Hodgson used much of his time in both Nepal and Darjeeling in research, wanting to discover and understand about the architecture, languages, ethnography, religion, zoology and botany. He collected specimens and manuscripts, and had many drawings made, which he donated to many collections throughout Europe. He was also politically involved during his Residency in Nepal, and also later in England, when he continued to show an active interest in the Indian subcontinent, particularly regarding trade and vernacular education. These Personal Papers reflect these interests and are a record of much of his activity - Hodgson and his wives seemed to have a need to record all his successes. He was also a keen annotator of material, so that most of the printed material also bears his handwritten comments.

"Autograph Book belonging to Susan Hodgson, Alderley Grange, Wotton under Edge" A leather bound autograph book belonging to Hodgson's wife, Susan, in which are placed certificates, diplomas, academic and personal correspondence, newspaper cuttings and extracts related to Brian Houghton Hodgson's life. Leather binding with metal clasp. The book's binding is broken and some pages are loose. Care must be taken when using this item.

Letter from Wilhelm Schott to Brian Houghton Hodgson to thank Hodgson for his gift of Hodgson's 2 volume work on Himalayan languages. Handwritten, 2 sides, dated 1 May 1860. With accompanying envelope.

Letter from Wilhelm Schott to Brian Houghton Hodgson concerning Himalayan languages and China studies. Handwritten in German, 3 sides, dated 5 November 1860.

Letter from Professor August Friedrich Pott to Brian Houghton Hodgson to thank him for the gift of papers on Himalayan languages and for his annotations of the printed copy. Handwritten, 2 sides, dated 17 April 1860.

Letter from Christian Lassen to Brian Houghton Hodgson in which he thanks Hodgson for sending his papers on Vayu and Kiranti tribes of the Himalayas and for lending the selections from Hodgson's reports printed by order of the Government of Bengal. They had been directed back to Hodgson at his address in Darjeeling, but by that time Hodgson had already left Darjeeling and the papers were returned again to Lassen's address in Bonn. Lassen expresses his appreciation of Hodgson's contribution to the promotion of knowledge of Buddhism, geography, zoology and ethnology of Tibet and the Central and Eastern Himalaya and also for his more recent work on the languages of sub-Himalayan tribes. Includes Hodgson's title note with receipt and reply dates. With original envelope with postal stamps. Handwritten, 3 sides, dated 20 November 1860.

Letter from August Schleicher to Brian Houghton Hodgson to thank him for the linguistic and ethnological works which Hodgson had sent. Schleicher is preparing a comparative grammar of the "Indogeman languages". Handwritten, 2 sides, dated 1 July 1860.

Letter from Reinhold Rost to Brian Houghton Hodgson to thank Hodgson for his insights on the Himalayan class of the Juramian languages. Rost discusses different language groups. He states that he will write to Professor Schiefner soon and will be happy to convey any message from Hodgson. Handwritten, 3 sides, dated 26 March 1861.

Letter from Reinhold Rost to Brian Houghton Hodgson in which he discusses Himalayan languages to clarify and expand on some points Hodgson had made in his letter to Rost. Handwritten, 3 sides, dated 7 April 1861.

Letter from Robert Caldwell to Brian Houghton Hodgson to thank him for his articles on the Himalayan languages though he has not yet had leisure to study them as they deserve. Hodgson's note puts Caldwell as the author of the Comparative Grammar of the Dravidian languages and Honorary Member of the Royal Asiatic Society. Handwritten, 2 sides, dated 8 December 1862. With accompanying envelope on which Hodgson notes that Caldwell thinks the analyses were good.