membership of Royal Scottish Geographical Society, 1910
  • Certificate of Membership of Anthropologische Gesellschaft, 1911
  • Certificate for Doctor of Philosophy from University of Tubingen, 1933
  • Certificate on becoming Honorary Doctor of Law of St. Andrews University, 1939
  • Certificate of Membership of American Philosophical Society, 1939

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

The material is of similar nature and thus has been listed chronologically.

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
  • German
  • Latin

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 Royal Asiatic Society holds a number of Aurel Stein's publications. It also has a large collection of original prints, many of which are mounted and annotated in preparation for use as plates in publication. Details of publications and photographs can be found on our Library catalogue: https://ras.koha-ptfs.co.uk/.

    Related descriptions

    Notes area

    Alternative identifier(s)

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    Description control area

    Description identifier

    gb891-as

    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 produced by Nancy Charley, RAS Archivist, in June 2017

        Accession area