Papers of Horace Geoffrey Quaritch Wales

The Papers of Horace Geoffrey Quaritch Wales contain papers relating to his archaeological work in southeast Asia including expedition notes, personal notebooks, diaries, manuscript proofs, correspondence, newspaper cuttings and maps. Listed within this catalogue are objects and items of furniture which were also part of the bequest of Quaritch Wales' wife, Dorothy, to the Royal Asiatic Society.

Horace Geoffrey Quaritch Wales was born in 1900 and educated at Charterhouse and Queen's College Cambridge. In 1924 he entered the service of the Siamese government and from 1924-1928 acted as an adviser to King Rama VI and King Rama VII. This led to the publication of _Siamese State Ceremonies_ (1931), and _Ancient Siamese Government and Administration_ (1934), this volume being translated into Thai in the same year. He married and with his wife, Dorothy, began extensive travel particularly in south and southeast Asia. During 1934-6 he served as field-director for the Greater India Research Committee, directing archaeological work on early Buddhist sites in Thailand. From 1937-1940 he and his wife undertook surveys and excavations in Malaya, particularly in the Kedah region. He published _The Making of Greater India_ (1951) and continued to publish books, articles and reviews throughout his career. He died in 1981.

The material was arranged according to its type thus:
* QW/1 - Archaeology Expedition Notes
* QW/2 - Personal Notebooks
* QW/3 - Diaries
* QW/4 - Manuscript Proofs
* QW/5 - Photograph catalogue
* QW/6 - Correspondence
* QW/7 - Itineraries
* QW/8 - Printed Materials
* QW/9 - Newspaper Cuttings
* QW/10 - Programmes
* QW/11 - Stamps
* QW/12 - Maps
* QW/13 - Objects
* QW/14 - Furniture

Open. Please contact the archivist using the email address given 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.

The Papers form part of the bequest of Dorothy Wales which was given to the Society in 1994.

Horace Geoffrey Quaritch Wales was born in 1900 and educated at Charterhouse and Queen's College Cambridge. In 1924 he entered the service of the Siamese government and from 1924-1928 acted as an adviser to King Rama VI and King Rama VII. This led to the publication of _Siamese State Ceremonies_ (1931), and _Ancient Siamese Government and Administration_ (1934), this volume being translated into Thai in the same year. He married and with his wife, Dorothy, began extensive travel particularly in south and southeast Asia. During 1934-6 he served as field-director for the Greater India Research Committee, directing archaeological work on early Buddhist sites in Thailand. From 1937-1940 he and his wife undertook surveys and excavations in Malaya, particularly in the Kedah region. He published _The Making of Greater India_ (1951) and continued to publish books, articles and reviews throughout his career. He died in 1981.

The material was catalogued by Nancy Charley, RAS Archivist, in 2018 with help from SOAS Alphawood Interns, Pawinna Phetluan (2017) and Praphaphan Chuenkaek (2018).

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.

The material was the property of Horace Geoffrey Quaritch Wales and his wife Dorothy Wales and remained in their possession until the death of Dorothy Wales in 1994.

The bequest also contained a large number of photographs (Photo.70), and a number of slides and glass slides (Glass Slide.03). There were also additional items of furniture which had to be sold when the Royal Asiatic Society moved to its current premises. The Library Collections also contains most of the publications of Quaritch Wales.

Published

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