Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1970-ongoing (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
1 archival folder, typed and photocopied
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland was founded by the eminent Sanskrit scholar Sir Henry Thomas Colebrooke on the 15th March 1823. It received its Royal Charter from King George IV on the 11th August 1824 'for the investigation of subjects connected with and for the encouragement of science, literature and the arts in relation to Asia'. It continues as a forum for those who are interested in the languages, cultures and history of Asia to meet and exchange ideas.
Name of creator
Biographical history
Rima Hooja is an archaeologist and historian of Rajasthan. Educated in Jaipur and at Cambridge University, from where she holds a PhD in archaeology, she is the author of several books, including History of Rajasthan. She is currently Consultant Director at the Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II Museum City Palace Jaipur, Managing Trustee of the Jaipur Virasat Foundation; and Visiting Professor at Delhi's School of Planning & Architecture and Ahmedabad University. A former Member of India’s National Monuments Authority, and a 'Distinguished International Academician' of Minnesota University, she is a Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Dr Hooja has been Director of Minnesota University’s MSID India Program for 12 years and also Faculty Director of New York State Independent College Consortium for Study in India Programme.
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Reports, strategy and information documents concerning the collections and the administration of the Library. Many such documents are only retained for the lifetime but some have been kept as deemed of archival value either as representative of the type or of strategic importance. These are:
- 'Council Regulations: Library Staff' - short documents detailing the Library staff and duties involved. Signed by Basil W. Robinson, President, and Simon Digby, Honorary Librarian. Typed, 1 piece, dated June 1970.
- 'Royal Asiatic Society - Memorandum from the Honorary Librarian to Users of MSS of the Society' - concerning handling of the manuscripts. Written by Simon Digby, Honorary Librarian, 1 piece, dated May 1972.
- 'Humidity - June 1978 - Sequel to notes of December 1977' - recommendations for care of the collections following a visit from Fred Marsh, India Office Conservation. Typed, 2 pieces.
- 'Notes on Microfilming of Manuscripts' - document prepared by the Librarian for submission to the Publications Committee, 8 February 1979. Typed, 1 piece.
- 'Some Thoughts on the Library of the Royal Asiatic Society by Mr. B.C. Bloomfield' - report outlining the current condition of the Collections and outlining accommodation and care needs for the collections. Typed, 1 piece, dated 6 October 1980.
- 'Royal Asiatic Society Library: Paper by the Library Policy Committee' - paper for the Council's endorsement concerning a programme of disposal and repair of the Collections to preserve a living library. Typed, 2 pieces, undated [1980s].
- 'Proposals for the Library of the Royal Asiatic Society' outlining the need for, and cost of, preparing a guide-book to the collections'. Copy of typed document, 2 pieces, undated.
- 'To the Treasurer: Library Budget 1987-1988' - outlining the costs for the Library for the year. Typed, 1 piece.
- Librarian compliment slips for Queen Anne Street and Queen's Gardens. Printed, 2 pieces.
- A note from Godfrey Goodwin, Librarian, about a change in the opening hours of the Library and an appeal for help with a stock-take of the books after the Society's move to 60 Queen's Gardens. Typed, 1 piece, dated [September] 1988.
- 'The Library' - regulations for use of the Library and opening hours. Typed, 1 piece, undated [1988].
- 'Budget 1994' - outline of the budget accepted by the Council for Library expenditure. Typed, 1 piece, dated 23 February 1994.
- 'Inventory of the Society's Manuscripts' - discussing the state of the Society's manuscripts and their cataloguing. Typed, 1 piece, undated [1994].
- 'Royal Asiatic Society Library' - paper to consider the storage of the Collections at Queen's Gardens. Typed, 2 pieces, dated 1995.
- 'Use of the RAS Library' - outlining library use by researchers written by Julian Reade, Honorary Librarian. Typed, 2 pieces, dated 28 November 1995.
- 'Time-Table for Necessary Work at 60 Queen's Gardens' - outlining the need to remove collections for work to be done on the building. Typed, 1 piece, dated 8 February 1996.
- 'The Structure of 60 Queen's Gardens' - assessing the book-shelf capacity and suggesting strategies to care for the collections. Typed, 3 pieces, dated 1996.
- 'Library Book Shelving and Strong Room Protection' - giving details of tenders for shelving and the provision of a strong room. Written by D.W. MacDowell, President, typed, 2 pieces, dated 14 March 1996.
- 'Royal Asiatic Society' - document listing library policy and considerations for the collections to be submitted to the Council. Written by Julian Reade, Honorary Librarian, typed, 3 pieces, dated 8 May 1996.
- 'The Royal Asiatic Society: The Library' - general statement about the Library and the Collections. Approved by the Library Committee, 18 September 1997. Typed, 2 pieces.
- 'Stockcheck of the Library' - outlining the undertaking of a stock check. Written by Michael Pollock, Royal Asiatic Society Librarian, typed, 2 pieces, dated 28 May 1998.
- 'Summary list of RAS papers which need to be listed' - a list of the known archives needing to be sorted. Written by Helen Cordell, Honorary Librarian, typed, 2 pieces, dated October 1998.
- 'Library' - document introducing the collections, their catalogues, opening times, reprographics etc. Typed, 7 pieces, undated [1998].
- '4th Floor security stamping books: Summary' - report on an audit carried out about the possibility of stamping books. Written by D. Shah, Library Assistant, Royal Asiatic Society, typed, 2 pieces, dated 29 January 1999.
- 'Stock Check - March 1999' - report on a stock check undertaken. Written by Michael Pollock, Royal Asiatic Society Librarian, typed, 6 pieces, dated 11 March 1999.
- 'Estimation of time taken to stamp 80000 books held in the Royal Asiatic Society Library - April 1999' - an analysis of the time required. Written by D. Shah, Library Assistant and Michael Pollock, Librarian, typed, 2 pieces.
- 'Royal Asiatic Society Visiting Research Fellow' - describing the Council decision to create a bursary for a research fellow to undertake research on the collections. Written by Giles Tillotson, Acting Director, Royal Asiatic Society, typed, 1 piece, undated [2000].
- 'Library Access for Non-Fellows: improved security checks and charging for services' - series of documents concerning increasing security for the collections. Typed, 4 pieces, dated 2003-2004.
- 'Cataloguing of RAS Printed Material Collection' - report concerning the need for an automated catalogue. Typed, 5 pieces, undated [2000s].
- 'The RAS Tod Collection' - proposal for working on identifying the James Tod material. Written by Rima Hooja, typed, 3 pieces, dated 2008.
- 'Projects in terms of priorities to be completed over the next five years 2010 -2015' - listing collections priorities and an estimate of the costs. Typed, 4 pieces, undated [2009].