The correspondence created in this time period is:

• Letter from Secretary of the East India Company to Richard Clarke, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to send a communication to the Society to accompany a letter from Mr Frere, Commissioner of 'Sattara' giving an account of Arabic manuscripts in the 'City of Beejapore' as well as the building in which they are contained. Handwritten, 1 piece, dated 9 May 1850 (Mr Frere's letter is not with this one).
• Letter from Secretary of the East India Company to Richard Clarke, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to acknowledge receipt of Clarke's letter and thank the Society for the accompanying 'Copy of a Persian Work by the Nawab Suraj ool Moolk'. The Society had also sent a memorandum from Dr Nicholson regarding remains recently discovered at 'the Ancient City of Vamilepoora in Gujerat' which the Company will forward to Bombay (Mumbai), 1 piece, handwritten, dated 21 May 1857.
• Correspondence concerning the creation of a Professorship of Sanskrit at the University of Cambridge. These include three letters from John Muir to Edwin Norris, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, dated 19-23 July 1858; a memorial to the Rt. Honourable Lord Stanley, the Rt. Reverend the Lord Bishop of Chester and the Commissioners regarding the professorship, signed by several member of the Royal Asiatic Society, dated July 1858; and a letter from Edward A. Bunbury, Secretary, Cambridge University Commissioners, to inform that the matter would be brought under the consideration of the commissioners, dated 2 August 1858. All the correspondence is handwritten.
• A letter from the Royal Asiatic Society to the University Commissioners regarding the desirability of making some provision for the teaching of the 'more recondite Dead Languages of the East'. The letter continues to explain which languages they consider important. Printed, 2 pieces, dated February 1878.
• Report of the Committee appointed to consider the advisability of compiling a list of persons willing to give instruction in Oriental languages. The report is headed Royal Asiatic Society and details the results of a meeting held on 28 June 1905. The signatures are George A. Grierson, F.W. Thomas, J.F. Blumhardt, A.G. Ellis and J. Kennedy. Printed, 1 piece.

There is also correspondence dating 1898-1904 concerning the 'Restoration of Ancient Monuments at Anuradhuapura, Ceylon'. These are:

• Letter from C.P. Lucas, The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office, to Lord Reay, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to acknowledge receipt of his letter concerning the preservation of 'Abhayagiriya and Miriswetiya Dagobas at Anuradhapura', typed, 1 piece, dated 15 June 1898.
• Letter from C.P. Lucas, The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office, to Lord Reay, President, Royal Asiatic Society, to state that he has received a report on the condition of some of the monuments and the decision to be made from this report. Typed, 1 piece, dated 16 August 1898.
• Letter to T.W. Rhys Davids, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, from Lord Stanmore to express his despair at persuading the Colonial Office to act, handwritten, 1 piece, dated 18 March [1899].
• Telegram to Lord Stanmore from Governor, Colombo, to inform the '8th colony will pay half', 1 piece, handwritten, dated 18 September 1900.
• Two letters from F.O. Oertel to T.W. Rhys Davids, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, concerning him going to Sri Lanka to make an official report on behalf of the Royal Asiatic Society. These are annotated by Rhys Davids. Two pieces, handwritten, dated 19 September 1900.
• Two letters from Lord Stanmore, one to T.W. Rhys Davids and the other to the Honorary Treasurer, Royal Asiatic Society, concerning financing Mr Oertel's expedition, 2 pieces, handwritten, dated 20 September 1900.
• Telegram from Lord Reay to the Royal Asiatic Society giving consent to guarantee the money, 1 piece, handwritten, dated 1 October 1900.
• Letter from R.S. Antrobus, Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office, to Lord Stanmore to inform that the Government of India will allow Mr Oertel to spend three months visiting Sri Lanka, 1 piece, typed, dated 15 October 1900.
• Letter from F.O. Oertel to T.W. Rhys Davids to organise a meeting to discuss plans for the proposed trip, handwritten, 1 piece, dated 25 October 1900.
• Letter from F.O. Oertel to Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, concerning payment of his subscription prior to his departure, handwritten, 1 piece, dated 20 November 1900.
• Letter from the Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to the Colonial Secretary, Ceylon, to inform of the forthcoming visit of Mr Oertel to assess the monuments, typed, 3 pages, dated 20 November 1900.
• Letter from T.W. Rhys Davids to F.O. Oertel to inform him of the current state of communication with the Ceylon Government and requesting he proceeds to Colombo to create his report, 1 piece, handwritten, dated 20 November 1900.
• Letter from Lord Stanmore to T.W. Rhys Davids to inform he would be happy to see Mr Oertel, handwritten, 1 piece, dated 7 April 1901.
• Letter from Lord Stanmore to enclose a Colonial Office letter and inform of his reply, 1 piece, handwritten, dated 13 November 1901.
• Letter from C.P. Lucas, The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office, to Lord Stanmore to resend a letter regarding Mr Oertel, typed, 1 piece, dated 22 November 1901.
• Letter from Lord Stanmore to enclose a further Colonial Office letter and inform of his reply, 1 piece, handwritten, dated 23 November 1901.
• Letter from C.P. Lucas, The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office, to Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, regarding the finances of Mr Oertel's trip, 1 piece, typed, dated 19 December 1901.
• Letter from C.P. Lucas, The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office, to Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, regarding the finances of Mr Oertel's trip and the whereabouts of his report, 1 piece, typed, dated 25 February 1902.
• Letter from C.P. Lucas, The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office, to Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to request again for the report by Mr Oertel, 1 piece, typed, dated 15 July 1902.
• Letter from C.P. Lucas, The Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office, to Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to inform that Mr Oertel's report is now with the printers, 1 piece, typed, dated 4 September 1902.
• Letter from F.O. Oertel to T.W. Rhys Davids to inform that he is returning to England and to remind the Society of their debts to him, handwritten, 1 piece, dated 14 July 1903.
• Minutes of a Meeting of the Finance Committee, Royal Asiatic Society, regarding the payments due to Mr Oertel, handwritten, 2 pieces, dated 22 October 1903.
• Letter from J. Kennedy, Honorary Treasurer, Royal Asiatic Society, to F.O. Oertel concerning the money which Oertel is claiming from the Society. There is a further piece with this letter concerning Oertel's original instructions, 3 pieces, typed, dated November 1903.
• Letter from F.O. Oertel to T.W. Rhys Davids to discuss the matter of the money and that the Honourable Munshi Madho Lal be appointed a life member of the Society, handwritten, 1 piece, dated 31 December 1903.
• Letter from F.O. Oertel to James Kennedy, Honorary Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to ask whether the Council would reconsider their decisions, typed, 2 pieces, dated 31 December 1903.
• 'Report on the Restoration of Ancient Monuments at Anuradhapura, Ceylon. By F.O. Oertel, F.R.I.B.A., Indian Public Works Department', printed in Colombo, 1903.
• Letter from James Kennedy to Sir Raymond West regarding the outcome of the Finance Committee, handwritten, 1 piece, dated 1 February 1904.
• Letter from Raymond West to James Kennedy in response to Kennedy's letter, 1 piece, handwritten, dated 2 February 1904.
• Letter from Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to Lord Stanmore to send all the papers relating to Mr Oertel's expenses, typed, 2 pieces, dated March 1904.
• Letter from Lord Stanmore to acknowledge receipt of the Secretary's letter, handwritten, 1 piece, dated 25 March 1904.
• Letter from Honorary Treasurer, Royal Asiatic Society, to F.O. Oertel to inform him of the Council's deliberations, 2 versions, handwritten, 1 piece, dated 4 May 1904.
• Lists relating to the correspondence, handwritten, 5 pieces.

The correspondence created in this time period is:

• Letter from Lord Zetland to Sir Richard Winstedt regarding the establishment of a Centre of Oriental Culture. One piece, typed, dated 11 November 1943.
• Letter from Lord Zetland to Sir Richard Winstedt concerning the progress into the investigation for a Centre of Oriental Culture. One piece, typed, dated 6 April 1944.
• 'Inter-departmental Commission of Inquiry into Existing Facilities for Oriental, Slavonic, East European and African Studies' undertaken for the Foreign Office by Sir Richard Winstedt and Sir Atul Chatterjee of the Royal Asiatic Society. Twenty pieces, typed, dated 5 April 1945.
• Letter from Harbans Singh, The High Commission of India, to the Royal Asiatic Society concerning the setting up of a library in India after the name of General Sir William H. Sleeman. With the letter is a photocopy of books and periodicals required. Typed, 5 pieces, dated 14 May 1964.
• Letter from G.P. Malalasekera, Ceylon High Commission and accompanying documents concerning the Society sending a representative for the Enshrinement of the Holy Relic of Gautama Buddha in London. Typed and printed, 4 pieces, dated 24 September 1964.
• Correspondence from Sheila Kimber to invite the Secretary and the President of the Society to attend her art exhibitions, Typed and printed, 3 pieces, dated 30 August 1966 - 10 October 1970.
• Letter from B.H. Farmer, Centre of South Asian Studies, Cambridge to Diana Crawford, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to thank the Society for their support to Sir Arthur Dash in proposing the centre collects archival material and provides proper bibliographical material. Typed, 1 piece, dated 9 August 1967.
• Correspondence between Rupert George and the Royal Asiatic Society concerning possible support for Pope's College in Sawyerpuram, India. Typed, 2 pieces, dated 26 February -11 March 1968.
• Letter from Samuel L. Lewis to Royal Asiatic Society concerning the state of artefacts in Indian and Pakistan. Typed, 1 piece, dated 25 September 1968.
• Correspondence with Charles Mason Remey concerning his invitation for members to come to his Italian villa to learn more about the Bahai faith. With the correspondence is a photograph of Remey and articles written by him. Typed, handwritten + black and white photograph, 7 pieces, dated 29 June -14 July 1971.
• Correspondence with Shankar A Aiyar concerning his forthcoming exhibition of photographs of Indian temple architecture, Typed, 2 pieces, dated 26 February-11 April 1973.
• Correspondence with the Royal Academy of Arts concerning a representative of the Royal Asiatic Society being on the exhibition committee for a Japanese Exhibition. Typed, 3 pieces, dated 20 June - 25 July 1979.

The correspondence preserved for this period is:

• Correspondence concerning a subpoena issued by the Union of India. Typed, 19 pieces, dated 5 June 1986-25 February 1987.
• Correspondence concerning an international colloquium to mark the bicentenary of a permanent Ottoman embassy in London. Typed and photocopy, 2 pieces, dated 5-12 June 1991.
• Letter from Geoffrey King to Ralph Pinder-Wilson, Director, Royal Asiatic Society, concerning excavations at Julfar, typed, 1 piece, dated 21 July 1991.
• Letter from Robert Hillenbrand concerning a Festschrift for Basil Robinson, typed, 1 piece, undated [1992].
• Correspondence concerning the restoration of the monument to Sir William Jones in the University Church of St. Mary's, Oxford. Typed and handwritten, 9 pieces, dated 3 February 1996 - 10 February 1997.
• Correspondence with the Institut Catala de la Mediterrania concerning nomination of a candidate for their Premi Internacional Catalunya. Typed, 5 pieces, dated 20 June 1997 - 20 April 1998.
• Correspondence concerning support for the Centenary Seminar on Central Asia to mark the centenary of the Royal Society for Asian Affairs. Handwritten and typed, 13 pieces, dated 28 February 2001 - 2 November 2001.
• Letter from Avril Powell, Director, Royal Asiatic Society to the British Academy expressing the Society’s interest about the Academy’s proposed Learned Societies Programme and giving an overview of the Society’s history and undertakings. Annotated ‘copy’. Typed, two pieces, dated 25 March 2006.
• Correspondence concerning the nomination received for the Order of Australia. Typed, three pieces, dated 24 May - 15 June 2006.
• Correspondence concerning the departure of the Ambassador of Kazakhstan from London, Typed, 2 pieces, dated 24 July 2007.
• Letter from Alison Ohta, Director, Royal Asiatic Society, to British Embassy Seoul regarding a recommendation for the Queen's birthday honours. Typed, one letter, dated 11 December 2014.

Members of Council and Sub-Committees were asked to sign their attendance at the meetings. These five hardback notebooks contain these signatures. They cover the time periods: 9 June 1925 - 13 February 1936, 12 March 1936 - 3 October 1974, 10 October 1974 - 14 December 1995, 11 January 1996 - 25 May 2006, and 15 June 2006 - 12 June 2014

Two notebooks containing dates and instances of when the Society's seal was used - these include for such things as Honorary Fellowship certificates, Prize certificates, Share certificates and official authorisations. The books cover the time periods 1971-79 with additional 1999; and 1987-2001.

Ephemera associated with the governance of the Society including headed notepaper, copies of death certificates, examples of seals and logos and a photographic copy of a picture of the interior of the Thatched House Club where the initial meeting of the Society was held.

Examples of headed notepaper and pro forma letters from the Society's time at Grosvenor Street (1920-1947) - 21 pieces - and Queen Anne Street (1947-1988) - 11 pieces.

Printed, stamped, embossed and a wax imprint of examples of some of the emblems used by the Society through its history.

Various items connected with the Society's emblems:
Wood block for printing the Society's tree emblem and motto. Wood block for printing of elephant emblem. Steel engraving of Royal Asiatic Society seal. Two examples in green wax of the seal of the Society's elephant emblem. One example in red of the Society's elephant emblem. Plaster cast of the Society's tree emblem and motto with a fragment of the Society's emblem with wreath.

Since its initiation in 1823, the Royal Asiatic Society has held an annual Anniversary General Meeting. This is partly a business meeting where the accounts are presented, and a report given of the Society's affairs for the preceding year. It is also a celebration of the Society's achievements and activities. A lecture is usually given as part of the proceedings and the meeting has, in its history, been followed by a reception or meal. Due to the business side of the activities, relevant material will also be found within the Governance records and within the General Meeting Minutes.

The material identified in this catalogue include agendas, reports, invitations, press cuttings and photographs.