The society's archive is a rich and varied resource, comprising maps from
Turkey to Japan, and documentary and photographic materials that reflect
the history of the Society, the activities of its members, and the central
Asian themes that prompted its inception in 1901 as the Central Asian
Society.
CATALOGUING PROJECT
Thanks to support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the catalogue of the
archival collections of the Society is now accessible via a website of
the National Archives Office: http://www.a2a.org.uk The catalogue is also
held in paper form in the Society's Library. In the second stage of the
project, glass negatives and slides will be conserved and duplicate negatives
plus prints will be made. This programme of conservation will be completed
by 2007.
For
direct access to the catalogues, please click the link below to enter
the "Access to Archives" (A2A) website of the National
Archives Office (NAO).
The RSAA archive has been divided into three sections:
1. Lecture illustrations and miscellaneous
2. Specific collections of material from individuals' papers: Bailey
to Shakespear
3. Specific collections of material from individuals' papers: Schomberg
and White
Once into the A2A website, click on the section you wish to explore
The archive's unique and varied collection of material spans the mid-19th
century to the present day. It includes material from many notable individuals,
including, amongst others, Sir Richmond Shakespear, Lieut Col F M Bailey,
Lieut Col R C F Schomberg, Sir Stuart Mitford Fraser, E C M Bowra, and
Sir Charles Bell. The watercolours and photographs of General Sir Edward
Francis Chapman, made during the Forsyth Mission to Yarkand (1873-4),
provided the first extensive visual record of Chinese Turkistan, and
are good examples of archive material that reflect the mixture of diplomacy
and exploration characteristic of the Society's holdings.
The project ensures that the unique historical resources of the society
will be more widely-known and utilised, and will allow the society to
contribute more actively to the national archival heritage. Its aim
is to provide a framework for long-term custody and access for researchers.
|
|
|
|
Strolling Player, Kashgar.
From the Schomberg Archives
|
Untitled and undated
From the Schomberg Archives
|
|
|
|
|
"Great
Fort at the corner of the city wall, Madina."
From Mecca and Madina, H. St. J. B. Philby. |
"Syrian
Gate , Madina."
From Mecca and Madina, H. St. J. B. Philby. |
|
|
|
|
The Fort at Sohar.
From Muscat and Oman, Capt. G. J. Eccles 1925 and 1927 |
Mr G. M. Lees, Mr K. W. Grey (in braces)
both Geologists. Mr A F Williamson (al-Hag Abdullah) standing with
cane and 'Skinny Liz', the dog.
From Muscat and Oman, Capt. G. J. Eccles 1925 and 1927 |
|
|
|
|
"Farah,
Old City. "
From Afghanistan, J C French, 1932. |
"Girisht
Nurzais"
From Afghanistan, J C French, 1932. |
|
|
|
|
"Charsau,
Herat City."
From Afghanistan, J C French, 1932. |
"Tower
of Ma'asud in the foreground and Tower of Mahmud in the distance,
Ghazni, Afghanistan.
(Compare photograph in 'The Road to Oxiana' by Robert Byron, Macmillan,
1937)."
Anonymous, undated
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Kanjutis"
From "The Roads to Kashgar", Mr C P Skrine. 1925
|
"From
the Verandah"
From "The Roads to Kashgar", Mr C P Skrine. 1925
|
|
|
|
|
|
"Tamil
Labourer, tukang kebun."
From "Malayan Countryside", C. Strickland 1930.
|
"Militia
Blockhouse"
From "Waziristan", Major General A. le G Jacob CB.
CMG. CIE. CBE. DSO. 1927.
|
|
|
|
|
Panorama from Ras Morbat to Prince of
Wales Pier showing the Flagstaff Station, Garison Church, Civilian
Hospital and Hogg Clock above Prince of Wales Pier.
From "Aden", J. M. Coutinho.
|
|
