Going on Dates in South Asia Archives

Shared things found in archives, from and about South Asia

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[July] 18th Monday [1867]: Left Shergol [Ladakh] at 5 a.m.; when we got to Moolbekh, 3 miles up the valley, I scrambled up & visited the monastery I had seen the day before in the distance....We found two Lamas in the place, an old one & a young one, draped in thick woolen robes of a dark dingy red: they showed us their books, images, ornaments &c., & among other things a small map of the countries bordering on the Mediterranean, printed at Lhasa & really very well executed...

Marsham-Townsend GEN MSS 482, Box 4. Diary.

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I have received the favor of your letter of the 28th Sept. and  have now in command from the Lord Justices to acquaint you that the New East India Company going (?) by the Act of Parliament passed the last session to nominate to his Majesty a person to go ambassador to India.

Robert Yard to William Blathwayt, October 1698

Blathwayt OSB MSS 2, I Correspondence, Box 10, Folder 207.

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Tibetan flag, “With the Compliments of the Office of Tibet, 801-2nd Avenue, New York, New York 10017″  

BRBL Needham papers, Tibet MSS 64. Box 50.

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Needham Papers, Tibet MSS 64. Box 48.

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Bored with your job? Underpaid? IBM KEYPUNCH is an important, much-in-demand skill that will start you on a new career in the booming data processing industry.

Needham, Tibet MSS 64. Box 48?

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On the other hand, Puṇyeśrī is impossible in Skt.; it should be Puṇyāśrī. Perhaps it is bold, but could a stupid copyist have put the mark of the e-vowel over the wrong syllable? This is doubtless only a course of desperation, but I can't think of anything else.

Franklin Edgerton, in a letter to Wesley Needham. (April 2, 1943)

BRBL Tibet Mss 64. Correspondence Box 1.

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“Sketches in India, taken by Captain Henry O. Grant, R.N. H.M.I.T.S. Serapis. 1871-1873″  

BRBL GEN MSS 611, Box 16.

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“Mad Saadhu.”  BRBL Blanche Matthias Papers, YCAL MSS 45. Oversize box 8, folder 166. Photos taken by Russell J. and Blanche C. Matthias of Chicago on their trip around the world, 1919-1920.

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The War in Europe is, thank God, over, and let us hope that it will not be long before the Japanese War is also over and then we can look for better things to come. I am on my way to Bikaner for the "V-E" Day Celebrations and returning to Abu in a couple of days or so where the rest of the family are.

Sadhul Singh, last reigning Maharaja of Bikaner (May 11, 1945)

MS 1682 Wolfe. Box 1, Folder 1.

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“Gandhi is alleged to be a brainy lad...” MSSA, MS 1206 Mina Curitss, Box 2, Folder 20.

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MSSA MS 1994 Purdy. Box 3. 

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Sinhala palm leaf manuscript. BRBL Indic collection. 

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Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit

Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit text (ola leaf mss), “Vikramacarita in South-Indian Script (Sanskrit)”, aka “Simhasanadvatrimsika.” Text given by Franklin Edgerton. [BRBL Tibetan collection]

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One final (slightly sickly-looking) camel. MSSA, MS 1994 Purdy. Box 13.

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A Wonderful Change

“Bombay. A wonderful change has taken place.” (December 1891) MSSA MS 1994 (Purdy). Box 12, Folder 5.

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Passport photo of Theodore Martindale Purdy...and NOT his wife. MSSA, MS 1994. Box 11.

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“No Admission to Panchamas, Christians, Mahomedans & Lepers. Dogs are strictly prohibited.” BRBL Blanche Matthias Papers, YCAL MSS 45. Box 11, Photographs, India 1919 December - 1920 January.