Correspondence and notes regarding the relinquishing of the premises at 22 Albemarle Street at the request of Asprey & Co. Ltd.

Correspondence concerning the Sesquicentenary Reception. This falls into 6 categories:

• Letter from Ralph Tubbs, tenant at 56 Queen Anne Street, to state that he and his staff will have vacated the premises by 5.30pm on date of the reception, 1 item.
• Correspondence with Press, 2 items.
• Correspondence with City Hall concerning the Reception, 3 items.
• Letters of acceptance to the Reception, 49 items.
• Letters of regret concerning the Reception, 17 items.
• Letters of thanks after the Reception, 2 items.

Letter from Richardson, Sadlers & Callard, on behalf of Asprey and Company Limited, to send notice of Asprey's intention to determine their lease on 20 September. Also initial correspondence from Royal Asiatic Society to understand the terms being offered for possible continuation at the premises at increased rent.

This file contains documents relating to building works planned or carried out at the Society’s premises at 74 Grosvenor Road. The material consists primarily of correspondence between Colonel Hoysted, RAS Secretary; E. S. M. Perowne, Honorary Treasurer; D. H. Brammal, solicitor; building tenants; and various service providers regarding specific works, including:

• Two letters with Haymarket & City Window Cleaning Co. regarding the provision of cleaning services. Typed, 2 pieces, dated 30 November-2 December 1931.

• Three letters with Messrs H. & E. Lea Ltd. regarding drainage work to be executed at the Society following the inspection by the London Sanitary Protection Association. With the letters is an estimate from R. Dallyn Son & Stoner. Typed, 4 pieces, dated 31 July-10 August 1931.

• Documents relating to building works to be executed at certain basement rooms of the building used for accommodation of a caretaker. These include a letter to E. S. M. Perowne, regarding recolouring and painting of the room; letters from builders Messrs H. & E. Lea Ltd. and W. H. Lambert & Sons providing estimates for the works; and two specifications of works supplied by Messrs H. & E. Lea Ltd. Typed, 10 pieces, dated 28 September-10 October 1931.

• Three letters with Messrs H. & E. Lea Ltd. regarding ceiling work to be executed at the ‘Musicians Room’ on the 2nd floor of the building. With the letters is an estimate supplied by the same. Typed, 4 pieces, dated 10-13 October 1931.

• Two sets of specification of various works proposed to be executed at different locations of the building, supplied by Messrs. H & E Lea Ltd. in July 1931 and May 1933 respectively. These include washing and painting railings, preparing and erecting shelf fitting, and staining woodwork, etc. Typed, 4 pieces.

• Two letters with United Vacuum Cleaner Company regarding the provision of cleaning services. Typed, 2 pieces, dated 29-30 June 1932.

• Three letters with Messrs H. & E. Lea Ltd. regarding drainage and sink works to be executed at the top flat of the building. Typed, 3 pieces, dated 8-12 December 1933.

• Documents relating to electrical works to be executed at the top flat of the building occupied by tenant Mrs G. D. Sword. These include letters from a builder and electrical engineer reporting on the issue and providing estimates for the works, letters with E. S. M. Perowne regarding conducting an inspection of the whole building, a letter to Mr Bramall clarifying the responsibility for conducting re-wiring work, letters with Mrs Sword regarding further issues of her flat, letters with Ellis & Ward Ltd for carrying out such works, a tender for electrical bells, and a report on the electrical installation of the Society. Typed and handwritten, 24 pieces and 2 paper files, dated 19 October 1933–27 July 1934.

• Two letters with Beau Brummel Ltd. regarding carpet cleaning, with an estimate listing the type and size of each carpet at each location in the building. Typed, 4 pieces, dated 12-17 July 1934.

• Documents relating to proposed alterations in Room 6, newly let to the tenant and member Miss Helen Carey, as well as works in other basement rooms, chiefly concerning shelving. These include correspondence with the builder Ernest Setchell and estimates supplied by the company; a pencil plan of the Pamphlet Room; a letter to the solicitor regarding drafting an agreement; and several handwritten notes. Typed and handwritten, 11 pieces, dated 18 January-3 February 1936.

• Documents relating to the replacement of the existing gas cooking stove with a new model. These include a letter from E. S. M. Perowne giving his views and multiple letters with the Gas Light and Coke Company regarding the new model and the cost involved. With the letters are several agreements for hire of apparatus of the company and some handwritten notes. Typed and handwritten, 21 pieces, dated 31 October-24 November 1936.

• Letter from architect Frederick J. Gibbins offering suggestions for fixing book racks at the bottom of the staircase well to provide additional book storage within the building. Typed, 2 pieces, dated 1 April 1936.

• Four Letters with Messrs. H. & E. Lea Ltd. regarding the provision of shelving in the Library for the sum of £17. Typed, 6 pieces, dated 3 November 1937-14 February 1938.

• Six letters with the London Sanitary Protection Association, regarding arranging inspection of the drainage system of the Society. With the letters are two copies of a printed memorandum as to the necessity of periodical inspection. Typed, 9 pieces, dated 28 June 1935-30 June 1938.

Correspondence regarding the possibility of the Royal Asiatic Society being given premises with the East India Association, the National Indian Associatation and the Northbrook Club.

Correspondence and notes regarding the negotiations for leaving the premises. Letters between the Royal Asiatic Society, their solicitors, and those of Asprey and Co. Ltd. regarding the deal to be struck for the Society to vacate the premises. Also notes of decisions made by the Society.

Correspondence regarding speakers' accommodation and the Papers they wish to present at the Symposium. These include correspondence with Connaught Hall where the speakers were to be accommodated and corespondence with individual speakers regarding their arrangements, 20 letters, dated 11 January 1973 -12 July 1973. There are five letters concerning the nature of the Papers to be presented, dated 16 April 1973 - 16 July 1973, one of which is written in German and one in French.

Correspondence regarding obtaining copies of Papers delivered at the Symposium. These are:

• Correspondence with David Kahn regarding obtaining a copy of the proceedings of the conference, 3 letters, dated 1 August - 10 August 1973.
• Correspondence with S. Strelcyn asking for summaries of the Symposium, 4 letters, dated 29 August - 11 September 1973.
• Letter from W.J. Legendre regarding the Journal in which the Papers were due to be published, dated 30 March 1974.
• Letter from Stuart Simmonds, President, and A.D.H. Bivar, Director, Royal Asiatic Society to ask authors for their Papers to publish in the Society's Journal, dated 10 April 1974.

A series of four letters concerned with sending condolences on the death of George VI and asking Elizabeth II to be the future Patron of the Royal Asiatic Society. These items have been affixed together. They are listed in the order they appear:

• Copy of a letter from the Director (Sir Richard Winstedt), Royal Asiatic Society, to The Right Honorable Sir Ulick Alexander, Keeper of the Privy Purse, Buckingham Palace, to ask whether her Majesty would be pleased to be the Patron of the Society. Typed, 1 piece, dated 13 May 1952
• Copy of an Address from the President, Council and Members of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland to Her Most Gracious Sovereign to offer their sympathy upon the death of her father and to ask for her Patronage. Typed, 2 pieces, dated 20 February 1952
• Letter from R. Lloyd Thomas, Home Office, to the Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society. to inform that the matter of Patronage should be taken up with the Keeper of the Privy Purse. Typed with printed letterhead, 1 piece, dated 8 May 1952
• Letter from Ulick Alexander, Keeper of the Privy Purse, to the Director, Royal Asiatic Society, to inform that Her Majesty will grant her Patronage to the Society. Typed with printed letterhead, 1 piece, dated 22 July 1952

Correspondence with participants for the Symposium. These include requests for tickets for the Symposium, acknowledgements of receipt of tickets, and regrets from those unable to attend. Dated 22 February 1973 -12 July 1973.