In this article, Otness gives information about the 19th century
history of the libraries established by the branches and affiliates of the
Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
In the process he gives basic historical information about the branches
and affiliates themselves.
He includes some histoical information on the following societies:
- 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 the
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 (or perhaps 1950)
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.
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