International Congress of Orientalists

Scope and Content

The International Congress of Orientalists, initiated in Paris in 1873, was an international conference of Orientalists. It was later renamed as the International Congress of Human Sciences in Asia and North Africa and then as the International Congress of Asian and North African Studies. This material covers the interaction of the Royal Asiatic Society with the Congress in the time period 1889 to 1993.

Administrative / Biographical History

The International Congress of Orientalists, initiated in Paris in 1873, was an international conference of Orientalists. The first thirteen meetings were held in Europe; the fourteenth congress was held in Algiers in 1905 and some of the subsequent conferences were also held outside Europe. The Proceedings of the Congresses were usually published. The International Congress of Orientalists was renamed as the International Congress of Human Sciences in Asia and North Africa in 1973 and subsequently as the International Congress of Asian and North African Studies. it continues to be active.

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.

Arrangement

The material was divided into series covering the Congresses for which papers are present.

Access Information

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.

Acquisition Information

These are part of the institutional archives of the Society.

Archivist's Note

These papers were catalogued by Nancy Charley, RAS Archivist, in 2020.

Conditions Governing Use

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.

Custodial History

These form part of the institutional archives of the Royal Asiatic Society and have been collated through its history in its interaction with the International Congress of Orientalists.

Related Material

Some of the published material relating to the Congresses can be found in our Library Collections. Details are in the catalogue.