Scottish Association for Asian Studies

Correspondence regarding the institution of the Scottish Association for Asian Studies and the possible relationship between the Association and the Royal Asiatic Society. These are:

• "Scottish Association for Asian Studies" setting out the aims and proposed activities of the Association. This is undated. With it is a business card for L.P. Elwell-Sutton, Reader in Persian in the University of Edinburgh.
• Letter from Jack Grey, President, Scottish Association for Asian Studies, to Susan Skilliter, Lecturer in Turkish, University of Cambridge, to inform her that the Scottish Association had been formally set up and inquiring with regards to a possible alliance between the Association and the Royal Asiatic Society. Dated 28 February 1975.
• Letter from Susan Skilliter to Diana Crawford, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to send the letter concerning the Scottish Association for Asian Studies. Dated 13 March 1975.
• Letter from Diana Crawford, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society to Jack Grey, President, Scottish Association for Asian Studies, to inform that the Society would be glad to keep in touch with the Association. Dated 22 April 1975.

The Scottish Association for Asian Studies was founded to encourage interest in Asian counties, their languages, cultures and societies within Scotland. It was established by a group of members of Scottish Universities. Their proposed activities included the issue of a newsletter, organisation of public lectures and the holding of periodical conferences, with the first at the University of Aberdeen in May 1975.

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.

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 material is part of the institutional records of the Society from its dealings with other organisations.

The material was catalogued by Nancy Charley, RAS Archivist, in 2019.

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.

These papers were sent and received by the Royal Asiatic Society in the course of its business.