Área de identidad
Código de referencia
Título
Fecha(s)
- 2001-2002 (Creación)
Nivel de descripción
Volumen y soporte
1 archival folder, handwritten, computer printed and typed + colour photographic images
Área de contexto
Nombre del productor
Historia administrativa
Nombre del productor
Historia biográfica
Professor research covered a wide area from ancient ties between Mongolia, India and Tibet to Genghis Khan's Mongolian Empire to Mongolian communism in the 20th century.
From 1987, he served as the General Secretary for the International Association for Mongol Studies and worked as a visiting professor at universities and research institutes in several countries, including the UK, Russia, France, India, and Japan. He wrote books, including the "Mongolian Historiography in the 13th-17th Centuries", and contributed various chapters/volumes to UNESCO's History of Civilizations of Central Asia.
Bira was one of founders and the Honorary President of the International Fund of Tengri Research, President of the Roerich Society of Mongolia, and Director of the Nicholas Roerich Museum and Shambhala Art Institute. He worked with Glenn Mullin to save the Roerich house in Mongolia and restore it as a museum and art gallery. Bira was the oldest living student of George Roerich.
In 2006 he was awarded the Fukuoka Prize. Bira died on 13 February 2022, at the age of 94.
Institución archivística
Historia archivística
Origen del ingreso o transferencia
Área de contenido y estructura
Alcance y contenido
The Denis Sinor Medal was awarded to Shagdaryn Bira in 2002. This material contains correspondence and administrative documents concerning the presentation of the award. There are also some colour photographs of the presentation event:
- 'Royal Asiatic Society Denis Sinor Medal for Inner Asian Studies' - notification of the award. Typed,1 piece, dated February 2001.
- Letter from Dr Susan Whitfield, British Library, to Giles Tillotson, Director, Royal Asiatic Society, to agree to serve on the Sinor Medal committee. Typed, 1 piece, dated 6 March 2001.
- 'Denis Sinor Medal for Inner Asian Studies - Sh. Bira' - a curriculum vitae for Shagdaryn Bira. Typed, 3 pieces, undated.
- Copy of an email from Dr Judith Kolbas to Adrian Thomas, Secretary, RAS, to inform that at the Society's Council meeting they had agreed to elect Shagdaryn Bira to receive the Sinor medal. Typed,1 piece, dated 12 October 2001.
- Copy of an email from Dr Judith Kolbas to Adrian Thomas, to enclose a note she had received from Bira on her telling him of the award. Typed, 1 piece, dated 16 October 2001.
- Letter from Adrian Thomas to Shagdaryn Bira, General Secretary, International Association for Mongol Studies, to inform of the Council's decision to award him the Denis Sinor Medal. Typed, 1 piece, dated 22 November 2001.
- Copy of an email from Adrian Thomas to Judith Kolbas to inform that he had written to Shagdaryn Bira. Typed, 1 piece, dated 22 November 2001.
- Copy of an email from Judith Kolbas to Adrian Thomas to give a postal address for Shagdaryn Bira. Typed, 1 piece, dated 25 November 2011.
- Letter from Professor Denis Sinor to Adrian Thomas to inform of the death of certain members of the Society and to enquire regarding a committee for the award of the medal. Typed, 1 piece, dated 18 December 200.
- Copies of emails between Adrian Thomas and Anthony Stockwell, President, RAS, concerning Thomas' reply to Denis Sinor regarding the medal. Typed, 2 pieces, dated 16 - 17 January 2002.
- Copies of emails between Adrian Thomas and Denis Sinor regarding the presentation of the medal to Shagdaryn Bira. Typed, 2 pieces, dated 21 January 2002.
- Copies of emails between Adrian Thomas, Judith Kolbas, Giles Tillotson and Shagdaryn Bira regarding setting a date for the presentation of the Medal. Typed, 4 pieces, dated 21 February - 7 March 2002.
- Letter from Giles Tillotson to Shagdaryn Bira to give official notification of the award and to ask if he is free for it to be presented to him on 10 October 2002. Typed, 1 piece, dated 11 March 2002.
- Letter from Adrian Thomas to H.E. the Ambassador, Embassy of Mongolia, to ask him to forward the letter regarding his award to Shagdaryn Bira. Typed, 1 piece 13 March 2002.
- Copy of email from Adrian Thomas to Shagdaryn Bira to express his regret at the failure of a previous letter to reach him. He has attached it to the email and also sent it to the Embassy. Typed, 1 piece 13 March 2002.
- Copies of emails between Adrian Thomas, Giles Tillotson and Shagdaryn Bira confirming the date of 10 October and the title of Bira's lecture. Typed, 1 piece, dated 28 March 2002.
- Copies of emails between Adrian Thomas and Denis Sinor concerning the possibility of Sinor attending the presentation to Shagdaryn Bira. Typed, 1 piece, dated 9 April 2002.
- Copy of email from Judith Kolbas to Adrian Thomas to suggest inviting the Ambassador of Mongolia and the council and secretary. Typed, 1 piece, dated 8 July 2002.
- Letter from Adrian Thomas to Philip Clapworthy, Royal Mint, to confirm the inscription to be engraved on the Medal. Typed, 1 piece, dated 10 July 2002.
- Copies of emails between Judith Kolbas and Adrian Thomas concerning arrangements for the presentation of the medal. Typed,, 1 piece, dated 11 -12 July 2002.
- Letter from Professor Anthony Stockwell to H.E. Mr D Davaasambuu, Embassy of Mongolia to invite him and his staff members to the presentation of the medal n 10th October 2002. Typed, 1 piece, dated 17 July 2002.
- Copies of emails between Judith Kolbas, Adrian Thomas and Shagdaryn Bira concerning arrangements for his flight and stay in London. Typed, 2 pieces, dated 19 - 22 July 2002.
- Copy of an email from Denis Sinor to Adrian Thomas to send his regrets that he will probably be unable to come to the presentation of the award. Typed, 1 piece, dated 22 July 2002.
- Letter from Adrian Thomas to H.E. Mr D Davaasambuu to ask if they can pass a message to Bira as he is not answering his emails. The letter is with this one and gives details of arrangements for the award. Typed, 2 pieces, dated 31 July 2002.
- Copy of a fax from Shagdaryn Bira to Adrian Thomas to give details of his arrangements and ask if the society can send an invitation to Bira's son. Handwritten, 1 piece, dated 16 August 2002.
- Copies of emails between Shagdaryn Bira and Adrian Thomas with further details of his arrangements for coming to London. Typed, 1 piece, dated 3 September 2002.
- Letter from Adrian Thomas to Philip Clapworthy, Royal Mint, to confirm the inscription to be engraved on the medal. Typed, 1 piece, dated 10 September 2002.
- Letter from Philip Clatworthy, Royal Mint, to Adrian Thomas to give the charges for engraving the medal and to inform there are 2 medals still in reserve. Typed, 1 piece, dated 10 September 2002.
- Copy of an email from Shagdaryn Bira to Adrian Thomas to inform of a change of plan concerning his itinerary in which he will return to Mongolia after his visit. Typed, 1 piece, dated 16 September 2002.
- Notification of issue of medal from the Royal Mint. Printed with handwritten insertions, 1 piece, dated 23 September 2002.
- Copy of email from Denis Sinor to Adrian Thomas to inform that he will be unable to attend the presentation. Typed, 1 piece, dated 25 September 2002.
- Copies of emails between Adrian Thomas and Shagdaryn Bira with details of flight times. Typed 1 piece, dated 26 -30 September 2002.
- Copies of emails between Adrian Thomas, Judith Kolbas and David Bivar concerning meeting Bira from the airport. Typed, 1 piece, dated 27 September 2002.
- Letter from Adrian Thomas to the Blakemore Hotel to reserve a room for Shagdaryn Bira from 9-13 October. Typed, 1 piece, dated 1 October 2002.
- Letter from Adrian Thomas to Dr Judith Nordby, Department of East Asian Studies, University of Leeds to invite her and members of her department to the presentation of the Sinor Medal. Typed, dated 1 October 2002.
- Copy of an email from Anthony Stockwell to Judith Kolbas to give the itinerary for Shagdaryn Bira's time in London. Typed, 1 piece, dated 2 October 2002.
- Receipt signed by M. Purev for services in accompanying Shagdaryn Bira while in London. Handwritten, 1 piece, dated 4 October 2002.
- Copy of an email from Adrian Thomas to Shagdaryn Bira to inform that all the arrangements are in place and to give details of them. Typed, 1 piece, dated 5 October 2002.
- Letter from Adrian Thomas to Professor Charles Bawden to invite him to the presentation of the medal to Shagdaryn Bira. Typed, 1 piece, dated 7 October 2002.
- Copies of emails between Adrian Thomas and A.D.H. Bivar to invite Bivar to the presentation of the medal. Typed, 1 piece, dated 7 October 2002.
- Copy of an email from Adrian Thomas to Anthony Stockwell to give details of Denis Sinor's career. Typed, 2 pieces, undated.
- Letter from Charles Bawden to Adrian Thomas to inform, due to his wife's ill-health, he will be unable to attend the presentation. He asks that his letter of congratulations be passed to Dr Bira. Typed, 1 piece, dated 8 October 2002.
- Letter from Dr Judith Nordby, Head of Mongolian Studies, University of Leeds, to Adrian Thomas to inform that she will be unable to attend the presentation. Typed. 1 piece, dated 8 October 2002.
- Letter from Alan J.K Sanders, Mongolist, to Adrian Thomas to thank him for the invitation to the presentation of the medal which he enjoyed attending. and to explain his reasons for not becoming a fellow of the Society. Typed, 1 piece, dated 16 October 2002.
- Letter from Adrian Thomas to Dr Frances Wood, Chinese Section, British Library, to thank her for giving Shagdaryn Bira the opportunity of viewing Mongolian and Tibetan manuscripts at the British Library on 10th October. Typed,1 piece, dated 23 October 2002.
- Letter from Adrian Thomas to Dr Susan Whitfield, International Dunhuang Project, British Library, to thank her for organising the visit of Shagdaryn Bira to the Library on 10th October. Typed, 1 piece, dated 23 October 2002.
- Copies of emails between Adrian Thomas, Judith Kolbas and Shagdaryn Bira concerning Bira's visit to the Society to receive his medal, the opportunity to meet the Society's patron, Prince Charles (King Charles III) the following day, his safe return home, and people who needed to be thanked for their involvement in the organisation of the visit Typed, 4 pieces, dated 21 October - 4 November 2002.
- Letter of recommendation from Adrian Thomas for the services of Ms Mugi Purev in her capacity as guide to Shagdaryn Bira. Typed, 1 piece, dated 6 November 2002.
- Letter from Adrian Thomas to Shagdaryn Bira to send photographs from his presentation of the medal and from Prince Charles' visit to the Society. Typed, 1 piece, dated 7 November 2002,
- Copy of an email from Shagdaryn Bira to Adrian Thomas to confirm receipt of the photographs. Typed, 1 piece, dated 19 November 2002.
- Ten colour photographs of the presentation of the Denis Sinor Medal to Shagdaryn Bira and his accompanying lecture on 10 October 2002.