Royal Asiatic Society Lectures and Events: Anniversary General Meetings

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.

The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland was founded by the eminent Sanskrit scholar Sir Henry Thomas Colebrooke on the 15th March 1823. It received its Royal Charter from King George IV on the 11th August 1824 'for the investigation of subjects connected with and for the encouragement of science, literature and the arts in relation to Asia'. It continues as a forum for those who are interested in the languages, cultures and history of Asia to meet and exchange ideas.

The material was arranged chronologically.

Open. Please contact the archivist. Details can be found here. The archive is open on Tuesdays and Fridays 10-5, and Thursdays 2-5. Access is to any researcher without appointment but it will help if an appointment is made via phone or email. Please bring photo ID.

As part of the Society's institutional records. these archives have always been part of the Society's possessions.

This material was catalogued by Nancy Charley, RAS Archivist, in 2022.

Digital photography (without flash) for research purposes may be permitted upon completion of a copyright declaration form, and with respect to current UK copyright law. Digital material will be made available within the Reading Room or can be provided electronically.

The material was created as part of the Society's activities.

A report of the Anniversary General Meeting was usually printed in the subsequent edition of the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society. This practice continued until 2011 and these provide a valuable source of information about the event and the affairs of the Society. After this the report was posted on the Society's website. Correspondence and notes concerning the election of new officers which took place at the AGM can be found within the Governance records. The Minutes of Council Meetings and the Minutes of General Meetings also provide supplementary information.