1971 - Sir Harold Bailey

This series contains, correspondence regarding conferment of the Medal, correspondence regarding purchase of the Medal, Invitation/lecture cards for the Presentation event and newspaper cuttings.

Harold Walter Bailey was born in Wiltshire but spent much of his childhood in Australia where he self-taught himself many languages. He graduated from the University of Western Australia before taking up a studentship at Oxford University. After graduating with first class honours in 1929, Bailey was appointed as Parsee Community Lecturer in the then London School of Oriental Studies. In 1936 Bailey became Professor of Sanskrit and a Fellow at Queens' College, Cambridge. He retired in 1967. It is believed that he could read more than 50 languages.

The Material has been divided into sub-series thus:
* RAS TGM/26/1 - Correspondence regarding conferment of the Medal
* RAS TGM/26/2 - Correspondence regarding purchase of the medal
* RAS TGM/26/3 - Invitation Card
* RAS TGM/26/4 - Newspaper cuttings

Harold Walter Bailey was born in Wiltshire but spent much of his childhood in Australia where he self-taught himself many languages. He graduated from the University of Western Australia before taking up a studentship at Oxford University. After graduating with first class honours in 1929, Bailey was appointed as Parsee Community Lecturer in the then London School of Oriental Studies. In 1936 Bailey became Professor of Sanskrit and a Fellow at Queens' College, Cambridge. He retired in 1967. It is believed that he could read more than 50 languages.

In the Council Minutes for 14 October 1971, it was recorded that the President's nominations for the Selection Committee of Dr Bivar, Professors Bullhatchet and Beckingham was approved and in the Minutes for 9 December 1971, their selection of Sir Harold Bailey was approved. In the Minutes for 10 February 1972, it was agreed that the Presentation should take place on 13 April and that Sir Harold Bailey be invited to deliver the lecture on that day. The estimate for the Gold Medal was recorded and the amount of money in the Gold Medal Fund. In the Report of the Anniversary General Meeting in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, 1972, p.183, it was recorded that the Gold Medal for 1971 had been awarded to Sir Harold Bailey.

Published