The International Union of Orientalists was founded in September 1951 in Istanbul at the International Congress of Orientalists. It was renamed in 1973 as the International Union for Oriental and Asian Studies. This material covers the interaction of the Royal Asiatic Society with the Union in the time period 1951-1977.

Correspondence, drafts and reports concerning the inauguration of the International Union of Orientalists.

Letter from Hamilton Gibb to Mrs Davis, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to send his suggestions for the titles for the Prize Essay Competition and also to send a draft letter to Monsieur Bacot of the Société Asiatique concerning the draft Statutes of the proposed International Union of Orientalists. He asks if the Royal Asiatic Society has received a copy of the draft Statutes. With his letter is that to Monsieur Bacot, also dated 28 July 1951.

Letter from Hamilton Gibb to Mrs Davis, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to suggest that she writes to Professor Bosch-Gimpera of UNESCO to obtain a draft of the Statutes.

Letter from Mrs Davis, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to Professor Bosch-Gimpera, UNESCO, to request a copy of the statutes for the proposed International Union of Orientalists.

Letter from Professor Bosch-Gimpera to Mr(s) Davis, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to send a copy of the draft Statutes. These are with the letter.

Letter from Professor Dr. Zeki Velidi Togan, President of Organising Committee of XXIInd International Congress of Orientalists, to the Royal Asiatic Society to send a draft of the statutes for the International Union of Orientalists and to state that the foundation of the proposed Union will be dealt with a the meeting of the Congress in Istanbul.

Letter from Hamilton Gibb to Mrs Davis, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to state that due to lack of a subvention by UNESCO towards the cost of a General Assembly of the Union, it has been decided to postpone the meeting.

Letter from Hamilton Gibb, Acting Assistant Secretary, International Union of Orientalists, to Mrs Davis, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to inform that it has been proposed to hold a General Assembly of the Union at Paris in September 1953. He provides an agenda and asks that a representative be delegated.

Letter from Mrs Davis, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to Hamilton Gibb to ask whether he would be the representative for the Royal Asiatic Society at the General Assembly of the International Union of Orientalists.