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In 1998, the Royal Asiatic Society celebrated its 175th anniversary with an exhibition, "Persian and Indian Manuscripts and Paintings from the Collection of the Royal Asiatic Society" at the British Museum, and a lecture, "The Book of Kings: The Juki Shahnama of the Royal Asiatic Society" by Dr Barbara Brend, held at the British Library. This material covers the planning, publicity and attendance at these events. Also in conjunction with the exhibition, the publication Persian Paintings in the Collection of the Royal Asiatic Society by B.W. Robinson was published.

The Sir Richard Burton Medal – On 12 April 1921 the Council of the RAS agreed to found a Richard Burton memorial lecture in commemoration, that year, of the 100th anniversary of Burton's birth. A fund was established to finance the lecture and by 1923, £60 had been subscribed. It was decided in March 1923 that part of this would be used to fund the Burton Medal. This would be awarded to the person chosen to deliver the lecture, which was to deal with Burton, his travels or some suitable subject of exploration. The presentation and the lecture would take place triennially. The medal was designed in 1924 by Pinches, to be cast in silver and gilded. In practice those chosen to give the Burton lecture were expected to have undertaken exploration and research in the East, and more particularly in close association with local people, or in difficult circumstances.

This archive contains papers pertaining to the inauguration and awarding of the Sir Richard Burton Medal. The Papers includes:

• Correspondence
• Administrative documents
• Printed materials including newspaper articles
• Examples of the Medal
• Photographs

In 1923 the Royal Asiatic Society celebrated its Centenary. This archival material contains a scrapbook with Centenary correspondence and invitations, further congratulatory correspondence, material concerning the Centenary Events, and correspondence concerning the publication of a Centenary Volume.

The Library Committee of the Royal Asiatic Society is part of the organisational structure of the Society and has oversight for the Society's Collections. This material contains the Minutes of its Meetings along with Reports and Papers presented at the Meetings and some significant correspondence.

The Papers of A.R. Ward consist of the manuscript draft for his fifth edition of the Prophecy concerning Rōsh Kĕlälǟh. This consists of an offprint for the fourth edition, pasted into a lined handmade notebook with insertions and annotations to correct and make additions to the previous edition.

With the draft are two handwritten letters. The first, from A.R. Ward to the Secretary, Society of Biblical Archaeology, states that he is sending an advance copy of the fifth edition, and that he particularly wants to draw the Secretary's attention to some dates on p.81f. The letter is dated 9 November 1923 and sent from 62, The Avenue, Strathfield, New South Wales, Australia. With this letter is a handwritten copy of the pages of which A.R. Ward wanted the Secretary to be aware.

The second letter is from A.R. Ward to the Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, in response to a letter sent by the Secretary, as the Society of Biblical Archaeology had been absorbed into the Royal Asiatic Society. He states that the revised manuscript was intended for the library of the Society of Biblical Archaeology. He had delayed its publication as it needed more work done on the manuscript. The letter is dated 14 February 1924 and from the same address.

The Papers mainly consist of original Manuscript drafts for the translations of The Tūzuk-i-Jahāngīrī, or, Memoirs of Jahāngīr and Baihaki's life of Masaud. These are in Rogers' hand but the manuscript for The Tūzuk-i-Jahāngīrī is annotated and edited by Beveridge. There is some correspondence - three letters from Beveridge concerning Roger's translation and preservation of the manuscript.

This small collection consists of seven certificates of membership of organisations or Honorary conferment of degrees. Thus:

• Certificate of Honorary Membership of Die Geographische Gesellschaft in Munchen, 1909
• Confirmation of Degree of Doctor of Science, Cambridge, 1910
• Certificate of Honorary Membership of Royal Scottish Geographical Society, 1910
• Certificate of Membership of Anthropologische Gesellschaft, 1911
• Certificate for Doctor of Philosophy from University of Tubingen, 1933
• Certificate on becoming Honorary Doctor of Law of St. Andrews University, 1939
• Certificate of Membership of American Philosophical Society, 1939
• Photograph of the engraving of Aurel Stein created by M. Howard in 1946. The engraving forms part of the Society's art collections (RAS Cat. 095.012)

"Bibliography of Persia", Small notebook containing correspondence and newspaper cuttings regarding the publication of "A Bibliography of Persia" by Arnold Wilson in 1930. The items within this notebook are:

• Letter from Arnold Wilson to the Librarian, Royal Asiatic Society, to donate the notebook to the Library, dated 11 September 1938
• Review of Wilson's "A Bibliography of Persia", by Wolseley Haig from Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, Jan 1935, p.195
• Newspaper cutting from The Times for a review of "A Bibliography of Persia", dated 11 September 1930
• Cutting from Nature for a review of "A Bibliography of Persia", dated 4 October 1930
• Review for "A Bibliography of Persia" from the Journal of the Royal Institute of International Affairs, September 1930
• Review for "A Bibliography of Persia" from the Geographical Journal, dated September 1930
• Review for "A Bibliography of Persia" from the Journal of the Central Asian Society, dated September 1930
• Newspaper cutting from Near East and India with a review for "A Bibliography of Persia", dated 24 July 1930
• Letter from [H B Hzalso Erds] to Wilson to thank him for sending a copy of "A Bibliography of Persia", dated 7 August 1930
• Letter from H.R. Hall to Wilson to send his apologies for not being able to the attend the Mesopotamian Force dinner and to thank him for sending a copy of "A Bibliography of Persia", dated 28 June 1930
• Newspaper cutting from The Times with a review for "A Bibliography of Persia", dated 27 June 1930
• Letter from Hamilton Gibb to Wilson to thank him for sending a copy of "A Bibliography of Persia", dated 23 June 1930
• Letter from David Lorimer to thank him for sending a copy of "A Bibliography of Persia" and to give his opinion on the book, dated 26 June 1930
• Letter from Vladimir Minorsky to Wilson to thank him for sending a copy of "A Bibliography of Persia" and to congratulate him on its publication, dated 20 June 1930
• Postcard from W. [Northold] to Wilson to acknowledge, with thanks, receipt of a copy of "A Bibliography of Persia", dated 15 August 1930
• Letter from Henry W. Mardon to Wilson to thank him for a copy of "A Bibliography of Persia", dated 16 June 1930
• Letter from D.S. Margoliouth to Wilson to thank him for a copy of "A Bibliography of Persia", dated 14 June 1930
• Newspaper cutting from The Times with a review for "A Bibliography of Persia", dated 11 September 1930
• Review for Wilson's "A Bibliography of Persia" by Hamilton A.R. Gibb, un-named and undated publication
• Letter to Wilson to thank him for a copy of "A Bibliography of Persia" and to enclose lists of references that might also be included in a future copy. The signature of the writer is illegible. The 2 sheets are pasted into the notebook on previous pages to the letter
• Letter from [E Ekunter] to Wilson concerning an entry in "A Bibliography of Persia", dated 27 November 1930
• Copy of a letter from Mirza Mohammed Khan Nabavi, the Persian Chargé d'Affaires to thank him for a copy of "A Bibliography of Persia", dated 28 July 1930
• Letter from [Namey] to Wilson to thank him for a copy of "A Bibliography of Persia", dated 26 July 1930

This notebook is in poor condition and has evidence of previous mould problem. Therefore care must be taken in handling it.

These papers consist of a letter from Rev Anton Tien, in Constantinople, to Edwin Norris to send him a copy of a letter sent by Sheikh Ahmed of Mecca to some of his principal co-religionists to be distributed to all "Musselmans", as Tien thought the letter would be of interest to Norris. The copy of Sheikh Ahmed's letter is in Arabic with an English translation.

These Papers consist of a single item - the handwritten manuscript of Heyne's Report on Mysore, detailing information collected by Heyne during Colin Mackenzie's Mysore Survey of 1800, on which Heyne was assistant to Francis Buchanan. The manuscript starts with an apology for having produced the report whilst suffering from ill-health and sets out that the report "may fairly be considered as an enumeration of things deserving to be enquired into and as a prospect of what consequences an investigation of them would be if under favourable auspices and in better hands." It considers climate, earthquakes and other phenomena, produce and production, rivers and lakes, mineral springs, topography, mineral deposits, birds, fish and animals, coins, commerce, languages and culture. The title page states, "Presented by John Hodgson Esq., June 16 1827, Keyne's report on Mysore" and the label states, "Catalogue of English MSS IV No 15., Heyne's Report on Mysore presented by John Hodgson Esq., MRAS".

Handwritten, on loosely bound and loose papers, 93 sides plus further title page and cover label, probably dating to 1800 or shortly after.

The Report seems to be a manuscript of part of Tracts, Historical and Statistical on India; with Journals of Several Tours through Various Parts of the Peninsula: Also an Account of Sumatra in a Series of Letters by Benjamin Heyne, published in London, 1814.