Charles Ambrose Storey was born in Durham in 1888. He was educated at Rossall School (Lancashire) and then at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he studied Classics and Oriental languages; graduating in 1912. In 1914, he was appointed Professor of Arabic at the Anglo-Mohammedan Oriental College (now the Muslim University) of Aligarh, India. He returned to England in 1919 to become Assistant Librarian to the India Office. Eight years later he was appointed Librarian but, in 1933, he was elected Sir Thomas Adams Professor of Arabic at Cambridge University. He retired in 1947 and lived in Hove until his death in 1968.
Early in his career, he published a text edition of Mofażżal b. Salama's al-Fāḵer, a 9th-century Arabic treatise on the popular proverbs and colloquial expressions of the Arabs. During his time at the India Office library, he published a continuation of the catalogue of Arabic manuscripts in this library (vol. II, pt. 1, "Qurʾānic Literature,"). He then turned his attention to Persian literature and and the first volume of the Persian Literature: A Bio-bibliographical Survey , fasc. 1, vol. 1, devoted to Qurʾanic literature, was published in 1927. This work continued to occupy his life. He intended to publish six volumes: Vol. I, pt 1. Qurʾānic Literature Vol. I, pt. 2. Biography. Additions and corrections. Vol. II, pt. 1. A. Mathematics. B. Weights and Measures. C. Astronomy and Astrology. D. Geography Vol. II, pt. 2. E. Medicine Vol. II, pt. 3. F. Encyclopaedias and Miscellanies; G. Arts and Crafts; H. Science; J. Occult Arts Vol. III, pt. 1. A. Lexicography. B. Grammar. C. Prosody and Poetics Vol. III, pt. 2. D. Rhetoric, Riddles and Chronograms. E. Ornate prose Vol. III, pt. 3. F. Proverbs. G. Tales Vol. IV, Law; Tradition; Religion, Sufism, Baha'ism, Prayers; Hinduism; Translations from Sanskrit, Hindi, and other Indian Languages, Ethics; Philosophy; Logic Vol. V (Poetry of the pre-Mongol period) Vol. VI was to be for Persian poetry from the time of Saʿdi and Rumi onward.
However, within Storey's lifetime, only Volumes I and II, pt 1 were published. The rest of Volume II and those of III and IV have subsequently been published and a new version of Vol. V was created by Francois de Blois under the title: Persian Literature: A Bio-Bibliographical Survey. Begun by the Late C. A. Storey .
On his death, Storey left his estate to the Royal Asiatic Society, including his house and his library. He also left some papers including the unpublished portions of the Survey, as research notes, drafts and boxes of index cards. This material is what makes up these personal papers.
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