Fonds SES - Syro-Egyptian Society

Identity area

Reference code

GB 891 SES

Title

Syro-Egyptian Society

Date(s)

  • 1844 - 1861 (Creation)

Level of description

Fonds

Extent and medium

1 volume Leather hardbound volume, handwritten

Context area

Name of creator

Administrative history

The Syro-Egyptian Society was founded on Tuesday 3 December 1844, the inaugural meeting taking place at the Society's Rooms, No. 71 Mortimer Street, Cavendish Square, London. Dr. John Lee was in the Chair and the meeting was attended by a 'very numerous company of Ladies and Gentlemen distinguished by their rank in Society, and by their attainments; including various celebrated Authors and Oriental Travellers...'. The Society was founded 'to bring together those who had travelled in, and directed their attention to the Antiquities and general History of Egypt, Nubia, Abyssinia, Arabia, Palestine, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Asia Minor'. It seems that a Council had already been formed before this meeting to oversee the Society whose originator was Dr. W. Holt Yates.

Archival history

The Minutes belonged to the Syro-Egyptian Society, and at some point came into the possession of the Society of Biblical Archaeology. This Society was founded in 1870 covering a broadly similar geographical region to that of the Syro-Egyptian Society. The Society of Biblical Archaeology was incorporated into the Royal Asiatic Society in 1919 and many of its books were added to the Society's Collections.

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The Minutes of the Syro-Egyptian Society were given to the Royal Asiatic Society in 1919 with a large donation of books and papers from the Society of Biblical Archaeology on its incorporation into the Royal Asiatic Society in 1919.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

The Minutes of the "Syro-Egyptian Society of London. Instituted 1844". These handwritten minutes cover the time period from the first meeting of the Society on 3 December 1844 to their 146th meeting on 12 March 1861. The Society met fortnightly until June 1846, then monthly, with extended summer breaks. The minutes cover the decisions made at the meetings and the Papers read. Yearly Anniversary Meetings were held in April. The minutes are written in a hardbound volume purchased from H. Penny, Stationer & Manufacturer of Improved Patent Account Books.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

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

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 Library Collections hold a copy of "Original Papers Read before the Syro-Egyptian Society of London", Volume 1, Part I, 1845 and Part II, 1850. Both bound into a single volume. Full details can be found in our Library catalogue: https://ras.koha-ptfs.co.uk/.

    Related descriptions

    Notes area

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    Description control area

    Description identifier

    gb891-ses

    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 material was catalogued by Nancy Charley, RAS Archivist, in 2019.

        Accession area