Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland

Founding of the Society

Year	Authority / Notes
1823	A founding date of 1823 is supported by its website. The name is given as both Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland and Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland in catalogue records up to 1990. From 1991 onward the name appears also as simply Royal Asiatic Society in catalogue records. Otness (1998) points out that in 1784 Sir William Jones (1746–1794), also known as "Oriental Jones", had founded a society with similar goals, the Asiatic Society, Bengal in Calcutta. In 1829 it became the first branch of the RAS. It appears that in 1919 the Society of Biblical Archaeology (founded in 1870) merged into the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. This is supported by the Library Catalogues page at the RASGBI website, which includes the note: "Note: includes collections of the Library of the Society of Biblical Archaeology, merged with RAS, 1919." A notable aspect of this Society is that between 1829 and 1900 several overseas societies were founded as, or became, branches and affiliates of it: Calcutta The Society was founded in 1784 as the Asiatic Society of Bengal in Calcutta. In 1829 it became the first branch of the RAS. Today it is the Asiatic Society, Bengal . Bombay The Literary Society of Bombay was founded 1804; in 1829 it became an affiliate of the RAS, known as the Bombay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society; in 1955 it became the Asiatic Society of Bombay . Madras The Madras Literary Society was founded in 1812; in 1830 it became an Auxiliary of the RAS, generally known as the Madras Literary Society and Auxiliary of the Royal Asiatic Society . Sri Lanka The Society was founded in 1845 as the Asiatic Society of Ceylon. In 1846 it became a branch of the RAS, known as Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. In 1972 it became the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka (RAS SL) . Hong Kong The Society was founded in 1847 as the China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, went dormant in 1859, and was revived in 1959 as the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch (RASHKB) . Shanghai The Society was founded in 1857 as the Shanghai Literary and Scientific Society; in 1858 it became an affiliate of the RAS named the North China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society; later it was called the China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, but eventually reverted to North China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society again; it ceased to exist in 1949, after the Communist takeover of China. Japan The Asiatic Society of Japan was founded in 1872. Although modelled on the RAS, this Society never became a branch of the RAS. At first it was an affiliate society of the RAS, and later an associate society. Malaysia This Society was founded in 1877 as a branch of the RAS known as the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. In 1923 it became the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. In 1964 it became the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. North Borneo The North Borneo Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society was founded in 1893, but became inactive in September 1897. Korea The Royal Asiatic Society Korea Branch was founded in 1900. Some basic historical information on these various branches and affiliates of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland may be found in Otness (1998).

Year

Authority / Notes

1823

A founding date of 1823 is supported by its website. The name is given as both Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland and Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland in catalogue records up to 1990. From 1991 onward the name appears also as simply Royal Asiatic Society in catalogue records.

Otness (1998) points out that in 1784 Sir William Jones (1746–1794), also known as "Oriental Jones", had founded a society with similar goals, the Asiatic Society, Bengal in Calcutta. In 1829 it became the first branch of the RAS.

It appears that in 1919 the Society of Biblical Archaeology (founded in 1870) merged into the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. This is supported by the Library Catalogues page at the RASGBI website, which includes the note: "Note: includes collections of the Library of the Society of Biblical Archaeology, merged with RAS, 1919."

A notable aspect of this Society is that between 1829 and 1900 several overseas societies were founded as, or became, branches and affiliates of it:

Calcutta

The Society was founded in 1784 as the Asiatic Society of Bengal in Calcutta. In 1829 it became the first branch of the RAS. Today it is the Asiatic Society, Bengal .

Bombay

The Literary Society of Bombay was founded 1804; in 1829 it became an affiliate of the RAS, known as the Bombay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society; in 1955 it became the Asiatic Society of Bombay .

Madras

The Madras Literary Society was founded in 1812; in 1830 it became an Auxiliary of the RAS, generally known as the Madras Literary Society and Auxiliary of the Royal Asiatic Society .

Sri Lanka

The Society was founded in 1845 as the Asiatic Society of Ceylon. In 1846 it became a branch of the RAS, known as Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. In 1972 it became the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka (RAS SL) .

Hong Kong

The Society was founded in 1847 as the China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, went dormant in 1859, and was revived in 1959 as the Royal Asiatic Society Hong Kong Branch (RASHKB) .

Shanghai

The Society was founded in 1857 as the Shanghai Literary and Scientific Society; in 1858 it became an affiliate of the RAS named the North China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society; later it was called the China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, but eventually reverted to North China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society again; it ceased to exist in 1949, after the Communist takeover of China.

Japan

The Asiatic Society of Japan was founded in 1872. Although modelled on the RAS, this Society never became a branch of the RAS. At first it was an affiliate society of the RAS, and later an associate society.

Malaysia

This Society was founded in 1877 as a branch of the RAS known as the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. In 1923 it became the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. In 1964 it became the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society.

North Borneo

The North Borneo Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society was founded in 1893, but became inactive in September 1897.

Korea

The Royal Asiatic Society Korea Branch was founded in 1900.

Some basic historical information on these various branches and affiliates of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland may be found in Otness (1998).

Seat of the Society

City	Authority / Notes
London England	This location is supported by its website.

Name of the Society

Dates	Name	Authority
1824 -	Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland = Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland	Its publications establish this name from 1824 to 1990; its website establishes that this is also a current name.
1991 -	Royal Asiatic Society	Its publications establish this name and start date.

Website of the Society

Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland Website = http://www.royalasiaticsociety.org/

Journals of the Society

Years	Full Journal Title	Abbrev.
1824/1827 - 1830/1834 [pub. 1827 - 1835] (Vols 1-3) A	Transactions of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland A catalogue record in the Cambridge Univ. cat. gives the holdings as Vols 1-3 (1827-35). The RASGBI website gives more detail to the holdings information: Volume 1 [1824-1827] published 1827; Volume II [1828-1830] published 1830; and Volume III [1830-1834] published in 3 parts, 1831, 1834 and 1835. Continued by B. [Cambridge Univ. cat.]	Trans. R. Asiat. Soc. Geographical Journal, Vol. 142, No. 3 (Nov., 1976), p.489 cites 3, 1835. Trans. Royal Asiatic Soc. Osiris, Vol. 1 (Jan., 1936), p.625 cites III (1835).
1834 - 1863 (Vol.1 - v.20); 1864 - 1889 (new ser. vol.1 - v.21); 1890 - 1990; 1991 - (3rd ser. vol.1 - ) B	Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland A record in the Nat. Lib. Scotland cat. indicates that this title absorbed the Proceedings of the Society of Biblical Archaeology. Another record in the Nat. Lib. Scotland cat. indicates that the Proceedings of the Society of Biblical Archaeology ran from Vol. 1 (1878)-v. 40 (1918). A record in the Nat. Lib. Scotland cat. indicates that for 1991 onward the title was Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society. Continues A. Indexed RSLC [Nat. Lib. Scotland cat.]	Asiat. Soc. Journ. RSLC, v.1, p.xvii J. R. Asiat. Soc. Geographical Journal, Vol. 100, No. 5/6 (Nov. - Dec., 1942), p.255 cites 1890. J. Roy. As. Soc. Isis, Vol. 3, No. 2 (Autumn, 1920), p.177 cites 1902. J. Roy. Asiat. Soc. J. Roy. Anthrop. Instit., Vol. 80, No. 1/2 (1950), p.72 cites New Ser., 7, 1875. J. Roy. Asiat. Soc. Gr. Brit. Irel. J. Roy. Anthrop. Instit., Vol. 4, No. 4. (Dec., 1998), p.710 cites 1973. J. Roy. Asiat. Soc., Lond. American Anthropologist, Vol. 9, No. 11, (Nov., 1896), p.389 cites 1896. Jour. of Royal As. Soc. Hebraica, Vol. 8, No. 1/2 (Oct., 1891 - Jan., 1892), p.111 cites 1891. Jour. R. Asiat. Soc. J. Hellenic Studies, Vol. 31 (1911), p.182 cites XV. Jour. Roy. Asiat. Soc. Geographical Journal, Vol. 8, No. 4 (Oct., 1896), p328 cites 1895. Jour. Royal Asiat. Soc. Am. Historical Rev., Vol. 49, No. 3 (Apr., 1944), p.538 cites 1942. Jour. Royal Asiatic Soc. J. Am. Oriental Soc., Vol. 27 (1906), p.315 cites New Series X, 1878. Jour. Royal Asiatic Soc. Great Brit. Ireland Am. Hist. Rev., Vol. 61, No. 3. (Apr., 1956), p.727 cites 1953. Journ. of R. As. Soc. J. Am. Oriental Soc., Vol. 3 (1853), p.500 cites Vol. xiii, 1852. Journ. of R. As. Soc. of Gr. Br. and Ir. J. Am. Oriental Soc., Vol. 3 (1853), p.223 cites Vol. xiv, 1851. Journ. of R. As. Soc. of Gt. Br. and Ir. J. Am. Oriental Soc., Vol. 3 (1853), p.223 cites 1850. Journ. of the R. Asiat. Soc. J. Am. Oriental Soc., Vol. 30, No. 1 (Dec., 1909), p.11 cites 1906. Journ. R. Asiat. Soc. J. Roy. Geog. Soc., Vol. 42 (1872), p.508 cites vol. vii. Journ. Roy. Asiat. Soc. J. Anthrop. Instit., Vol. 7. (1878), p.110 cites vol. 9. Journ. Royal Asiat. Soc. J. Roy. Geog. Soc., Vol. 42 (1872), p.494 cites vol. v. Journal of the Royal Asiat. Soc. Classical Review, Vol. 11, No. 4 (May, 1897), p.208 cites 1889, Third Series vol. 1. Journal Roy. Asiat. Soc. J. Roy. Geog. Soc., Vol. 14. (1844), p.lxix cites 1843. Journal Roy. Asiat. Soc. of Great Britain & Ireland Geografiska Annaler, Vol. 1 (1919), p.300 cites No. XIV, 1843. Journal Royal Asiat. Soc. Isis, Vol. 1, No. 1 (1913), p.149 cites 1912. J.R. Asiatic S. Geographical Journal, Vol. 6, No. 6 (Dec., 1895), p.581 cites 1895. Roy. Asiat. Soc. Jour. Geographical Journal, Vol. 9, No. 3 (Mar., 1897), p.310 cites 1880. Roy. Asiat. Soc. Journ. Man, Vol. 14 (1914), p.201 cites 1878.

Years

Full Journal Title

Abbrev.

1824/1827 - 1830/1834 [pub. 1827 - 1835] (Vols 1-3)

Transactions of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland

A catalogue record in the Cambridge Univ. cat. gives the holdings as Vols 1-3 (1827-35).

The RASGBI website gives more detail to the holdings information: Volume 1 [1824-1827] published 1827; Volume II [1828-1830] published 1830; and Volume III [1830-1834] published in 3 parts, 1831, 1834 and 1835.

Continued by B.

[Cambridge Univ. cat.]

Trans. R. Asiat. Soc.
Geographical Journal, Vol. 142, No. 3 (Nov., 1976), p.489 cites 3, 1835.

Trans. Royal Asiatic Soc.
Osiris, Vol. 1 (Jan., 1936), p.625 cites III (1835).

1834 - 1863 (Vol.1 - v.20);
1864 - 1889 (new ser. vol.1 - v.21);
1890 - 1990;
1991 - (3rd ser. vol.1 - )

Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland

A record in the Nat. Lib. Scotland cat. indicates that this title absorbed the Proceedings of the Society of Biblical Archaeology. Another record in the Nat. Lib. Scotland cat. indicates that the Proceedings of the Society of Biblical Archaeology ran from Vol. 1 (1878)-v. 40 (1918).

A record in the Nat. Lib. Scotland cat. indicates that for 1991 onward the title was Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society.

Continues A.

Indexed RSLC
[Nat. Lib. Scotland cat.]

Asiat. Soc. Journ.
RSLC, v.1, p.xvii

J. R. Asiat. Soc.
Geographical Journal, Vol. 100, No. 5/6 (Nov. - Dec., 1942), p.255 cites 1890.

J. Roy. As. Soc.
Isis, Vol. 3, No. 2 (Autumn, 1920), p.177 cites 1902.

J. Roy. Asiat. Soc.
J. Roy. Anthrop. Instit., Vol. 80, No. 1/2 (1950), p.72 cites New Ser., 7, 1875.

J. Roy. Asiat. Soc. Gr. Brit. Irel.
J. Roy. Anthrop. Instit., Vol. 4, No. 4. (Dec., 1998), p.710 cites 1973.

J. Roy. Asiat. Soc., Lond.
American Anthropologist, Vol. 9, No. 11, (Nov., 1896), p.389 cites 1896.

Jour. of Royal As. Soc.
Hebraica, Vol. 8, No. 1/2 (Oct., 1891 - Jan., 1892), p.111 cites 1891.

Jour. R. Asiat. Soc.
J. Hellenic Studies, Vol. 31 (1911), p.182 cites XV.

Jour. Roy. Asiat. Soc.
Geographical Journal, Vol. 8, No. 4 (Oct., 1896), p328 cites 1895.

Jour. Royal Asiat. Soc.
Am. Historical Rev., Vol. 49, No. 3 (Apr., 1944), p.538 cites 1942.

Jour. Royal Asiatic Soc.
J. Am. Oriental Soc., Vol. 27 (1906), p.315 cites New Series X, 1878.

Jour. Royal Asiatic Soc. Great Brit. Ireland
Am. Hist. Rev., Vol. 61, No. 3. (Apr., 1956), p.727 cites 1953.

Journ. of R. As. Soc.
J. Am. Oriental Soc., Vol. 3 (1853), p.500 cites Vol. xiii, 1852.

Journ. of R. As. Soc. of Gr. Br. and Ir.
J. Am. Oriental Soc., Vol. 3 (1853), p.223 cites Vol. xiv, 1851.

Journ. of R. As. Soc. of Gt. Br. and Ir.
J. Am. Oriental Soc., Vol. 3 (1853), p.223 cites 1850.

Journ. of the R. Asiat. Soc.
J. Am. Oriental Soc., Vol. 30, No. 1 (Dec., 1909), p.11 cites 1906.

Journ. R. Asiat. Soc.
J. Roy. Geog. Soc., Vol. 42 (1872), p.508 cites vol. vii.

Journ. Roy. Asiat. Soc.
J. Anthrop. Instit., Vol. 7. (1878), p.110 cites vol. 9.

Journ. Royal Asiat. Soc.
J. Roy. Geog. Soc., Vol. 42 (1872), p.494 cites vol. v.

Journal of the Royal Asiat. Soc.
Classical Review, Vol. 11, No. 4 (May, 1897), p.208 cites 1889, Third Series vol. 1.

Journal Roy. Asiat. Soc.
J. Roy. Geog. Soc., Vol. 14. (1844), p.lxix cites 1843.

Journal Roy. Asiat. Soc. of Great Britain & Ireland
Geografiska Annaler, Vol. 1 (1919), p.300 cites No. XIV, 1843.

Journal Royal Asiat. Soc.
Isis, Vol. 1, No. 1 (1913), p.149 cites 1912.

J.R. Asiatic S.
Geographical Journal, Vol. 6, No. 6 (Dec., 1895), p.581 cites 1895.

Roy. Asiat. Soc. Jour.
Geographical Journal, Vol. 9, No. 3 (Mar., 1897), p.310 cites 1880.

Roy. Asiat. Soc. Journ.
Man, Vol. 14 (1914), p.201 cites 1878.

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